Students and lecturers at the University of the Free State’s Faculty of Education were recently awarded for their exceptional talent and contributions. This year’s prestigious Teaching and Learning Awards ceremony highlighted the dedication to educational innovation and excellence within the faculty, underscoring its commitment to shaping the future of education.
Prof. Jannie Pretorius and Thabiso Motsoeneng received the Khothatsa Project Award, recognising their outstanding contributions to innovative teaching methods and impactful community engagement. Their work exemplifies the faculty’s dedication to harnessing diversity and creativity in education to address real-world challenges.
Dr Annemie Grobler took second place in the Most Valued Professional Award category, celebrating her significant professional contributions to the faculty and the broader educational community.
Dr Henry Nichols, in collaboration with Dr Eleanor Bernard from the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL), received the Best Conference Paper Award, highlighting the faculty’s strong emphasis on research and scholarship in education.
Simphiwe Kunene, a student, was the recipient of the Special Recognition Student Award as the 2024 ATD Dream Scholar, marking a historic moment as the first African DREAM scholar. Currently a master’s student in the Faculty of Education, Kunene’s achievement underscores the faculty’s role in fostering student success and leadership on the international stage.
International opportunity
In a development for academic excellence and research, two of the faculty’s members, Philangenkosi Shabangu, a lecturer, and Stefanus Scheepers, a professional officer in the Teaching Practice Directorate and an alumnus of the UFS, have been selected for the Wits-Edinburgh Sustainable African Futures (WESAF) Doctoral Programme.
Awarded full scholarships, they will pursue their PhDs at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom.
Call for applications
The Faculty of Education encourages prospective students to apply for its high-demand undergraduate programmes, available at the QwaQwa, Bloemfontein and South Campuses.
With a four-year full-time curriculum, these programmes offer specialisations in critical areas of education, including: Foundation Phase Specialisation in Afrikaans Home Language; Intermediate Phase Specialisations in Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Technology, and Life Skills, Social Sciences with Afrikaans Home Language; and Senior Phase and FET Specialisation in English and Afrikaans Home Language.
The faculty continues to lead by example, celebrating the achievements of its community and steadfastly committing to excellence in education. These recognitions and academic opportunities not only highlight individual accomplishments, but also reinforce the faculty’s role as a cradle of educational innovation and leadership.
