Albert van Jaarsveld becomes UKZNs Vice-Chancellor designate

The Council of the University of KwaZulu-Natal takes pleasure in announcing the

appointment of Dr Albert van Jaarsveld, the current Chief Executive Officer of the
National Research Foundation as the new Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the
university with effect from 1
st
February 2015.
He takes over from Prof. Malegapuru Makgoba whose term of office ends on 31
st

December 2014. Prof. Makgoba has led UKZN with distinction since being appointed
as the first Vice-Chancellor of the merged institution in 2004. Prof Makgoba is available
for a transitional period of three months on expiry of his current contract.
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 five experience on the driving seat of the National
Research Foundation not only provided him with the functional knowledge of research
systems at macro level but also with the necessary experience to operate at the highest
level.
Says Dr van Jaarsveld, who has served as the NRFs CEO for the last five years, 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.

Bio of Dr Albert van Jaarsveld
Dr van Jaarsveld is presently Chief Executive Officer of the National Research
Foundation. His career in research, teaching and leadership include academic and
management positions at the Universities of Pretoria and Stellenbosch, as Dean of
Science, Adjunct Professor: Environmental Studies Programme at Dartmouth College,
USA, Vice President and more recently, President and CEO of the National Research
Foundation.

He obtained his PhD in Zoology from the University of Pretoria. Pursued post-doctoral
studies and research in Conservation Biology and Global security in Australia and the
UK respectively and completed executive management training at Harvard University.
His research work focussed on biodiversity and conservation planning, biodiversity and
climate change as well as ecosystem services. 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.

During his tenure as CEO of the National Research Foundation, the budget of the NRF
increased from R 2bn to R 4bn and the organisation contributed to driving excellence
and transformation across the national research landscape. Over this period ISI
research outputs increased by 48% and PhD graduations by 57%. The number of NRF
rated researchers increased by 56%, black rated researchers by 55% and women rated
researchers by 36%. The NRF increased doctoral support by 48% and the global
research citation impact of South African science increased by 25% between 2009 and
2014. In addition, SALT became fully operational, Africa won the SKA bid and
infrastructure investment at Universities and Science Councils were dramatically
increased.Capital investments of R300m were made to rejuvenate the National
Research Facilities.

Dr van Jaarsveld is recipient of numerous Professional Awards, including awards as an
Outstanding Young Scientist; Outstanding Academic Achiever; the Chancellors 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).
Phumla Mnganga
Chair of Council