Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
06 January 2025 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Supplied
Prof Solomon Werta
Prof Solomon Werta, UFS alumnus and Vice-President: Administration and Development at Dire Dawa University, continues to inspire as one of Ethiopia's youngest leaders in higher education.

Throughout the progression of his career, the UFS alumnus, Prof Solomon Werta – Vice-President: Administration and Development at the Dire Dawa University (DDU) – has been the ‘youngest’ to occupy positions of leadership in several instances. 

In fact, the DDU appointed Prof Werta as Vice-President: Research and Community Service in 2020, making him the youngest vice-president of any public university in Ethiopia. According to Prof Werta, when it comes to senior management roles in universities and government, the norm is that the positions are held by middle-aged, mature leaders. However, after a unanimous vote by senate members at the university, he assumed that role at the age of 31. “Holding such a senior position at that age makes me a role model not only for a generation of young people, but for those at the University of the Free State who may be following my career,” Prof Werta stated. 

What the role entailed 

As Vice-President: Research and Community Service, he was responsible for driving research, innovation, technology transfer, community engagement, and growth within the institution and the community at large. As such, some of his highlights within this role include establishing a university community radio station to serve both the university and the Dire Dawa community, establishing new university journals such as the Harla journal, and establishing a nationally accredited institutional review board, among others. 

He occupied this role until November 2023 when he was promoted to his current role as Vice-President: Administration and Development at the DDU. Prof Werta credits this most recent promotion to the dedication and hard work he put into his previous role, as well as the knowledge and experience he acquired during his time at the UFS. 

In recognition of his work as a researcher within the Department of Physics at the DDU, Prof Werta was also promoted to Associate Professor in Physics. As a result, he indicates that he can be regarded as the youngest associate professor of physics in Ethiopia. Therefore, he continues to contribute to his institution and beyond on these accounts. 

What the future holds 

Prof Werta indicated that he plans on continuing to make strides as his career progresses, particularly in his role as Vice-President: Administration and Development. “I’d like to focus on increasing the university’s internal revenue, particularly through urban farming and other businesses using our academics,” said Prof Werta. In addition, he would also like to work on changing the university’s internal business practices, particularly the automation and digitalisation of the university system and the implementation of a contemporary university property management system, among others. 

News Archive

World-famous action researcher shares knowledge with UFS
2010-03-03

From Left: Prof. McNiff and Prof. Beylefeld at the workshop
Photo: Lize du Plessis 


Prof. Jean McNiff from the Department of Education at the York St. John University in the United Kingdom (UK) recently paid a highly successful visit to the Faculty of Education at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Prof. McNiff is a world-famous action researcher and has published nineteen books. She holds professorial positions at various universities across the world, including the position of Visiting Professor at the Ningxia Teachers' University in the People's Republic of China.

Staff members from the Faculty of Education attended a seminar presented by Prof. McNiff to introduce them to the methodology and conventions of action research.

According to Prof. Adri Beylefeld, Teaching and Learning manager at the faculty, action research is increasingly recognised as a rigorous research methodology. It can enhance the professional development of educators as they study their own practice with the purpose of improving the learning of students.

Prof. McNiff also presented a workshop to staff members of the UFS, titled “Using our educational responsibilities to transform our violent histories into life-affirming futures”.
– Lize du Plessis

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept