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

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Prof Teuns Verschoor, Vice-Rector:Academic Operations and UniversityResearch Committee ChairpersonThe University of the Free State is con sistent lystriving towards excellence in its researchactivities. We have articulated our intention ofbecoming a research-intensive University and withinthis context we respond with appreciation andoptimism to both the praise and advice offered bythe recent Institutional Audit Panel of the HigherEducation Quality Committee (HEQC) of the SouthAfrican Council on Higher Education.The 2006 Audit Panel acknowledged theenthusiasm and commitment with which our staffmembers are working towards becoming a researchledUniversity. The Panel confirmed that thededication of our staff members, as well as ourconsiderable financial and human investment inresearch capacity development, has positivelyassisted the University to progress with respect toits stated strategic research objectives.The recommended revision of the University’sstrategy for the development of research was initiatedduring 2007. This revision includes the externalevaluation of the previous five-year strategy and thedevelopment of a framework for a new strategy toguide research during the next five years (2008-2013).Changing internal and external imperatives will informand direct this review process and, among otherissues, the revised strategy will ensure that ourintention to become a research-led University will beappropriately supported at the operational level.The Panel commended and congratulated theUniversity on its adoption of a focused approach tothe development of research. The Strategic AcademicCluster initiative, as referred to by the Rector in hisintroduction to this report, resulted in the successfuldevelopment of six strategic Clusters which willbecome central to all research and innovationactivities at the University in the coming years. TheseClusters will serve as axis for not only research, butalso academic training at undergraduate andpostgraduate level, and to our engagement with thecommunities around us.Some HEQC recommendations are already inprocess of being addressed, either through thenoted research strategy review, or via other relatedinitiatives.The University, cognisant of the challengesposed by a less than optimal managementinformation system, joined the national ResearchInformation Management System project early in2007. The project is being supported by thenational Departments of Science and Technology,Education and the National Research Foundationand entails the nationwide implementation of asoftware system tailored to the needs of the SouthAfrican higher education sector. The system isbeing implemented at our University during thelatter six months of 2008 and will enable the moreefficient utilisation of monitoring data on researchactivities and output in strategic decision-makingprocesses.4
Message from Prof Teuns VerschoorThe HEQC Audit results prompted the Universityto reconsider its research govern ance structures. Forexample, a restructuring of the University ResearchCommittee in relation to the broader PortfolioCommittee on Education and Research is beingconsidered. The University further intends to clarifyand formalise its approach to the management ofresearch ethics. Research ethics management toolsand information will be available via the centralresearch information management system by theend of 2008, and we are discus sing the establishmentof an institution-wide Ethics Committee. This centralCommittee will bring together ethics boards andethics working groups from all faculties, departmentsand disciplines and it is envisaged that it will managenot only issues related to research ethics, but allaspects of academic ethics.In 2005, the University approved its Policy forthe Management of Intellectual Property. Since thenan acting Director for Entre pre neurship and SpecialProjects was appointed, and a process has beeninitiated to appoint a Director for TechnologyTransfer/Research Com mer cialisation. A candidateattorney was seconded to assist with contractmanagement, and legal representatives werecontracted to handle University patents. The HEQCacknow ledged these positive steps being taken tonot only expand the University’s capacity formanaging the commercialisation of research, butalso to support our researchers to develop and realisethe commercialisation potential of their activities.Even though the University’s research outputhas increased in terms of publication units, theHEQC Panel voiced a concern about the pre dominanceof staff publishing in local and in-housejournals. A proposal to revise the current researchoutput incentive system is being discussed, particularlywith reference to the support required byour researchers to publish more frequently in internationaljournals. At the same time, one of our inhousejournals, the Acta Theologica, recentlyachieved ISI-status. Not with standing, a drive towardsincreased internationally accredited researchpublication will form part of the University’s futureresearch strategy.Finally, the HEQC Audit identified the absenceof formal postgraduate student support services asa possible impediment to quality and excellence inthe University’s postgraduate training activities.The Direc to rate Research Development (DRD)initiated the process to establish an institutionalPost graduate Student Support Office in 2005 andthe University approved this initiative in 2007. Atpresent, dedicated staff members are supportingthe development of this service, and recom mendationsaimed at the improvement of postgraduateeducation at the University are being developed.Based on these activities, the role, responsibilitiesand structure of the Postgraduate Student SupportOffice will be clarified and the Office shouldcommence operations by the end of 2008.For their dedication and ingenuity of the pastfive years I thank the DRD management and staff.The strategies and support projects emerging fromtheir offices have enriched and advanced theUniversity research culture to ever-increasingheights and we remain confident in their supportand leadership over the next five years.5
Page 3 and 4: Celebrating research development an
Page 5 and 6: Table of ContentsForeword .........
Page 7: Message from Prof Frederick FourieF
Page 11 and 12: Message from Prof Frans Swanepoelma
Page 13 and 14: Future VisionA new strategic framew
Page 15 and 16: Significant Institutionalplishments
Page 17 and 18: Significant Institutional Accomplis
Page 19 and 20: Prof James duPreez, B2-ratedresearc
Page 21 and 22: students from priority groups - exh
Page 23 and 24: Table 1: Promising Emerging Researc
Page 25 and 26: There has been a similarly signific
Page 27 and 28: Minister Mosibudi Mangena (Minister
Page 29 and 30: Attending the recognition functionf
Page 31 and 32: The Strategic Academicr Initiative2
Page 33 and 34: The Strategic AcademicCluster Initi
Page 35 and 36: odies are sustained by their ecosys
Page 37 and 38: programmes are not imple mented eff
Page 39 and 40: transformation. Such transformation
Page 41 and 42: y biotic and abiotic constraints in
Page 43 and 44: Focus Areas1. Nano solid state mate
Page 45 and 46: dimensional electrophoretic analysi
Page 48 and 49: 44Internat
Page 50 and 51: Staff members at the UFS Internatio
Page 52: and expansion of research membershi
Page 55 and 56: Research Commercialisationand Coope
Page 57 and 58: Research Commercialisation andCoope
Page 59 and 60:
Foundation (NRF), which contributes
Page 62 and 63:
58Student
Page 64 and 65:
Postgraduate students are the resea
Page 66:
students; post graduate topics; sup
Page 69 and 70:
Outstanding Researchements65
Page 71 and 72:
Outstanding Research AchievementsTh
Page 73 and 74:
Prof Max Finkelstein, Senior Profes
Page 75 and 76:
Prof Johan Meyer, Senior Professor
Page 77 and 78:
evalua tion panel for the European
Page 79 and 80:
of the Free State’s Department of
Page 81 and 82:
Delivered the best presentation on
Page 83 and 84:
Shaw, WDepartment of Medical Physic
Page 85 and 86:
At Judge Fritz Brand’s inaugural
Page 87 and 88:
At Prof Alice Pell’s inaugural le
Page 89 and 90:
Research85
Page 91 and 92:
Economic and Management SciencesMes
Page 94 and 95:
Prof Letticia Moja (Dean: Faculty o
Page 96 and 97:
leukaemia and to test new anti-canc
Page 98 and 99:
It is also a priority to make funds
Page 100:
esearch and development. In the fol
Page 103 and 104:
LawMessage from the Dean: Prof Joha
Page 105 and 106:
through the unlocking of a source t
Page 107 and 108:
103
Page 109 and 110:
Natural and Agricultural Sciencesth
Page 111 and 112:
107
Page 113 and 114:
TheologyMessage from the Dean: Prof
show all

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

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?