Prof Petersen appointed UFS Vice-Chancellor

Dear students and colleagues

I write to formally confirm that the University of Cape Town's Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Institutional Innovation, Prof Francis Petersen, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor for the University of the Free State (UFS).

Prof Petersen's imminent departure from UCT was announced by the UFS Council on Friday, 02 December.

While we are naturally saddened that we are about to part ways with Prof Petersen, we share his excitement and congratulate him on this appointment. This is understandably a great opportunity for him and, when he departs from UCT at the end of March 2017, he will go with our best wishes into this next chapter of his career.

It comes as no surprise that a leader of Prof Petersen's calibre has been chosen by the UFS Council to lead the university. Since being appointed DVC in October 2014, Prof Petersen has been an invaluable and integral member of the UCT executive, and his track record in the eight years that he has been part of the university speaks volumes.

We have been extremely privileged to have someone of Prof Petersen's calibre on our leadership team. He is a principled and dedicated colleague, incredibly hard working, resilient, a team player always willing to step forward for the most challenging tasks, an effective negotiator, and a problem solver and strategic thinker.

Prof Petersen joined UCT in April 2008 as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. His stint as Dean was preceded by his extensive role in both the academic and private sectors, having served as the Executive Head: Strategy at Anglo American Platinum; Executive Vice-President: Research and Development at Mintek; and Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Cape Technikon (now the Cape Peninsula University of Technology).

Please join me in conveying our congratulations to Prof Petersen and wishing him everything of the best in his future endeavours.

I expect that Council, at its meeting on 10 December, will appoint an acting DVC to overlap with the end of Prof Petersen's contract and take over from him.

Yours sincerely

Dr Max Price
Vice-Chancellor