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22 UFS researchers received first NRF rating

29 October 2024 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied

NRF Researchers 2024 — First NRF rating: From top left: Dr Andronicus Akinyelu, Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Informatics, received his first Y2 rating, Dr Monique de Milander, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, obtained a C3 rating, while Dr Calvin D. Ullrich, Senior Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Theology: Historical and Constructive Theology, obtained a Y1 rating. Bottom left: Prof Maria Tsakeni, Associate Professor in the School of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology Education, Prof Matildie Wium, Associate Professor in the Odeion School of Music, and Dr Weldemichael Tesfuhuney, a senior lecturer in the Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, all obtained a C2 rating.

The list of National Research Foundation (NRF)-rated researchers at the University of the Free State (UFS) is growing, with 22 researchers recently receiving their first NRF rating, and 14 others obtaining new ratings after re-evaluation. This list is expected to grow even more with results slowly filtering in.

Profs Jan van der Watt, Research Fellow in the Department of Old and New Testament Studies, and Felicity Burt from the Division of Virology and SARChI Research Chair in vector-borne and zoonotic pathogens, are the latest NRF B1 rated researchers. While this is Prof Van der Watt’s first NRF rating, Prof Burt has increased her NRF rating from B3 to B1. The UFS now has 10 B1 rated researchers.

In addition to the new rating of Profs Burt and Van der Watt, the UFS also boasts seven new C1 rated researchers, 14 new C2s, five new C3s, seven new Y2s and one Y1 and B3 rated researchers respectively.

Among the researchers who obtained their first NRF ratings are Dr Bimo Abraham Nkhata, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Environmental Management; Dr Yolandi Schoeman, Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry; and Dr Angélique Lewies, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, who has this year been nominated for the prestigious 2023/2024 NSTF-South32 Awards, popularly known as the “Science Oscars” of South Africa. Dr Nkhata obtained a NRF rating in the C2 category, while both Drs Schoeman and Lewies obtained a Y2 rating.

An honour to be among rated researchers

Other researchers who obtained their first NRF rating include Dr Monique de Milander, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, who obtained a C3 rating and Prof Maria Tsakeni, Associate Professor in the School of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology Education, who received a C2 rating.

Dr De Milander, a Kinderkineticist who works with the motor development of young children, says she was very surprised to obtain a C3 rating. “I feel honoured receiving this NRF rating. To know that other researchers are reading my work and finding it relevant. It takes a lot of dedication and patience, since this is an endurance race and not a sprint. You need to work many hours, read a lot of new articles and write the articles themselves.

“In addition, collecting the data is not always possible without the assistance of our students at the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences as fieldworkers. I would like to acknowledge them because without them my research projects would not always be feasible. Furthermore, the publication process is also timeous, thus a lot of time elapses before you start to see the results of your work,” explains Dr De Milander.

According to her, the current project for her NRF rating is the assessment of motor development, attentional deficit hyperactive disorder, anthropometry and academic performance in low- and high-socio-economic primary school learners in Mangaung.

Prof Tsakeni, whose research focuses on the design and implementation of innovative instructional strategies and curriculum innovations in science classrooms, says she is honoured to be among the rated researchers. “The recognition motivates me to continue pushing myself to climb the ladder of rated researchers. The rating makes me feel affirmed to continue with my research work. I am grateful to the Faculty of Education, the UFS, and the NRF for giving me the opportunity and support.”

She would like to upscale the impact of her research by engaging in large-scale studies, international comparative studies, international collaborations, and one day, be a visiting scholar at some prestigious universities.

“The innovations in science classrooms include integrating inquiry-based practical work, education for sustainable development (ESD) and STEM education. The instructional strategies include inquiry-based learning and integrating educational technologies in the classrooms,” says Prof Tsakeni.

Recognition for long-term academic work

Newly C2 rated researcher, Dr Weldemichael Tesfuhuney, a senior lecturer in the Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, says: “As an agrometeorologist by profession, I feel a profound mix of pride and motivation after receiving NRF-rating recognition for my long-term academic work.

