{"id":299122,"date":"2024-08-28T05:31:14","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T03:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/future-focused-view-invigorates-20240826\/"},"modified":"2024-08-28T05:31:14","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T03:31:14","slug":"future-focused-view-invigorates-20240826","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/future-focused-view-invigorates-20240826\/","title":{"rendered":"Future-focused view invigorates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friedrich-Nel attributes this to a proactive approach and commitment of the faculty leadership to the innovation milestones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d she explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe faculty has also shown an increase in the number of article publications \u2013 some of these in high-impact journals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen aligning the faculty goals with this vision, the objectives should reflect a commitment to academic excellence, cutting-edge research, community engagement, and global impact,\u201d she believes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excellence shines through<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Strides being made within the faculty have been duly recognised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In turn, Prof. Samson Mashele\u2019s collaboration with international researchers from two America-based institutions \u2013 the University of Tennessee and the University of Wisconsin-Madison \u2013 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur university\u2019s and faculty\u2019s commitment to excellence in research and innovation is evident in this work,\u201d stated Friedrich-Nel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The faculty further prides itself on competent graduates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students are also, on occasion, lauded and rewarded for the pursuit of excellence in their respective fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne 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,\u201d says Friedrich-Nel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenges faced head-on<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCovid-19 changed the innovation landscape regarding the three pillars of the university: teaching, learning and assessment; research; and community engagement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs far as the latter pillar is concerned, with the Department of Health the faculty was instrumental in providing hand sanitiser to the community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA number of research publications and doctoral and masters\u2019 degree research also focused on the impact of Covid-19, and how the lessons learned could position us favourably for future pandemics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHowever, 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe 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\u2019s requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye kept on goals<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

According to Friedrich-Nel, a few goals that are possible to achieve are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n