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Recognising the achievements of Qwaqwa Campus' Assistant Deans

27 January 2025 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Thabang Mokoena

Assistant Deans Qwaqwa — Dr Calvin Mudzingiri, Prof Cias Tsotetsi & Prof Jared McDonald.

In a remarkable feat of academic excellence, the Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) celebrates a series of significant achievements by its esteemed academics. These accomplishments highlight the exceptional talent and dedication within the campus community.

Dr Calvin Mudzingiri, Assistant Dean: Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, has achieved a significant milestone with the attainment of a C2 NRF rating. This prestigious recognition acknowledges his outstanding research contributions and solidifies his position as a leading scholar in his field. Dr Mudzingiri is also highly regarded for his teaching and mentoring skills. He is known for his engaging lectures, his ability to connect with students, and his dedication to their academic success.

Prof Aliza le Roux's groundbreaking achievement

Prof Le Roux, Assistant Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, made history by becoming the first woman to be appointed as a full professor on the Qwaqwa Campus. Prof Le Roux is also a respected leader and mentor, known for her guidance and support of students and colleagues. This groundbreaking achievement serves as an inspiration to aspiring female academics and further strengthens the university's commitment to gender equality. Prof Le Roux is a highly accomplished researcher with a strong track record of publications in her field.

From Assistant Dean: Faculty of Education to Vice-Principal

Prof Cias Tsotetsi's promotion from Assistant Dean: Faculty of Education to Vice-Principal is a testament to his exceptional leadership qualities and dedication to the university's mission. His expertise and guidance will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Qwaqwa Campus. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role, having served as Assistant Dean: Faculty of Education.

Double success for Prof McDonald

Prof Jared McDonald, Assistant Dean: The Humanities, has also achieved a remarkable double success. He was promoted to a higher academic rank – from doctor to associate professor – while simultaneously securing a C2 NRF rating. This accomplishment highlights his commitment to both teaching and research excellence.

These achievements by the assistant deans on the Qwaqwa Campus exemplify the high calibre of academics within the institution. Their dedication to research, teaching, and leadership serves as an inspiration to students and colleagues alike. The Qwaqwa Campus is proud to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of these exceptional individuals.

In acknowledgment of exceptional academic prowess, the Campus Principal, Prof Prince Ngobeni, remarked, “In academia, it is not every day that we witness a blend of exceptional leadership, unyielding commitment, and a deep-rooted passion for education. I extend my sincere gratitude to our esteemed assistant deans for their unwavering commitment. The calibre of our faculties with their inquisitive minds, relentless pursuit of knowledge, and dedication to nurturing future researchers, truly defines the excellence of our university. Your contributions to both the university and the advancement of knowledge are deeply valued. Thank you for your invaluable effort,” concluded Prof Ngobeni.

News Archive

Expert in Africa Studies debunks African middle class myth

2016-05-10

From left: Prof Heidi Hudson, Director of the Centre for Africa Studies (CAS), Joe Besigye from the Institute of Reconciliation and Social Justice, and Prof Henning Melber, Extraordinary Professor at the CAS and guest lecturer for the day.
Photo: Valentino Ndaba

Until recently, think tanks from North America, the African Development Bank, United Nations Development Plan, and global economists have defined the African middle class based purely on monetary arithmetic. One of the claims made in the past is that anyone with a consumption power of $2 per day constitutes the middle class. Following this, if poverty is defined as monetary income below $1.5 a day, it means that it takes just half a dollar to reach the threshold considered as African middle class.

Prof Henning Melber highlighted the disparities in the notion of a growing African middle class in a guest lecture titled A critical anatomy of the African middle class(es), hosted by our Centre for Africa Studies (CAS) at the University of the Free State on 4 May 2016. He is an Extraordinary Professor at the Centre, as well as Senior Adviser and Director Emeritus of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation in Sweden.

Prof Melber argued that it is misleading to consider only income when identifying the middle class. In his opinion, such views were advanced by promoters of the global neo-liberal project. “My suspicion is that those who promote the middle class discourse in that way, based on such a low threshold, were desperate to look for the success story that testifies to Africa rising.”

Another pitfall of such a middle-class analysis is its ahistorical contextualisation. This economically-reduced notion of the class is a sheer distortion. Prof Melber advised analysts to take cognisance of factors, such as consumption patterns, lifestyle, and political affiliation, amongst others.

In his second lecture for the day, Prof Melber dealt withthe topic of: Namibia since independence: the limits to Liberation, painting the historical backdrop against which the country’s current government is consolidating its political hegemony. He highlighted examples of the limited transformation that has been achieved since Namibia’s independence in 1990.

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