“This acknowledgment validates my years of dedication in understanding the intricate relationship between meteorology and agriculture. It boosts my confidence and reaffirms my commitment to advancing my academic and research goals.

“Such recognition is a pivotal moment for me; it serves as a powerful reminder of the impact of my research on agricultural practices, particularly in addressing the challenges posed by climate change in arid and semi-arid regions.”

Dr Tesfuhuney, whose research deepens understanding of how meteorological patterns affect agricultural practices, making a significant contribution to the field of Agrometeorology, has established a robust research portfolio focused on the challenges of meteorology and agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions. He has spearheaded several long-term research initiatives, including In-field Rainwater Harvesting (IRWH) techniques, intercropping practices, micrometeorology, and crop modelling simulations, all aimed at improving crop productivity for smallholder farming communities in rural areas.

Currently, Dr Tesfuhuney is expanding his research on underutilised crops in the region, focusing on how these crops can help smallholder farmers adapt to the impacts of climate change while improving nutritional security.

Work on the right track

Dr Calvin D. Ullrich, Senior Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Theology: Historical and Constructive Theology, who obtained a Y1 rating, says though there is much talk in South African academia about the necessity of an NRF rating which is not always positive (at least in the broader humanities), the NRF does have its strengths.

“I think it pushes one to critically consider one’s work as a whole; to reflect on its current shape and to identify lacuna within a broader trajectory. There is something generative about this process in and of itself. Feelings of relief but also of affirmation then: a rigorous peer-review system which acts as a metric, according to which one might be able to say, ‘my work is somehow on the right track’ — I think there is certainly value in that.”

According to Dr Ullrich, pursuing your research and making critical interventions into your field, means the rating can follow as a necessary consequence. Research for him, he continues, like most academics, is deeply personal and exhilarating, and so acquiring the rating can also be seen as just another internal aspect of the research process as opposed to being contingent to it.

He has several research projects currently in the research pipeline including smaller writing projects relating to eco-phenomenology and eco-theology and political theology in South Africa. A larger project, scheduled to begin later next year and continuing for the next three years (2025-2028), involves a more intense investigation of the social dimensions of ‘affects’ and how this could be deployed within the specific social context of faith communities.

It’s humbling

For Prof Matildie Wium, Associate Professor in the Odeion School of Music, her first C2 rating is not only an honour for her contribution to her field, but also a humbling moment, because the experience of applying for a rating makes clear how much room remains for growth.

Her research has two main focus areas: (a) 20th-century South African art music, studied from an analytical-hermeneutic perspective, and (b) the musical practices and experiences of mid-19th-century female opera singers in London, studied by means of archival documents.

“I am currently working on converting conference papers I had delivered recently into articles, mainly on the South African art music side of my endeavours. There are papers about Mimi Coertse (in collaboration with my colleague Dr Albertus Engelbrecht), Hubert du Plessis’s Opus 24 (in collaboration with my past student Dr Melissa Gerber), and Michael Mosoeu Moerane’s tone poem Fatshe la Heso under development.

“I am also co-writing a paper analysing some items from ethnomusicologist Gerhard Kubik’s archive of Àló (Yoruba storytelling) with my colleague Dr Joseph Kunnuji,” says Prof Wium.

Dedication, resilience, and strategic focus

Dr Andronicus Akinyelu, Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Informatics, called his first Y2 rating incredibly rewarding as it reaffirms his hard work and perseverance have not been in vain. “It also serves as a great source of motivation for me to continue pushing boundaries and striving for excellence in my academic and research pursuits. I am deeply grateful to God for this achievement. I am delighted to have been successful. It is an important milestone in my academic journey,” he says.

According to him, achieving an NRF rating requires a combination of dedication, resilience, and strategic focus. It involves publishing high-quality research in top-tier journals, supervising postgraduate students, and contributing significantly as a first or corresponding author on various projects.

