Prof. Hesta Friedrich-Nel is an associate professor and assistant dean for teaching and learning in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences (FHES) at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT).
In the context of celebrating 20 years of innovation at the CUT, this faculty underscores sustainable development through teaching and cutting-edge research, producing graduates with global competencies and discoveries.
Friedrich-Nel attributes this to a proactive approach and commitment of the faculty leadership to the innovation milestones.
“The faculty leadership act as role models and provide the necessary motivation, signposts and stepping stones in innovation for committed and dedicated personnel members to follow,” she explained.
“The faculty has also shown an increase in the number of article publications – some of these in high-impact journals.”
Characterising her future-focused approach, Friedrich-Nel is optimistic the faculty is capable and has the potential to achieve more goals in line with the vision of the CUT: to be a leading African university of technology, shaping the future through innovation.
“When aligning the faculty goals with this vision, the objectives should reflect a commitment to academic excellence, cutting-edge research, community engagement, and global impact,” she believes.
The Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences consists of: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Clinical Sciences, the Department of Health Sciences and the Department of Life Sciences.
Tuition is offered in Environmental Health, as well as Agricultural Management, and various health-related disciplines, including: Clinical Technology, Radiography, Biomedical Technology, Dental Assisting, and Somatology. Specialist fields are included at an undergraduate and postgraduate level in most of these disciplines.
The faculty drives innovation through flagship projects, which include the work done by the Unit for Drug Discovery (UDD) and the identification of authentic yeasts for beer brewery.
Excellence shines through
Strides being made within the faculty have been duly recognised.
Prof. Tshepiso Makhafola was awarded the Iso Lomso Fellowship for extensive research in genotoxicity and the use of natural products to prevent mycotoxin-induced genotoxicity and carcinogenicity.
In turn, Prof. Samson Mashele’s collaboration with international researchers from two America-based institutions – the University of Tennessee and the University of Wisconsin-Madison – has also been acknowledged. The collaboration further strengthened ties with he Huazhong Agricultural University in China, resulting in the exchange of knowledge and resources aiding drug discovery.
“This breakthrough was made possible through partnerships with scientists. Mashele said that the CUT was proud to be at the forefront of the innovative research, which has the potential to transform the aquaculture industry.
“Our university’s and faculty’s commitment to excellence in research and innovation is evident in this work,” stated Friedrich-Nel.
The faculty further prides itself on competent graduates.
“All undergraduate students in the FHES engage in work-integrated learning, and through such activities prepare students as local and global responsible citizens with an entrepreneurial mindset.”
As such, 90% of the students enter the job market upon graduation, uplifting their own socio-economic status, as well as contributing to the well-being of the community.
Students are also, on occasion, lauded and rewarded for the pursuit of excellence in their respective fields.
“One of the fourth-year Radiography Diagnostics students, Abigail van den Berg, received the prestigious 2024 Abe Bailey Travel Bursary and will participate in a three-week programme. This includes a tour of the United Kingdom, engagement with influential leaders, and other activities designed to broaden understanding of global issues and leadership,” says Friedrich-Nel.
Challenges faced head-on
According to Friedrich-Nel, the Covid-19 pandemic, amidst the negative impact globally, tested the ability of the CUT as dynamic catalyst in reaching the milestone of 20 years of innovation.
“Covid-19 changed the innovation landscape regarding the three pillars of the university: teaching, learning and assessment; research; and community engagement.
“As far as the latter pillar is concerned, with the Department of Health the faculty was instrumental in providing hand sanitiser to the community.
“A number of research publications and doctoral and masters’ degree research also focused on the impact of Covid-19, and how the lessons learned could position us favourably for future pandemics.
“When considering the pillar of teaching, learning and assessment, our students, being frontline healthcare workers, had to return to campus and engage in work-integrated learning, while many of the students engaged in remote online teaching and learning, as well as assessment.
“However, because of Covid-19 regulations such as social distancing, the lecturers went the extra mile to engage students using technology, online teaching and learning, immersive technology, and simulation-based learning. The students were quick to grasp the principles and favourably responded to these innovations.
“The valuable lessons learned during this time still linger, as lecturers and students stood together as a strong team to salvage the academic year and ensured that those who were about the graduate did so by adhering to the Health Professions Council’s requirements.”
Eye kept on goals
According to Friedrich-Nel, a few goals that are possible to achieve are:
- Promote and support groundbreaking research that addresses African and global challenges, emphasising technological innovation and increasing research output and patents, particularly in fields relevant to Africa’s development, such as sustainable agriculture.
- Strengthen collaborations with industry partners to ensure that research and academic programmes are aligned with market needs.
- Deliver high-quality education that equips students with the skills needed to innovate and lead in a rapidly changing technological landscape. Revise curricula to include emerging technologies and ensure that faculties are at the forefront of their fields.
- Create an academic and social environment that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, reflecting the university’s commitment to societal impact.
- Integrate sustainability into all aspects of research, and teaching.
