The University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Education is arguably one of the leading education faculties in South Africa. It has made advances on several fronts including research and research outputs, postgraduate training and the number of National Research Foundation (NRF) ratings. In addition to the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered by the Faculty on the Groenkloof Campus of the University of Pretoria, the Faculty also has a substantial complement of distance education students. More than 14 000 teachers nationwide are enrolled for programmes in the Faculty.

The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, Prof. Calie Pistorius, noted that “the education of teachers is undoubtedly a national priority, and one that the University of Pretoria is committed to. Professor Eloff’s appointment will ensure that the Faculty of Education will have an even greater impact, not only with regard to the undergraduate and postgraduate training of teachers, but also in research and community engagement programmes. The Faculty enjoys extensive international collaboration and will contribute towards the University’s international standing.”

Prof. Eloff grew through the ranks of the University of Pretoria; first starting as a teaching assistant in 1991; later becoming lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor (1998) and professor (2002). She has extensive management experience, having served as head of department, chair of the School of Educational Studies and acting dean.

Having done her undergraduate studies at the University of North West in the late 1980s, Professor Eloff came to the University of Pretoria where she obtained most of her teaching qualifications between 1990 and 1996, including HED Education, B Ed (Educational Psychology) and M Ed (Educational Psychology). She obtained her PhD (Educational Psychology) at the University of Stellenbosch in 1997. She was also a visiting assistant professor at the Yale University (USA) from October 2001 to January 2002.

Professor Eloff has published widely, including three books on life skills including educational psychology, and has supervised a number of postgraduate students on the masters and doctoral levels. She has been involved in numerous community projects as part of her academic duties at the University of Pretoria, including:

• The Sunnyside Primary Language Enrichment Project (aimed at mobilising support structures to provide weekly language enrichment to learners in the Sunnyside suburb).
• The Kgolo-Mmogo project (focusing on resilience in mothers and children affected by HIV and AIDS).
• Educator capacity development, learnership development and psycho-social support for HIV and AIDS.