“My research spans multiple cutting-edge areas, including machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, medical diagnosis, sustainable agriculture, and responsible artificial intelligence (AI). Currently, I’m collaborating with international researchers to develop deep-learning techniques that predict treatment responses in cancer patients.

“This research has the potential to significantly advance personalised medicine by enabling more accurate and timely interventions. Additionally, I am deeply committed to promoting responsible AI by developing frameworks and models that prioritise ethics in AI systems,” says Dr Akinyelu.

Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Internationalisation says: “Congratulations to all our newly rated researchers. We are expecting more in the coming months as the results of applications slowly filter in. We are extremely proud of our rated researchers for the recognition they have received. This is in large part the result of their contribution to producing high-quality research. There are many benefits that accrue to our researchers who are rated, namely an investment in their scholarship, including UFS support, as well as opportunities to further enhance their academic trajectory.”

Other researchers who obtained their first NRF rating:

Dr Ernie Langner (Department of Chemistry, C2)
Prof Danrè Strydom (Odeion School of Music, C3)
Prof Lizemari Hugo (School of Nursing, Y2)
Prof V.R Clark (Director: Afromontane Research Unit, C1)
Dr Clement Masakure (Department of History, C2)
Prof Mariette Reyneke (Department of Public Law, C2)
Dr Soumya Ghosh (Department of Genetics, C3)
Prof Patricks V Otomo (Department of Zoology and Entomology, C2)
Dr Tafadzwa Maramura (Department of Public Administration and Management, Y2)
Dr Yibeltal Terefe (Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, C3)
Dr Bianca Naude (Department of Political Studies and Governance, Y2)
Dr Andronicus Akinyelu (Department of Computer Science and Informatics, Y2)
Dr Sogo Abolarin (Office of the Dean: Natural Sciences, Y2)

Researchers who obtained a new rating after re-evaluation:

Prof Carlien Pohl-Albertyn (Microbiology and Biochemistry, went from a C2 to C1 rating)
Dr Kate Law (International Studies Group, C1 previously Y1)
Prof Paul Fouche (Department Psychology, C1 previously C3)
Prof Michelle Engelbrecht (Centre for Health Systems Research & Development, went from C3 to C2)
Dr Joseph Sempa (Department of Biostatistics, C3 previously Y2)
Prof Oliver Nyambi (Department of English, went from Y1 to C1)
Dr Marianne Conradie-Bekker (Department of Chemistry, went from Y2 to C2)
Dr Marieka Gryzenhout (Department of Genetics, C1 previously C2)
Prof Martin Nyaga (Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Unit, previously held a Y2 now a B3)
Prof Botma Visser (Plant Sciences, went from C2 to C1)
Prof Kobus Schoeman (Practical and Missional Theology, went from C3 to C2)
Prof Louise Van Den Berg (Nutrition and Dietetics, C3 to C2)
Prof Christoph Gauert (Geology, went from C3 to C2)

News Archive

Moshoeshoe - lessons from an African icon - by Prof Frederick Fourie

2004-11-03

(The full text of the article that appeared in City Press and Sunday Independent)

Our understanding of history informs our understanding of the present. No wonder the contestation over historical figures in South Africa’s past is so fierce and so divisive.
The question is: could it be any other way? I would like to think that it could; that black and white South Africans, across linguistic, cultural, religious and other divides, can develop a shared appreciation of our history – at least with certain periods and personalities as a starting point.

One such personality whose legacy I believe offers a possible platform for unifying our still divided country is King Moshoeshoe, who lived from 1786 to 1870, and is acknowledged as the founder of the Basotho.

King Moshoeshoe is the topic of a documentary that has been commissioned by the University of the Free State as part of its Centenary celebrations this year. It is part of a larger project to honour and research the legacy of Moshoeshoe. The documentary will be screened on SABC 2 at 21:00 on November 4th.

Moshoeshoe rose to prominence at a time of great upheaval and conflict in South Africa – the 19th century, a time when British colonialism was entrenching itself, when the Boer trekkers were migrating from the Cape and when numerous indigenous chiefdoms and groupings were engaged in territorial conquests. It was the time of the Difaqane, a period when society in the central parts of the later South Africa and Lesotho was fractured, destabilised and caught in a cycle of violence and aggression.

