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Women shaping academia: UFS EMS Faculty honours leadership and resilience

21 August 2025 | Story Tshepo Tsotetsi | Photo Tshepo Tsotetsi

EMS Womens Function — From the left: Prof Brownhilder Neneh, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences; Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS; Simone Williams, Faculty Manager; and Dr Celeste Campher, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, at the Women’s Function held on the Bloemfontein Campus on 18 August.

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences recently hosted a Women’s Function on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus – an event that paid tribute to women’s leadership in academia during Women’s Month. The gathering, held on 18 August 2025, was marked by a historic conversation with Prof Hester C. Klopper, UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal, who earlier this year became the first woman to lead the university in its 121-year history.

The function brought together women academics and professional staff in an atmosphere of connection and reflection to converse on breaking barriers, building futures, and empowering women in higher education. In conversation with colleagues, Prof Klopper shared her personal journey in higher education, her leadership philosophy, and the values that have guided her career. The occasion created a meaningful platform for colleagues to reflect on the role of women in shaping the future of the faculty and the university.

Breaking barriers, building futures

Prof Klopper described her appointment as both humbling and historic: “It is an extraordinary honour to be entrusted with this responsibility. This milestone is not just a personal achievement, but also a reflection of the progress we have made as a university and as a society in recognising and valuing diversity in leadership. I stand on the shoulders of many trailblazers who paved the way, and I hope my appointment inspires women to believe that there are no limits to what they can achieve.”

She shared pivotal moments across her career journey – from transitioning into academia to international leadership experiences that shaped her vision. “You become aware of a growing, burning desire to plough back what you have learned; to pay forward in some way after receiving so many opportunities for growth, so much exposure to great role models, and such incredible learning experiences,” she said.

Acknowledging the challenges women still face in higher education, Prof Klopper reflected: “Academia has traditionally been male-dominated. In order to overcome stereotyping and bias, I drew on the values instilled by my parents – hard work, believing in yourself, non-discrimination, fairness, and care. These have been incredibly valuable in my journey.” She also highlighted the importance of supportive partnerships when balancing professional and family responsibilities.

Prof Brownhilder Neneh, Vice-Dean: Research, Engagement and Internationalisation in the Faculty, said these reflections captured the very purpose of the gathering. “With Prof Klopper serving as the first female Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS, it was important to create a platform for her to inspire and empower women academics,” she said. “By sharing her career journey and insights, she demonstrated how barriers can be overcome in higher education leadership.”

She added that the conversation reinforced an important message: “Women, too, can achieve whatever they aspire to become. Prof Klopper reminded us that one must be clear about the message they want to communicate, know what they stand for, and remain consistent, authentic and honest. She emphasised the importance of always considering what you bring to the table – your expertise and knowledge – which ultimately opens doors. She also reminded us that women need to create their own values and live them, be intentional, and show up. There is no single recipe – each person must find their own rhythm and pursue it deliberately.”

Prof Klopper echoed with a message of encouragement to young women: “Have the courage to embrace your own authentic leadership style. Do not allow others to define who you are – believe in your own abilities. Knowledge without action is incomplete. Lead with heart, take intellectual risks, and remember that talent exists everywhere, but you have the power to create opportunity.”

Prof Neneh added that the event was not only a celebration but also a call to action: “Women play a vital role in enriching the academic project by bringing diverse experiences, perspectives, and leadership approaches. I hope colleagues left encouraged to pursue their aspirations with confidence and inspired to embrace mentorship, sponsorship, and solidarity among women academics.”

News Archive

New challenges for animal science discussed

2006-04-04

Some of the guests attending the congress were from the left Dr Heinz Meissner (honorary president of the South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) and senior manager at the Animal Production Institute of the Agricultural Research Council), Mr Paul Bevan (President of SASAS) and Prof Magda Fourie (Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the UFS).
Photo: Lacea Loader

New challenges for animal science discussed

The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) is presenting its 41st Congress at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Main Campus in Bloemfontein.

The congress started yesterday and will run until Thursday 6 April 2006. The theme is New challenges for the animal science industries.

It is one of the largest congresses in the 45 years since SASAS was founded in 1961. Among the delegates 12 African countries are represented, with the biggest delegation from Kenya. Delegates are also from the United States of America, Iran, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal and African countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana.

“Many of our members play an important role in the training of animal scientists at universities. The congress is specifically industry orientated so that scientists can interact with farmers through the respective producer organisations,” said Prof HO de Waal, Chairperson of the organising committee and lecturer at the UFS Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences.

According to Dr Heinz Meissner, honorary president of SASAS and a senior manager at the Animal Production Institute of the Agricultural Research Council, the National Livestock Strategy (NLS) Plan clarifies the role and responsibility of the livestock sector.

“Through this strategy we need to focus on enhancing equitable access and participation in livestock agriculture, improve global competitiveness and profitability of the livestock sector and ensure that the ventures implemented do not over utilise our resources,” said Dr Meissner.

In her welcoming address, Prof Magda Fourie, Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the UFS highlighted the related challenges that the UFS will be focusing on specifically over the next five years. “We have identified five strategic clusters that represent broad areas of excellence in research and post-graduate education. Two of these are food production, quality and safety for Africa and sustainable development,” she said.

“The food safety and security cluster will focus on the production of food in all its varieties within the African context, encompassing the entire value chain – from production to consumption and nutrition related issues. This would include a strong emphasis on sustainable production systems,” she said.

According to Prof Fourie the rural development cluster will engage in questions around the role of higher education in sustainable development. “One of the focus areas in this strategic cluster pertains to sustainable livelihoods. It refers to a way of approaching development that incorporates all aspects of human livelihoods and means by which people obtain them,” she said.

Prof Fourie said that the challenges we are facing such as food production can only be effectively addressed through collaborative efforts. “That is why it is important that collaboration takes place between different scientific disciplines, researchers, institutions and countries who are confronted with similar difficulties,” she said.

According to Prof de Waal the congress will give key role players a unique opportunity to present a profile of what they perceive an animal scientist should be and state their specific requirement regarding the animal sciences and its applications.

“In this way we can determine what the industry’s needs are and we can re-align our curriculum to suit these needs,” said Prof de Waal.

During the next two days, various areas of interest will be discussed. This includes ruminant and monogastric nutrition, animal physiology, beef, dairy, sheep and ostrich breeding and sustainable farming covering the range from commercial to the small-scale farming level.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
4 April 2006

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