Vol 1 - Support Services Ufs Ac Za - University of the Free State

esearch and development. In the following year hewas promoted to Outstanding Professor. The Stalsprize for Interdisciplinary Research from the SouthAfrican Academy for Science and Art was awardedto Profs Louise Cilliers and François Retief (formerRector) in 2006. These two researchers have invarious instances shifted the boundaries of medicalhistory with their research.The University Council approved the esta blishmentof a Sesotho Language Research and De velopmentCentre in 2005, at the request of theNational Department of Art and Culture. This Centre,which resides in the Faculty, aims to establishSesotho as an academic language and to standardiseand promote the language. Another Universityinitiative residing in the Faculty is the Centre forAfrica Studies. Besides the focus on Africa and Africastudy in general, the emphasis falls on indigenousknowledge systems. The Unit for Khoekhoe and Sanstudies (Department of Anthropology) presented asymposium in 2007 where national and internationalacademics and indigenous leaders were present.The research undertaken here draws a great deal ofinternational interest.The Department of History delivered the high estnumber of research outputs of all Departments inthe Faculty for three consecutive years (2004-2006).The Department of Afroasiatic Studies, Sign Languageand Language Practice delivered 38 papers in2005 of which 15 were presented abroad.On the initiative of the Faculty’s MentorshipProgramme and the Directorate Research De ve lopment,a research day was held in 2007 for young researchers.This event provided these researchers withan opportunity to present papers in a safe en vir onment,to learn and to exchange ideas. A panel of established researchers provided feedback and adviceto the participants, based on their performance.96