THE University of the Free State (UFS) recently hosted its inaugural UFS Exceptional Academic Achievers Awards, a celebration of outstanding contributions by researchers, academics and academic support staff at the institution.
The awards bring together the Learning and Teaching Awards, hosted annually by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, and the Research Awards organised by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s Office for Research and Internationalisation, merging these recognitions to highlight excellence across both research and teaching.
Professor Hendrik Swart, Dr Arno van Niekerk, and Jana Lamprecht received the prestigious Prestige Academic Achievers Awards, underscoring their significant impact on their fields and on the UFS community.
Swart, a senior professor in the UFS Department of Physics and SARChI research chair for solid-state luminescent and advanced materials, was awarded the Exceptional Established Achievers’ Award, which includes R30 000 in prize money.
Van Niekerk, a senior lecturer in the Department of Economics and Finance, won the UFS 2023 Book Prize for his work, The Inclusive Economy: Criteria, Principles and Ubuntu, earning R25 000.
Lamprecht, a senior lecturer in the School of Accountancy, received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award in Learning and Teaching.
Professor Anthea Rhoda, the acting vice-chancellor and principal at the UFS, emphasised that the awards highlight the deep connection between research and teaching.
“Each one of the nominees and winners is making a significant impact in their fields of research and in teaching and learning at the UFS and, in doing so, are raising the excellence profile of the UFS and driving our aspirations to be a student-centred, research-led university, as outlined in Vision 130,” she said.
Award recipients expressed their gratitude, with Lamprecht acknowledging UFS’s support for innovative teaching and Van Niekerk noting the motivation that recognition brings.
Swart dedicated his award to his global team, attributing his success to their collaborative efforts. – Staff Reporter
