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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

School of Medicine boasts with a new unit
2013-02-22

 

New Clinical Skills Simulation unit is one of its kind.
Photo: Supplied
22 February 2013


The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) can now boasts with a new Medical Clinical Skills Simulation unit (MCSU) at the School of Medicine.

This newly established Clinical Simulation Unit is the first dedicated clinical simulation unit of its kind in South Africa. It was opened on Thursday 21 February 2013.

This facility is equipped with an operating theatre, Intensive Care Unit, two simulation and three private rooms.

In addition, the Unit has control rooms with cameras for recording purposes and debriefing facilities, the latter with video equipment for playback of recorded scenarios.

The Simulation Unit at the UFS’ School of Medicine is based on accredited units in the USA and the UK.

Dr Mathys Labuschagne, Head of the Simulation Unit, says the concept for this kind of unit is still new, but is already a very important part of clinical skills training in the health professions.

“We are the only university in South Africa with a unit dedicated to clinical skills simulation only and not a combination of clinical skills training which includes some simulation.”

The primary goal of the MCSU is to provide educational opportunities to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, as well as opportunities for other healthcare students in the Faculty of Health Sciences, to be exposed to inter-professional skills training. The MCSU will play a role in quality assurance of training and assessment, as well as research.

The aim of the Clinical Simulation Unit is to provide a facility where medical and other healthcare students or professionals can be exposed to:

  • Training in a safe environment.
  • Training without harm to the patient.
  • Scenario-based learning.
  • Debriefing.

The facility will also be utilised for post-qualification refresher and training courses.

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