Professor Jonathan Jansen: No stranger to good governance (2012-12-03)
February 17,
2015 8518 8518 
As we reflect upon our days of school or university and those long hours of study, most of us may not have pleasant memories over this period of our lives.
This may have been quite different if we had had the caliber of
Professor Jonathan David Jansen at the front of our classroom or campus. Truthfully said -- as it was then and still today -- the passion of a
real teacher is hardly found in many of those individuals who are appointed to teach and mould our students and society of today. Most often, the experience, value and memories etched in our memories of this period rarely amounted to anything exciting or rewarding, let alone a desire to strive for higher academic results and thereby bestowing honour back to our teachers. On the contrary, most of the students simply want a ‘pass mark’ with little pride in their results.
But ever since South Africa got to learn about a very lively, progressive professor known for breaking the traditional mould of study and thinking; the meaning of higher education at the University of the Free State has taken on an entirely new meaning. Professor Jansen, who is also well known for his passion and commitment to transformation in South Africa, is an extra-ordinary teacher, lecturer and leader and he has every reason to be proud of his numerous accolades, both locally and abroad. However, upon first meeting this fine individual, one is immediately drawn by his love for people and his humility. Many thousands of people have been personally enriched by his pragmatic approach to life’s challenges. Whilst Professor Jansen is a renowned academic across the world -- in his role which he still has today as the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State -- he is notably recognised for the leading role he played when his university was awarded the
World Universities Forum Award for Best Practices in Higher Education which praised the racial integration of the student community.
Being a bold leader in the field of higher learning, Professor Jansen is not known to be quiet, especially when things go wrong, or make no sense. Through his newspaper column, as well as the countless media interviews, Professor Jansen has become a strong light and beacon for many, providing sound advice supported by practical solutions and morally grounded values which are not only intended for the world of academia, but indeed for many of the challenges faced by South Africa today. Of course his approach is unashamedly direct; and his problem solving underpins the principles of good governance which must be applied at all levels of our society, as well as in business.
That said, given the nature of the environment in which CGF Research Institute (Pty) Ltd operates -- where the company researches and deals with many and varying types of governance matters -- we are delighted to announce that Professor Jansen has accepted an Honorary Patron position in our company. As is the case with all our esteemed Honorary Patrons, who include Wendy Luhabe, Tina Eboka, Bernard Peter Agulhas, Michael Judin, Devi Sankaree Govender, Professor Shirley Zinn and Dr Mathews Phosa; each Patron is carefully selected not only because they are exceptional leaders with great depth, knowledge and wisdom, but also because they act as a sounding board for CGF when difficult matters or decisions need to be considered within our company, but also for our clients.
