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UFS celebrates and honours its exceptional academic achievers

23 October 2024 | Story André Damons | Photo CTL

Dr Arno van Niekerk — Dr Arno Van Niekerk, Senior Lecturer in the Department Economics and Finance was awarded the UFS 2023 Book Prize award at the UFS Exceptional Academic Achievers Awards.

The University of the Free State (UFS) celebrated its researchers, academics and academic support staff at the inaugural UFS Exceptional Academic Achievers Awards with Prof Hendrik Swart, Dr Arno van Niekerk and Jana Lamprecht walking away with the Prestige Academic Achievers Awards.

Exceptional Academic Achievers Awards bring together the annual Learning and Teaching Awards (hosted by CTL), as well as the Research Awards hosted in 2023 by the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation. This award function aims to recognise exceptional academic achievements in the area of learning and teaching, as well as research – breaking down silos within the academic space.

Prof Swart, Senior Professor in the Department of Physics and the SARChI Research Chair: Solid-state Luminescent and Advanced Materials, won the Exceptional Established Achievers’ Award which comes with R30 000 in prize money. Dr Van Niekerk, Senior Lecturer in the Department Economics and Finance was awarded the UFS 2023 Book Prize award for his book The Inclusive Economy: Criteria, Principles and Ubuntu, winning R25 000, while Lamprecht, Senior Lecturer in the School of Accountancy, walked away with the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards in Learning and Teaching.

In her welcoming address, Prof Anthea Rhoda, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS, said the purpose of the ceremony is to recognise those scholars at the UFS who are doing outstanding work in research and in teaching and learning in their respective disciplines. She said what is especially exciting about awards is the recognition of both research and teaching excellence as these two pillars of academia are often viewed separately but at the UFS it is understood that they are deeply interconnected.

“Each one of the nominees and winners is making a significant impact in their fields of research and in teaching and learning at the UFS and in doing so, are raising the excellence profile of the UFS and driving our aspirations to be a student-centred, research-led university, as outlined in Vision 130,” Prof Rhoda said.

Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, said: “Quality research is another building block in a university.” He emphasised that the recognition of research excellence is about “asking key questions as to what makes the research by our colleagues unique, what makes it novel, how does it build on past and current knowledge, but perhaps more important, how does it shift the knowledge base to move us to innovation and impact?”

Freedom to be creative and innovative

Lamprecht, who received a special recognition for being a National University Teaching Awards (NUTA) nominee, says she feels absolute gratitude for winning this award. “I am grateful that the University of the Free State not only allows me the academic freedom to be creative and innovative in my teaching but that the university also recognises and rewards excellence.”

Last year she won the Innovation in Learning and Teaching Best Conference paper as well as the Innovating my Curriculum through Student Engagement and/or Motivation awards at the UFS Learning and Teaching awards. In 2020, Lamprecht also walked away with awards at the UFS Learning and Teaching awards as well as a Senior Top Achiever: Teaching and Learning Award from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

According to her, she had to submit a teaching portfolio and was invited to present at the Learning and Teaching conference. However, she did not expect to win the category as the other three colleagues who were also nominated in this category were strong contenders.

“It always feels good when efforts are recognised and rewarded. However, for me, this award is about having a platform to share innovative teaching and learning ideas with fellow lecturers, empowering colleagues to have a positive impact on the academic careers of our students,” says Lamprecht.

Recognition is motivation

Dr Van Niekerk had previously received the Junior Lecturer of the Year award from his faculty (EMS), as well as the Service-Learning award for the engaged scholarship work he does with his students.

According to him, he did not expect to win and was surprised when his name was called as the winner. Says Dr van Niekerk: “I was hoping but I didn’t want to raise my expectations too high. I mean, the UFS has excellent academics in various faculties, so I honestly didn’t expect anything.

“I was so surprised, to be honest. I also felt a deep sense of appreciation for recognising the hard work one puts in in writing a book like that. The many hours of waking up at 3am to do the research for the book now really feels worth it.”

Dr Van Niekerk says recognition has a special effect on you and motivates you in a surprising way. Academics, he says, do not do research and teaching for the awards, so when they come by, it gives you a warm feeling.

“Lecturers really put in a lot of effort, which isn’t often seen or recognised because we have to balance so many responsibilities – and the expectations keep rising. I have to admit, we do feel under constant pressure, which I don’t think is ideal. I decided to write the book out of passion to contribute towards real economic change. Now that it’s recognised, it confirms to me once again that people flourish when they live out their passion, not when they’re under pressure.”

According to Prof Swart, it is always a great honour to be recognised for the work he has done in the past.

“I knew I had been nominated, but I was not expecting to win. This award is only possible if you have a large team of collaborators all over the world, staff, postgraduate and postdoctoral students that work together, producing world-class research. Although I received the award, I accept it on the team's behalf and thank them for their support over the years,” says Prof Swart.

Research and teaching and learning valued, supported, and celebrated

Prof Rhoda commended the award-winning researchers and said their perseverance, curiosity, and hard work have led to remarkable contributions. She said they remind us that academic excellence is not just about individual success but about shaping the world for the better.

According to her, research is the bedrock of innovation. It is through research that we challenge boundaries, explore new frontiers, and contribute to the advancement of our society.

