Following the announcement of the imminent departure of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Francis Petersen, Bloemfontein Courant reached out to him, seeking insight into his time in Bloemfontein.
“During my time at the UFS, there have been many highlights,” said Prof. Petersen. “In my first term – through a well-structured, thought-through, and consultative approach – I produced the strategic framework for the UFS for the period 2018 to 2022.”
Prof. Petersen oversaw the implementation of several plans and projects during his first term, including the Integrated Transformation Plan, which focuses on social justice, the UFS Strategic Plan, and the Vice-Chancellor Strategic Projects.
“Further highlights included the development of differentiated research, internationalisation, and innovation strategies for the UFS,” Prof. Petersen explained.
“In addition, I also led the establishment and implementation of the university’s Vision 130 strategy in 2022, which is an expression of the UFS’ aspirations and intentions marking 130 years of existence in 2034,” he said.
Prof. Petersen’s time at the UFS has not been without its challenges, including the relocation of the MT Steyn Statue from the Bloemfontein Campus to the War Museum. “I have repeatedly been asked whether the time, effort, and resources we poured into the process around deciding the statue’s future have been worth it. “My answer is consistently a resounding ‘yes’! It was a chance to really listen to one another.”
Covid-19 also offered its own challenges for several years, and so did maintaining stability on all three UFS campuses during student unrest and the challenges experienced with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
Prof. Petersen offered insight to his successor: “Serving as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS has been one of the greatest honours of my career. I am immensely proud of everything the university has achieved together over the past seven years. I believe my successor would feel the same once he/she gets to know the university, its staff, students, and the broader university community. One of the most important aspects is to listen, hear and engage with stakeholders as it garners understanding, support and collaboration, and contributes to a shared vision.”
Prof. Petersen will take up the role of Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Pretoria starting on 1 October 2024.
Warren Hawkins
