New head for UKZN
Dr Albert van Jaarsveld will lead UKZN as vice-chancellor from February 2015.
DR Albert van Jaarsveld, the current Chief Executive Officer of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Council of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, has been appointed as the new vice-chancellor and principal of the university.
He will take over from Prof Malegapuru Makgoba on 1 February 2015. Professor Makgoba was the first vice-chancellor of the merged institution in 2004.
Dr van Jaarsveld brings with him a wealth of experience and new ideas on how to keep the university on an upward trajectory, building on its record of excellence through transformation. Van Jaarsveld’s experience in the driving seat of the NRF not only provided him with the functional knowledge of research systems at a macro level but also with the necessary experience to function at the highest level.
Dr van Jaarsveld who has served as the NRF’s CEO for the last five years said: “I have been presented with an invaluable opportunity to return to academia in a capacity that will bring me closer to the coal face of skills development and scientific research in South Africa. I feel that I can make an important contribution to the University of KwaZulu-Natal in its efforts to further grow its teaching stature, improve its research capacity, to contribute to institutional transformation and to enhance the international standing of UKZN as a major research-driven higher education institution.”
Dr van Jaarsveld's career in research, teaching and leadership include academic and management positions at the Universities of Pretoria and Stellenbosch, as dean of science, adjunct professor of environmental studies programme at Dartmouth College, USA, vice president and more recently, president and CEO of the NRF.
He obtained his PhD in Zoology from the University of Pretoria. Pursued post-doctoral studies and research in c onservation biology and global security in Australia and the UK respectively and completed executive management training at Harvard University. He was appointed full professor at both the Universities of Pretoria and Stellenbosch and has published in excess of 100 primary research papers, including highly cited works in science and nature.
Dr van Jaarsveld is recipient of numerous professional awards, including awards as an Outstanding Young Scientist, Outstanding Academic Achiever, the Chancellor’s award for Excellence in Tuition and Learning from the University of Pretoria, University of Stellenbosch Vice-Chancellors award for Research Excellence and the Centenary Medal for distinguished career in research, teaching and leadership from the South African Academy of Science and Arts. He is co-recipient of the International Zayed prize for the environment, a member of several professional and academic organisations and associations, including being a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and an elected member of the South African Academy of Sciences.
On the international front, Dr van Jaarsveld has served as co-chair of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment follow-up: Sub-global assessments, member of the ICSU nominations committee, as IPBES science focal point, Chair of the G8 science ministers Group of Senior Officials on Global Research Infrastructure and Chair of the International Group of Funding Agencies (IGFA), Co-Chair of the Belmont Forum and as a member of the ICSU review panel (2013-2014).