“At the UFS, we pride ourselves on fostering an environment where research can thrive – where questions can be asked, hypotheses tested, and knowledge advanced. Tonight, we honour those who have not only asked the important questions but have provided answers that make an impact.

“Our researchers are producing ground-breaking work that addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing our world today – whether in health, science, commerce, the humanities, education, or technology. Your work enriches the intellectual fabric of this institution, and it positions us as a global player in the academic community.”

But research, Prof Rhoda continued, is only one side of the coin. Teaching and learning are equally critical to the mission of this university. It is through innovative and impactful teaching and learning that we prepare the next generation of leaders, innovators, and critical citizens, she said.

“Great teaching inspires; it transforms lives and lays the foundation for future achievements. Tonight, we recognise the outstanding educators who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to teaching and learning. You are the mentors, the guides, and the role models who make a lasting impact on the lives of your students.

“Through your creativity, dedication, and compassion, you help students not only acquire knowledge but also develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to navigate an ever-changing world. To our award-winning educators, we thank you for your service to the university and to your students.”

Prof Reddy concluded by emphasised a theme of the event stating that “research and teaching are inextricably intertwined and interrelated. Purposeful teaching efforts and investments in good teaching can make us better researchers. The flipside is also true.” He added: “Research results inspire and instil fresh insights into the lecture theatres and laboratories, both scientific and creative.”

Click to view document Click here to view a complete list of UFS Learning and Teaching Conference winners, and click here to watch the highlight video.

Interested in finding out who the nominees were? Click here to view the booklet.

News Archive

Research by experts published in Nature

2011-06-02

The members of the research group are, from the left, front: Christelle van Rooyen, Mariana Erasmus, Prof. Esta van Heerden; back: Armand Bester and Prof. Derek Litthauer.
Photo: Gerhard Louw

A research article on the work by a team of experts at our university, under the leadership of Prof. Esta van Heerden, and counterparts in Belgium and the USA has been published in the distinguished academic journal Nature today (Thursday, 2 June 2011).

The article – Nematoda from the terrestrial deep subsurface of South Africa – sheds more light on life in the form of a small worm living under extreme conditions in deep hot mines. It was discovered 1,3 km under the surface of the earth in the Beatrix Goldmine close to Welkom and is the first multi-cellular organism that was found so far beneath the surface of the earth. The worm (nematode) was found in between a rock face that is between 3 000 and 12 000 years old.

The research can shed some new light on the possibility of life on other planets, previously considered impossible under extreme conditions. It also expands the possibilities into new areas where new organisms may be found.

These small invertebrates live in terrestrial soil subjected to stress almost for 24 hours They live through sunshine, rain, scorching temperatures and freezing conditions. Through time they developed a means to cope with harsh conditions. Terrestrial nematodes (roundworms, not to be confused or related to earthworms) are among those very tough small invertebrates that deal with those conditions everywhere. After insects they are the most dominant multi-cellular (metazoan) species on the planet having a general size of 0,5 to 1 mm and are among the oldest metazoans on the planet, Nature says in a statement on the article.

They inhabit nearly every imaginable habitat form the deep seas to the acid in pitcher . Some nematodes simply eat bacteria and these are the ones we study here. Terrestrial nematodes have developed a survival stage that can take them through hard times (absence of food, extreme temperatures, too little oxygen, crowding, and more).

At the head of the research was Prof. Gaetan Borgonie of the Ghent University in Belgium and a world leader in the discipline of nematode research. He was brought into contact with the South African research leader, Prof. Esta van Heerden, who set up a cooperation agreement with the University of Ghent and Prof. Borgonie. Prof. Van Heerden manages the Extreme Biochemistry group at the UFS and the research was funded by several research grants.

The search for worms began in earnest in 2007, but it was soon clear that the sampling strategy was insufficient. A massive sampling campaign in 2008-2009 in several mines led to the discovery of several nematodes and the new nematode species Halicephalobus mephisto. It is named after the legend of Faust where the devil, also known as the lord of the underworld is called Mephistopheles.

Nature says special filters had to be designed and installed on various boreholes. Unfortunately, there is no easy way of finding a magic formula and designs had to be adapted by trial and error; improving existing designs all the time. The work of the UFS Mechanical Workshop, which manufactured, adapted and helped design it, was crucial in this respect. Filters were left on the holes for varying periods, sometimes for a few hours and sometimes for months. Prof. Derek Litthauer from the UFS played a big role in sampling, filter designs and coming up with ideas for names for the new nematode with Prof. Borgonie.

Research showed that the nematodes can live in the deep for up to 12 000 years. Three students – Armand Bester, Mariana Erasmus and Christelle van Rooyen from the UFS – did the work on this.

The importance of multi-cellular animals living in the ultra-deep subsurface is twofold: The nematodes graze on the existing bacterial population and influence their turnover. Secondly, if more complex multi-cellular organisms can survive in the deep subsurface on earth, this may be good news when looking for life on other planets where the surface is considered too inhospitable (e.g. Mars). Complex life forms can be found in ecosystems previously thought to be uninhabitable. Nature says this expands the possibilities into new areas where new organisms may be discovered.

Future research will focus on selective boreholes to look for more metazoans, so that a better idea of the complexity of the ecosystems there can be obtained. It will also look for metazoans in the deep subsurface on other continents to determine similarities and differences.

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