UV Jaaroorsig - University of the Free State

These strategic clusters were defined not only as re search
areas, but also to encompass strong undergraduate and
particularly postgraduate teaching as well as com mu nity
service. The goal is to be widely recognised as a site of
worldclass expertise in particular knowledge areas – whilst
continuing to provide general support for research and
teaching excellence across the many disciplines that constitute
the foundation of a broad-spectrum university.
Following extensive workshops and consultation, and
with the logistical support of the Directorate Research
Development, six provisional clusters were designated in
2006. Six interim cluster co-ordinators were appointed.
They took leadership in the further refinement of the
clusters and in intensive group discussions, also with the
Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Rectors. An increasing number
of disciplines and individuals were drawn into these multidisciplinary
discussions, already adding value and depth to
the academic discourse on campus.
Eventually six clusters, including their quite detailed
specification in main and sub-areas, were finalised and
approved by Senate in 2007. They are:
• Water management in water-scarce areas (interim coordinator:
Prof Maitland Seaman)
• New frontiers in poverty reduction and sustainable
development (Prof Gustav Visser)
• Transformation in highly diverse societies (Prof Piet
Erasmus)
• Technologies for sustainable crop industries in semi-arid
regions (Prof Wijnand Swart)
• Materials and nano sciences (Prof André Roodt), and
• Advanced bio-molecular systems (Prof Hugh Patterton).
Academics from approximately 30 departments and
ten centres and units are participating in the cluster process
thus far.
Annual Review • 2007 7
In an increasingly competitive national and international higher-education environment,
no university can be a national or a world leader in everything – not even a Harvard or an
Oxford University. Therefore it has become imperative for the UFS to position itself, in its
next phase of development, not only as a good teaching and research university, but as an
institution that truly excels in selected areas of knowledge.
In 2005 the Vice-Chancellor initiated a process to identify priority areas on which to focus in
both research and teaching. In contrast to earlier efforts, broad consensus was reached that the
University should put an extra focus, in terms of energy and resources, on a small number of
strategic academic clusters – key multidisciplinary areas of knowledge that are strategically
important in terms of national priorities as well as opportunities in the national and international
knowledge landscape.
In the 2008 budget, approved in November 2007, a
further allocation of R10 million was made to the cluster
project. This is seen as seed money. The entrepre neu rial
element of each cluster will be an integral part of its design
and focus, leading to significant industrial and other
external partnerships and third-stream income. An interim
cluster-financing committee has been functional for the
better part of 2007, but the financial model has still to be
thrashed out.
The same applies to the management model or structure
that would be appropriate – whilst allowing for the
dif ferent needs of different clusters. This is a quite critical
element which requires careful consideration. What is required
is to design an innovative management and governance
model that maximally supports the cluster initiative,
with each cluster being multidisciplinary and cross-faculty,
with out creating tensions with deans and the research manage
ment within each faculty. It will also be important to
guard against dilution of the clusters by academics not
aligned with the cluster focus areas and unwilling to change
their academic focus but who want to share in the resources
allocated to the clusters.
However, several of the clusters have started to function
with funds allocated to researchers. The major task of the
Directorate Research Development in the future, with the
support of research leaders, heads of departments and
especial ly deans, will be to operationalise each cluster to
function as a beehive of academic work and innovation.
Related to the Cluster Initiative, the Directorate Research
Development has initiated the process for the UFS
to participate in the NRF South African Research Chairs
Ini tia tive (SARChI) by linking proposed research chairs to
existing clusters. These chairs will imply a sig nificant
boost to our research capacity.