Long-time Wits University registrar Derek Swemmer joined the University of the Free State (UFS) at the beginning of the month.
“Currently recognised as one of the most experienced, competent and outstanding registrars in South Africa”, Swemmer took up his position as “the single registrar of UFS”, the university announced last week.
“This appointment creates the opportunity for me to assess the many existing practices of the UFS and to seek to enhance these based on my own experience at Wits,” Swemmer said.
He started his academic career as a part-time student assistant at the University of Pretoria in 1974.
He also taught at the Christ’s Hospital Public School in the United Kingdom and was a full-time lecturer in the English department at Unisa until he joined Wits as personal assistant to the vice-chancellor and principal in 1985.
Swemmer holds a DLitt et Phil in English from Unisa and has received awards that include the South African Golden Key International Honours Society Chapter Adviser of the Year in 2006 and 2008, an extraordinary second Certificate of Honour from the International Education Association of South Africa and the Golden Key International Leadership Council President’s Award.
At Wits he chaired the university’s issues management group and its crisis committee.
He has been honorary treasurer of the International Education Association of South Africa and honorary secretary of the English Academy of Southern Africa.