TUT’s Faculty of Science has appointed Dr Erika Jordaan as the brand new Head of the Department (HoD) of Biotechnology and Food Technology.
Dr Erika Jordaan
Her appointment marks a big milestone in a profession that has been intently intertwined with the Tshwane University of Technology for greater than three a long time.
Dr Jordaan’s skilled journey started in 1982, throughout her Work Integrated Learning 12 months on the Research Institute for Animal and Dairy Sciences in Irene, the place she labored on recent and processed meat and meat merchandise. This early publicity to utilized analysis resulted in a number of publications that proceed to be cited in the present day, as nicely as a number of convention poster displays, laying a robust basis for her educational profession.
In 1990, she joined the previous Technikon Pretoria as a senior technician. A decade later, she was appointed as a lecturer, a task she continues to fulfil with enthusiasm. Reflecting on her 36 years within the Department, Dr Jordaan attributes her long-standing dedication to a real love of her work and to the robust sense of neighborhood she has discovered amongst colleagues who’ve turn out to be lifelong associates.
“I never felt the urge to move on,” she says, noting that her profession path advanced naturally via educating, analysis and administration, together with 11 years of serving as performing Head of Department.
Throughout her profession, Dr Jordaan has taught microbiology at a number of ranges, contributed to quite a few analysis initiatives and steadily expanded her educational horizons. She describes herself as a “quite unintentional” lifelong learner, holding {qualifications} that vary from a National Diploma in Microbiology to a Doctor of Technology in Biotechnology. Her educational improvement is complemented by education-focused coaching accomplished in each South Africa and Finland, as nicely as a Master of Education in Life Sciences Education from the University of Pretoria.
Her skilled standing is mirrored in her affiliations with recognised our bodies together with the South African Society for Microbiology (SASM), the South African Association for Food Science and Technology (SAAFoST) and the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP). Over the years, her contributions have been acknowledged via a variety of accolades, together with Vice-Chancellor’s awards, nationwide and Faculty analysis awards, as nicely as Lecturer of the Year recognition for each educating and analysis excellence.
Dr Jordaan’s educational pursuits span normal microbiology and biotechnology, with a robust emphasis on training and coaching. Colleagues and college students typically describe her as a “human can-opener”, a phrase she makes use of fondly to seize her means to attach simply with folks and her real concern for these round her.
As she steps into the position of HoD, Dr Jordaan brings together with her intensive institutional information, a ardour for educating and studying and a people-centred strategy that aligns strongly with TUT’s dedication to educational excellence, innovation and scholar success.