Prof Kobus Maree from the Department of Educational Psychology in the Faculty of Education was awarded honorary membership of the Golden Key International Honour Society on 23 October 2014.

Golden Key South Africa identified Prof Maree as an exceptional member of the UP staff. In their letter of invitation, the society noted: “We have taken great interest in your biography, as well as the many contributions that you have made to the broader community and to the body of African scholarship”.

Golden Key is an international non-profit organisation that recognises excellence exemplified in academic achievements, leadership skills and community involvement. It is the global primary academic honour society recognising and encouraging academic excellence among the top 15% of academic achievers attending tertiary institutions worldwide.

Honorary membership is extended to a few individuals that epitomise Golden Key’s values of integrity, collaboration, innovation, respect,

diversity, engagement and overall excellence in their chosen field. A number of prominent people are among those who have accepted honorary membership of Golden Key in South Africa, including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Mr Trevor Manuel, Ms Naledi Pandor and Justice Edwin Cameron.

Academic leaders who are also honorary members of Golden Key in South Africa, include Dr Taddy Blecher (CEO and co-founder: CIDA City Campus), Prof Brian O’Connell (Vice-Chancellor: University of the Western Cape) and Prof. Jonathan Jansen (Vice-Chancellor: University of the Free State).

Earlier this year, Prof Maree was awarded the Stals Prize of the Suid Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns for exceptional research and contributions to education. He has a B-rating from the National Research Foundation and has been the author of more than 120 peer-reviewed articles and 60 books or chapters in books since 2004.

Another exclusive award

Prof Kobus Maree received the Psychological Society of South Africa’s (PsySSA) Award for Excellence in Science during the 20th South African Psychology Congress on 18 September 2014. The Award was made in recognition of his significant contributions to Psychological Science, including the national and global recognition hê receives as a leading researcher, lecturer/teacher, scholar and thinker in career counselling. This is confirmed by his many scholarly publications including books, book chapters and articles in leading national and international journals. The award also recognises the multiple invitations he receives to present locally and across the world. He is internationally recognised for his work in (storied) career counselling and in life designing and the advancement of an integrated, qualitative+quantitative approach to career counselling and helping people overcome the shackles of a poor background and giving them hope.