Jaaroorsig - University of the Free State

ment Drama- en Teaterkuns van die bestegeriewe in die land met drie volledigtoegeruste, moderne teaters, asook ultramoderneklank- en video-ateljees.Die Navorsingsinstituut vir Onderwysbeplanning(NIOB) het ’n laboratoriumin gebruik geneem met die finansiëlesteun van die maatskappy TRACSA. Die doel van die TRAC-laboratoriumis enersyds om leerders en onderwysersbekend te stel aan die jongstetegnologie wat ingenieurs en anderwetenskaplikes in die praktyk gebruik,en andersyds, om leerders se belangstellingte prikkel sodat meer tot dienatuurwetenskapberoepe sal toetree.Meer as 1 000 leerders en 200 onderwysershet die laboratorium reeds in2005 benut.Strategic clusters, a newstrategy for researchdevelopmentThe UFS operates in an increasingly competitiveenvironment where South Africanuniversities no longer compete with theirnational counterparts only, but also internationally.A reputation for excellence hasbecome a crucial factor in attracting qualitystudents and staff, research funding andother forms of sponsorship.It has become imperative for the UFSto position itself, in its next phase ofdevelopment, not only as a good (teachingand) research university, but as aninstitution that truly excels in certainstrategic areas or clusters of research andknowledge — whilst continuing to providegeneral support for research excellenceacross the many disciplines.In 2005 the Vice-Chancellor initiateda process to identify priority areas onwhich to focus its research. Broad consensuswas reached that the universityTRAC wakker meer belangstelling in die natuurwetenskappe aan.should align key areas of its academicand research efforts with national prioritiesthrough the introduction of fivestrategic clusters:• Enabling technologies (or technologyfor the future)• Food production and food securityfor Africa• Development (economics, health, literacyand other human activities)• Social transformation, and• Water resources and ecosystem management.These strategic clusters are understoodnot only as research areas, but asareas that also encompass strong undergraduateand particularly postgraduateteaching and a potentially solid scientificbasis for service learning and communityservice research.Some of the spin-offs can have animportant impact on industrial development,and may also create a basis forcooperation with provincial, nationaland international partners. This initiativewill be developed further in 2006.17