Prof Wim de Villiers, the rector designate of Stellenbosch University (SU), delivered the welcoming address at a conference of the Forum of University Nursing Deans in South Africa (FUNDISA) hosted at SU's Division of Nursing Science on 19 February 2015.
At this conference, attended by all the heads of nursing programmes at higher education institutions in South Africa, issues of national importance around nursing and midwifery came under the spotlight.
It was De Villiers' first official speaking engagement as SU rector designate. He was appointed in December, and takes up his position in April. Currently, he is Dean of the University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences.
In his opening remarks at the FUNDISA meeting he said that nursing and midwifery are vital components of health care. He stressed that he holds academic scholarship in high regard.
De Villiers is a Matie alumnus and medical doctor who also studied and worked in England and America for 24 years. He obtained an MB,ChB from Stellenbosch University and a DPhil in Immunology from Oxford University. In America he practised as a gastroenterologist and also established himself as a respected researcher in this field. He held a number of senior positions at the University of Kentucky (UK), including Head of Gastroenterology and Administrative Head of the UK's group of hospitals and clinics, known as UK HealthCare.
The training of nurses and the scholarship of the subject are of particular interest to De Villiers. "Higher education institutions play a pivotal role in this regard, and the commitment to excellence shown by universities and structures such as FUNDISA is very encouraging."
"We need to pursue excellence in nursing scholarship in South Africa," he said. He praised FUNDISA for their focus on academic excellence, which is clearly stated by their motto of 'excellence in university nursing scholarship'.
De Villiers added that the focus of these institutions must not be on education only, but research and scholarship are of equal importance. "Nursing and midwifery are dependent on expert knowledge and skills," De Villiers said.
He also touched on the importance of an interprofessional team approach and explained that recent research suggests that collaboration between health professionals has a positive impact on the quality of service. "In USA hospitals one will often find the office of the Chief Nursing Officer right next to the office of the Chief Operating Officer."
De Villiers cautioned that South Africa is facing an epidemic of non-communicable diseases over the next decade. South Africa was successful in managing HIV related issues, but the biggest challenge health care will be facing in the near future is that of non-communicable diseases. "We need to train for this and do research if we want to manage this challenge successfully."
The Division of Nursing at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences hosted the two day event. The newly appointed head of the division, Prof Anita van der Merwe, said that she aims to have the undergraduate nursing reinstated at Stellenbosch University and to develop the PhD programme to full capacity.
PHOTO: From left to right are Profs Hester Klopper, CEO of FUNDISA; Usuf Chikte, Executive Head: Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, FMHS; Dr Therese Fish, Deputy Dean: Community Service and Interaction, FMHS; Profs Wim de Villiers, Rector Designate, SU; Marietjie de Villiers, Deputy Dean: Education, FMHS; and Anita van der Merwe, Head: Division of Nursing Sciences, FMHS PHOTO: Desmond Thompson
