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10 July 2025 | Story Tshepo Tsotetsi | Photo Supplied
Prof Ivan Turok
Prof Ivan Turok has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award for 2025 by the Regional Studies Association.

Prof Ivan Turok, who holds the National Research Foundation (NRF) Chair in City-Region Economies in the Department of Economics and Finance in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), has been named a recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Service Award by the Regional Studies Association (RSA)

This international recognition celebrates Prof Turok’s significant contribution to the field of urban and regional research, both globally and on the African continent.

A longstanding member of the RSA, Prof Turok has served as Editor-in-Chief of Regional Studies and as Editor of Area Development and Policy, two of the Association’s six academic journals. He also served on the RSA Board between 2014 and 2018. The RSA is a UK-based learned society and the foremost global forum for city and regional research, development and policy. It manages six international journals, two book series, and hosts several international conferences annually. The award highlights not only his leadership in global academic spaces but also his efforts in representing scholarship from the global South.

“This recognition is a testament to the calibre of scholars within the EMS Faculty and thus significantly enhances the faculty’s research profile and global reputation,” said Prof Brownhilder Neneh, Vice-Dean for Research, Engagement and Internationalisation in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

 

Championing urban development in Africa

Prof Turok’s research has focused on the economic structure and performance of cities in South Africa and across the continent. He has analysed the obstacles to faster economic growth and development and the key interventions required to support accelerated investment and job creation. These include public infrastructure investment and improved land-use management to create more functional, efficient cities.

With over 150 academic journal articles and 15 books and monographs to his name, Prof Turok is one of the most highly cited urban and regional development scholars in the world.

“Receiving the Distinguished Service Award is a great honour, particularly in representing academics from the global South,” he said. “Africa faces unprecedented challenges in managing rapid urbanisation, but also unique opportunities for cities to transform its development trajectory. More research is vital to inform the tough policy choices facing governments.”

He believes cities are “remarkable vehicles” for accelerated growth and inclusive development. “The concentration of human, private and public capital generates positive value and fosters learning, creativity, and innovation,” he added.

Improved evidence and understanding of urban economic systems and dynamics, he argues, are essential for harnessing the youthful energy of African cities. “Universities have a vital role to play in generating the knowledge, capabilities, and strategic intelligence required by governments, civil society, business, and communities to make African cities and regions more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient.” 

Prof Neneh said the award reconfirms Prof Turok’s global standing in regional and urban economics. “He fills a significant gap by applying spatial economics to urban and regional development in an integrated manner – this is especially of value in Africa, where it has been neglected.”

Prof Turok encourages young scholars to explore opportunities offered by the RSA, describing it as a welcoming and dynamic space to learn, connect, and grow. “It is a very friendly and supportive forum, with various special schemes and grants to help young scholars participate in conferences, publish in journals, and learn from each other.” 

News Archive

Twee broers lewer intreerede
2004-06-10

‘n Unieke geleentheid sal homself môre, 9 Junie 2004, voordoen wanneer twee broers - proff Francois en Janse Tolmie - tydens dieselfde geleentheid hul intreeredes aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) sal lewer.

Prof Francois Tolmie is verbonde aan die UV se Departement Nuwe Testament en die onderwerp van sy lesing is Die impak van die metodologie op die verstaan van die Nuwe Testament. Prof Janse Tolmie, sy jonger broer, is verbonde aan die UV se Departement Rekenaarwetenskap en Informatika en die onderwerp van sy lesing is Die rol van inligtingstegnologie in kennisbestuur.

Hoewel die studievelde vér verwyderd staan, klop die twee broers se missies wat betref die terugploeg van die verworwe vakkennis ten bate van die gemeenskap. Prof Francois Tolmie is nóú betrokke by dowes en Prof Janse Tolmie tap weer kunsmatige intelligensie ten bate van die mediese wetenskap en geestesgesondheid.

Prof Francois Tolmie verwerf die grade BA, BA Honneurs (Grieks), MA (Grieks), B Th en M Th almal cum laude aan die UV. In 1992 verwerf hy 'n D Th (Nuwe Testament) en in 2004 'n Ph D (Grieks) aan dieselfde universiteit. Na sy militêre diens as kapelaan in Walvisbaai aanvaar hy 'n beroep na die NG-gemeente Walvisbaai. Hy begin sy akademiese loopbaan op 1 April 1990 as senior lektor in die Departement Nuwe Testament en word in 1999 tot medeprofessor en in 2003 tot professor bevorder.

Sy navorsingspesialiteit is die Johannesevangelie en die Brief aan die Galasiërs. Hy is tesourier van die Nuwe Testamentiese Werksgemeenskap van Suid-Afrika, lid van die Society of Biblical Literature en die Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, redakteur van Acta Theologica en assistent-redakteur van Neotestamentica. Hy het reeds 34 artikels in geakkrediteerde tydskrifte gepubliseer, asook drie populêr-wetenskaplike boeke en talle bydraes in populêr-wetenskaplike boeke. Hy het twee akademiese boeke in die buiteland gepubliseer - onderskeidelik in Nederland en in die VSA. Later vanjaar verskyn 'n derde akademiese boek in Duitsland. Hy is ook een van die vertalers van die Afrikaanse Bybel vir Dowes.

Prof Janse Tolmie verwerf die grade B Sc, B Sc (Hons) en M Sc (Cum Laude) in Rekenaarwetenskap aan die UV.

Hy is vanaf 1989 betrokke by die UV en was ook ’n dosent aan die Militêre Akademie in Saldanhabaai in 1990/91 en het klas gegee by DePaul Universiteit in Chicago in 2002.

In 1992 is hy vir ses maande gesekondeer na ’n patologiese firma, Van Drimmelen en Vennote, in Johannesburg vir die ontwikkeling van kennisgebaseerde sagteware. Met hierdie projek word hy een van slegs ’n handjievol navorsers in die wêreld wat daarin kon slaag om ’n mediese kundigheidstelsel te ontwikkel wat werklik gebruik word.

Hy verwerf sy Ph D in 1994 en in 1994/95 doen hy navorsing aan die Besigheidskool van Carleton Universiteit in Ottawa, Kanada. Hy word in 1997 bevorder tot mede-professor en in 2003 tot volprofessor. Vanaf 2003 tree hy op as departementele voorsitter van die UV se Departement Rekenaarwetenskap en Informatika.

Hy het meer as 30 publikasies al die lig laat sien, insluitend verskeie internasionale kongresbydraes en artikels in geakkrediteerde joernale. Hy was ook vir 2 siklusse geëvalueer by die NRF. Sy portfolio sluit in die ontwikkeling van sagteware of prototipes vir groot maatskappye soos Van Drimmelen en Vennote en Bayer Diagnostics (VSA). Sy privaatbesigheid fokus op die ontwikkeling van nismarksagteware vir tersiêre instellings. Die sagteware word tans gebruik deur afdelings aan verskeie universiteite in Suid-Afrika.

Die geleentheid vind om 19:00 in die CR Swart-ouditorium op die kampus plaas.

MEDIAVERKLARING

Uitgereik deur: Lacea Loader
Mediaverteenwoordiger
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Sel: 083 645 2454
E-pos: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
 

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