New Dispensation: Community Engagement and Service Learning at the UFS

After a fruitful term as Chief Director: Community Service, rev Kiepie Jaftha has retired at the end of 2009. Mr Billyboy Ramahlele, former Director of the Diversity Office, has since been appointed as Director: Community Engagement. Prof Driekie Hay, Vice-Rector: Teaching and Learning is the line head for Community Engagement and mr Ramahlele reports to her. Ms Lolly Mogoere, development officer, and ms Moodi Matsoso, coordinator on the Qwaqwa Campus, both report to Mr Ramahlele. His secretary is Ms Lenie Wepener.

The Division: Service Learning, headed by prof Mabel Erasmus, remains situated within the Centre for Higher Education Studies and Development (CHESD) and thus also falls under Prof Hay. Mrs Dikgapane Makhetha, Research and Administration Officer, is the other permanent staff member in the Division: Service Learning.

There will be close collaboration between Community Engagement and Service Learning in future. Both entities will strive for synergy between the various initiatives they represent, with progressive alignment towards the vision spelled out in the Academic Turnabout Strategy (2010) of the UFS, with special focus on “The University-School Partnership Project”, spelled out in point 18 of the strategy. The first meeting of the Community Engagement (CE) Management Committee, in which all the faculties will be represented by their (current) Community Service Portfolio Committee Chair Persons and Coordinators, will be held on 11 March 2010, from 10:00 until 12:00, in the Council Chambers, George du Toit Administration Building. The current flagship community partnership sites will also be represented at the meeting.

Community Engagement
Mr Billyboy Ramahlele
(Director)
Tel: +27-(0)51-401 3279
Email: ramahpm@ufs.ac.za

Community Development Officer
Ms Lolly Mogoere
Tel: +27-(0)51--4013129
Email: mogoeremm@ufs.ac.za

Secretary
Ms Lenie Wepener
Tel: +27-(0)51-4012822
Email: wepenmw@ufs.ac.za