In this period Moshoeshoe displayed a unique and innovative model of leadership that resulted in reconciliation, peace and stability in the area that later became Lesotho and Free State. It made him stand out from many of his contemporaries and also caught the attention of his colonial adversaries.

Such an evaluation is not a judgment about which model of leadership is right and which is wrong, or which leader was better than another; but merely an attempt to explore what we can learn from a particular exemplar.
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Historians point to the many progressive leadership qualities displayed by Moshoeshoe which he used effectively in establishing the Basotho nation and in defending it.
First, there is his humanism and sense of justice worthy of any great statesman. Confronted by a situation in which cannibals murdered and devoured his grandfather, Moshoeshoe chose not to take revenge. Instead he opted to rehabilitate them and feed them as he believed hunger drove them to cannibalism.

Secondly, there is his skilful alliance-building with his contemporaries such as Shaka in an attempt to neutralize those rivals who were intent on attacking his followers. This is also displayed in the way he sought the protection of the British to keep the Boer forces at bay.
Thirdly, his emphasis on peaceful options is also seen in his defensive military strategy which saw him retreat to a mountain fortress to be able to protect and build a burgeoning nation in the face of the many forces threatening its survival.

Fourthly, there is his remarkable inclusivity and tolerance for diversity which saw him unite disparate groups of refugees from the violence and hunger that displaced them and then weld them into the Basotho nation. He also engaged with French missionaries, inviting them to stay with him and advise him on Western thought, technology and religion.
These are but some of the qualities which belie the notion that all 19th century African leaders were merely marauders and conquerors that gained their ascendancy through violence. Instead Moshoeshoe is a prime example of the human-centred, democratic and pluralist roots of South African, indeed African society.

The Moshoeshoe project that we have initiated (of which the documentary, called “The Renaissance King”, forms but one part) derives from our location as a university in the Free State, a province with a particular history and a particular political culture that developed as a result of this very model of leadership. This province has benefited tremendously from leaders such as Moshoeshoe and president MT Steyn, both of whom many observers credit with establishing a climate of tolerance, respect for diversity of opinion, political accommodation and peaceful methods of pursuing political objectives in the province. Their legacy is real – and Moshoeshoe’s role can not be overstated.
In addition the project derives from the University of the Free State being a site of higher learning in a broader geo-political sense. As a university in Africa we are called upon to understand and critically engage with this history, this context and this legacy.
Besides the documentary, the UFS is also planning to establish an annual Moshoeshoe memorial lecture which will focus on and interrogate models of African leadership, nation-building, reconciliation, diversity management and political tolerance.

In tackling such projects, there may be a temptation to engage in myth-making. It is a trap we must be wary of, especially as an institution of higher learning. We need to ask critical questions about some aspects of Moshoeshoe’s leadership but of current political leadership as well. Thus there is a need for rigorous academic research into aspects of the Moshoeshoe legacy in particular but also into these above-mentioned issues.
While the documentary was commissioned to coincide with the University of the Free State’s centenary and our country’s ten years of democracy, it is a project that has a much wider significance. It is an attempt to get people talking about our past and about our future, as a campus, as a province and as a country – even as a continent, given the NEPAD initiatives to promote democracy and good governance.

The project therefore has particular relevance for the continued transformation of institutions such as universities and the transformation of our society. Hopefully it will assist those who are confronted by the question how to bring about new institutional cultures or even a national political culture that is truly inclusive, tolerant, democratic, non-sexist, non-racial, multilingual and multicultural.

I believe that the Moshoeshoe model of leadership can be emulated and provide some point of convergence. A fractured society such as ours needs points of convergence, icons and heroes which we can share. Moshoeshoe is one such an African icon – in a world with too few of them.

Prof Frederick Fourie is the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State

* The documentary on “Moshoeshoe: The Renaissance King” will be screened on SABC2 on 4 November 2004 at 21:00.

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