University of the Free State Welcomes Prof Corlia Janse van Vuuren as Vice-Dean
Prof Corlia Janse van Vuuren, Head of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), has been appointed as the faculty’s Vice-Dean for Teaching and Learning.
“With the introduction of Vision 130, new opportunities are emerging, and I am looking forward to embracing the future with enthusiasm in my current role as the Head of the School, but also within my additional role of Vice-Dean for Teaching and Learning,” says Prof Janse van Vuuren.
Looking forward
As of 1 September 2023, Prof Janse van Vuuren commenced her new role. Her vision is to focus on embedding data-driven decision-making in teaching and learning within the faculty and to support the pedagogical review of modules with a focus on delivering ‘fit-for-purpose’ graduates for a digital healthcare environment. On a postgraduate teaching and learning level, she hopes to find effective and integrated postgraduate and research engagements or arrangements to support the faculty in reaching the goals of Vision 130.
According to Prof Janse van Vuuren, she is most excited to continue learning with and from colleagues within all the schools of the faculty and hopes that everyone collectively reaches the future they are envisaging.
Her academic journey
Prof Janse van Vuuren joined the UFS in 1994 as a first-year student registered in the Department of Physiotherapy. Throughout her studies, she knew that her passion lay within academics and she pursued a master’s and doctoral degree after her first professional degree.
After graduation, she practised as a physiotherapist in private practices in Ladybrand and Bloemfontein. Whilst completing her PhD, she worked as a locum at the Life Pasteur Hospital. She then started with student supervision on a part-time basis at the same hospital.
“This confirmed my passion for academics, and in the year after obtaining my doctoral degree, I joined the UFS as a full-time lecturer in the Department of Physiotherapy,” she said.
Previously, Prof Janse van Vuuren was the Head of the Department of Physiotherapy from 2010-2013. In 2013, the UFS embarked on appointing Teaching and Learning Managers (TLMs) for each faculty to drive academic projects at the university.
“As I am always eager to learn and I thought it would be a golden opportunity to join another faculty and engage in teaching and learning in another context and with different people.”
Prof Janse van Vuuren then joined the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences in 2013 and, through that, also served on several institutional committees focusing on an array of aspects related to teaching and learning, e.g., applications, admissions and registrations, timetables, general rules, amongst others. She also got an opportunity to work closely with colleagues from the Centre of Teaching and Learning on the planning and development of many interventions across campus with other TLMs.
Highlights of the past five years
In early 2019, Prof Janse van Vuuren returned to the Faculty of Health Sciences as the Head of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (then known as the School for Allied Health Professions). “The past five years have been very blessed with many highlights in the school, such as the expansion of infrastructure, the filling of all vacant academic posts, and excellent Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) accreditation reports in those departments that underwent their accreditations”. Her hope is to continue her work in the school and grow the school’s visibility on institutional, regional, and national levels.