Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

UFS celebrates research excellence with new NRF ratings

15 May 2025 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Teboho Mositi

The University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus is celebrating a significant boost to its academic and research standing with the recent achievement of National Research Foundation (NRF) ratings by several esteemed academics. These ratings not only recognise the individual accomplishments and impact of these researchers but also underscore the campus' commitment to Vision 130 and the university's overarching strategy for academic and research excellence.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, Prof Vasu Reddy, explained the ratings, saying, “Ratings embody high ideals and recognition of scientific merit and impact in a knowledge-intensive economy, aligned with the UFS’ aspirations.”

Prof Jared McDonald, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of The Humanities, Dr Calvin Mudzingiri, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and Prof Richard Ocaya from the Department of Physics have all been awarded C2 ratings, signifying that they are established researchers with considerable international recognition for the quality and impact of their research outputs. This level of recognition highlights their consistent contribution to their respective fields and positions them as key players within the global research landscape.

Building on this impressive achievement, Prof Aliza le Roux, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, has attained a C1 rating, indicating that she is a leading international researcher recognised for the high quality and impact of her recent research outputs. This prestigious rating stresses Prof Le Roux's significant contributions and her standing as a prominent figure in her area of expertise.

Adding to the growing cadre of research talent on the Qwaqwa Campus, Dr Nthatisi Nyembe, Lecturer in the Department of Zoology and Entomology, and Dr Victor Gwande – Senior Lecturer in the Department of History – have both received Y1 ratings. Dr Regret Sunge, Lecturer in the Department of Economics and Finance within the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, has received the NRF Y2 rating for the period 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2030. This rating is awarded to promising young researchers who have demonstrated the potential to establish themselves as researchers with strong international recognition within five years after obtaining their doctorates. These Y1 ratings signal a bright future for research on the campus, highlighting the emergence of a new generation of impactful scholars.

NRF ratings are a crucial benchmark within the South African academic and research sector. They provide a peer-review assessment of the quality and impact of researchers' work, lending credibility and prestige to both the individual and their institution. For academics, a strong NRF rating can enhance their research collaborations, funding opportunities, and overall academic standing. For the institution, a growing number of rated researchers reflects a vibrant research environment and contributes to its reputation as a leading centre of knowledge production.

These achievements align directly with the UFS' Vision 130, which aims to elevate the university's academic and research profile, fostering a culture of innovation and impactful scholarship. The success of these Qwaqwa Campus academics demonstrates the tangible progress being made towards realising this vision and strengthening the university's strategic goals in academic and research excellence.

The UFS is committed to nurturing and supporting its academics in their research endeavours. Initiatives such as the Future Professoriate Programme and the Emerging Scholars Advancement Programme (ESAP) play a vital role in providing mentorship, resources, and opportunities for academics to develop their research careers and achieve their full potential. The recent NRF ratings are a testament to the effectiveness of these support structures and the dedication of the academics on the Qwaqwa Campus.

The University of the Free State proudly celebrates the accomplishments of Prof McDonald, Dr Mudzingiri, Prof Ocaya, Prof Le Roux, Dr Nyembe, Dr Gwande, and Regret Sunge. Their success is a source of inspiration for the entire university community and reaffirms the Qwaqwa Campus' growing prominence as a hub of impactful research.

In his congratulatory remarks, Prof Reddy said: “Our colleagues’ ratings confirm their dedicated and sterling work in advancing research and innovation. It is commendable to also see academic leaders in professional support being beacons to inspire others.”

He further commented: “We value your hard work and determination. Congratulations, you make us proud as a university. You inspire us all to follow you and we support you in reaching our research-intensive goals. We are confident that your ratings will inspire you, personally and professionally – as well as other colleagues – to grow further. Your efforts will help us as we move to new heights,” Prof Reddy concluded.

News Archive

Forgive and forget? Or remember and retaliate?

2015-10-08

Cover of the novel Kamphoer

Fact and fiction came together at the Bloemfontein Campus recently to discuss the traumatic repercussions of the South African War. The event forms part of a three-year project – headed by Prof Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela (University of the Free State Trauma, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation Studies) – which investigates transgenerational trauma in the aftermath of the South African War.

The discussion explored the theme, ‘Working through the Past: Reflections on the novel Kamphoer’.

Together, Emeritus Prof Chris van der Merwe (University of Cape Town) and the author of the novel, Dr Francois Smith (University of the Free State, Department Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French), engaged in a thought-provoking, insightful conversation, tracing themes of trauma and issues of forgiveness presented in Kamphoer. Prof Van der Merwe and Dr Smith demonstrated how both fiction and historical fact can inform our present, and guide us into the future.

Emeritus Prof Chris van der Merwe and Dr Francois Smith
discuss the novel Kamphoer and how the book relates to
current issues of transgenerational trauma.

“On a societal level,” Prof Van der Merwe said, “we need to work through trauma by putting it into words, and putting it into a narrative.” When it comes to historical trauma, should we forgive and forget, though? Or rather remember and retaliate? Neither, proposed Prof Van der Merwe. “What I want to plead for is the difficult challenge: remember and forgive.” But Prof Van der Merwe also pointed out that, although forgiveness blesses both the giver and receiver, it is an ongoing process.

Dr Smith agreed wholeheartedly. “One of the discoveries of my book is that forgiving is a continuous process. It’s not something that gets completed at a particular stage in your life. By the same token, you can’t say that you are ever able to leave the past behind.” These issues of trauma, forgiveness, the past versus the present, remembering and forgetting are all integral questions confronting the main character of the novel, Susan Nel .

They are also questions we, as a nation, are currently confronted with, too.

“At this moment in our society,” Prof Van der Merwe said, “we have enough killers. We have a greater need now for caring nurturers.”

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

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