Unisa 2012 APEX award winners
Unisa held the official opening ceremony for the 2012 academic year on 8 February, during which 27 academics received Unisa APEX (Accelerated Professional Excellence) awards. These awards recognise full professors who are at the top of their career paths, and who have been performing at a consistently meritorious level for a period of five years.
APEX was launched in 2008. The rationale was that full professors form the core of subject matter expertise in the university, and as such serve as role models and mentors for other academic employees. It is therefore important that they be acknowledged and motivated to fulfil these roles withexcellence and dedication.
For the 2011 round of APEX awards, 37 applications were received. A total of 27 candidates met the criteria for consistent meritorious performance for 2011. Ten of the award winners came from the College of Human Sciences (CHS), namely:
- Prof Cornelius du Toit (Research Institute for Theology and Religion)
- Prof Wilhelm Wessels (Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies)
- Prof James Mafela (African Languages)
- Prof Pieter Craffert (New Testament and Early Christian Studies)
- Prof Izak Spangenberg (Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies)
- Prof Pieter Labuschagne (Political Sciences)
- Prof Sonja Bosch (African Languages)
- Prof Pieter Botha (New Testament and Early Christian Studies)
- Prof Mohamed Seedat (Institute for Social and Health Sciences)
- Prof Johannes Vorster (New Testament and Early Christian Studies)
The award winners had the following to say:
“It is gratifying and encouraging to get recognition for dedicated work and responsibilities that more often than not, mean burning the midnight oil. I would like to think that this type of award serves as inspiration to my colleagues in the Department of African Languages and to members of my research teams. As we would say in isiZulu: ngizamaukuvulaindlela!” said Prof Bosch.
Prof Seedat stated that he felt, “both humbled and honoured. It is an important affirmation from this institution and its visionary leadership.”
“I am very grateful for receiving the Apex award for a second time. I am not working for awards, but to receive recognition for the work I do at the university is very pleasing,” said Prof W J Wessels.
Prof Mafela stated,“I feel recognised in the academic field and this serves as a challenge for me to work hard.”
As full professors are at the top of their career paths and do not have possibilities for career progression like academics at other levels, the APEX awards also serve to discourage Unisa’s full professors from looking for greener pastures elsewhere, or to try to move into managerial positions to improve their income. Another objective of the APEX awards is to motivate academics at other levels to aspire to full professor status.
By Kgaugelo Pule
