Rhodes University Dean of Science Ric Bernard is leaving Rhodes University to become the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga, where his first big project will be to put together a Bachelor of Science degree relevant to conservation concerns in the area, which includes the Kruger National Park.
Rhodes University Dean of Science Ric Bernard is leaving Rhodes University to become the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga, where his first big project will be to put together a Bachelor of Science degree relevant to conservation concerns in the area, which includes the Kruger National Park.
After 32 years teaching Zoology and Entomology at Rhodes, six of which he was Dean of Science, Bernard takes up his new position in Mbombela 1 October.
He says he is excited about the fact that he will be building something from the ground and nurturing it till his time in Mpumalanga comes to an end in five years.
After turning down similar offers from universities such as the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, where he earned his PhD, he told Grocott's Mail that he is now ready to go and take up more responsibility before he retires.
His wife, Penny Bernard is an Anthropology lecturer at Rhodes, is showing great support, he said.
She is packing her bags and going to join him. For people who have made a life for themselves in one place this is not easy. Hence, Bernard said, they were not willing to sell their Grahamstown home, where they raised their children.
Born and raised in England, Bernard moved to Grahamstown to further his studies at Rhodes in 1973 and made a life for himself in South Africa when he started working for the university in 1982.
With his children born, raised and schooled in Grahamstown, the attachment to the city is endless, but this does not dampen his enthusiasm for the new project.
He is already working on designing the BSc which is expected to be fully functioning by 2016.
He plans to make it a quality degree of relevance to the area, to be followed by diplomas and degrees in hospitality and tourism with links to heritage studies and conservation.
“This will work well with the conservation at the door step, for example Kruger National Park,” he added.
