On Monday, 23 May 2016, the University of Pretoria (UP) bid farewell to Prof Irma Eloff, Dean of the Faculty of Education, whose term came to an end on 31 May. Prof Eloff is an alumna of UP, and was appointed as a full-time lecturer at the institution in 1998. She went on to become the first female Dean of the Faculty of Education in 2008 and served in this capacity for two successive terms.

Prof Norman Duncan, Vice-Principal: Academic at UP, welcomed the guests and thanked Prof Eloff for her valuable contribution to the Faculty of Education. He also delivered a message on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, who could not attend due to a prior engagement. When Prof Duncan asked the other deans present how they would describe Prof Eloff if they had to do so in just one word, they had the following to say: exceptional, caring, committed, (a person of) integrity, honest, supportive and elegant.

Prof Duncan ended his address on a positive note, saying that the farewell function was not the last that UP would see of Prof Eloff, as she would be returning to UP as a professor at the Faculty of Education after a much deserved sabbatical.

In conclusion, Prof Eloff addressed the audience and thanked the University, as well as her fellow deans, for their camaraderie and for always 'lightening the load'.