UP says a fond farewell to lecturer who retired at the end of March 2021. We look back at her career and her contribution to the fields of teaching and learning.

Ronel Swart joined UP as a lecturer in the Department of Humanities Education in January 2002. “I have been exceptionally blessed to have a career spanning nearly three decades on Groenkloof Campus,” she said. “I embarked on my professional journey with no computer, emails or internet. Google did not even exist! I witnessed two industrial revolutions, a pandemic and unprecedented online teaching and learning. I have learnt and experienced more than I could ever have imagined.”

Swart was appointed as a lecturer at the then Normaal Kollege Pretoria (NKP) in January 1993. She worked in the library on Groenkloof Campus and lectured in subjects related to media centre specialisation to college students and B Prim Ed students from UP. These subjects aimed to equip students with information literacy skills. She was also responsible for the development of the microteaching programme for education students in preparation for their teaching practice. Swart worked at NKP until the end of 2001, when all colleges of education in South Africa closed down.

Swart’s long, successful academic career bears testimony to her dedication to the profession. Apart from publishing in internationally accredited journals, she made invaluable contributions to the fields of teaching and learning. She was actively involved in the 2010 re-curriculation of the B.Ed programme, more specifically the curriculation of OPV 112 and JPS 121 modules. These modules were reviewed favourably nationally and internationally.

Her exemplary work ethic is commendable and colleagues and students perceived her as outstanding, whether it was as an academic, personal mentor, lecturer, module coordinator or supervisor. One particular outstanding quality is Swart’s ability to put humanity above everything else. She reached across race and cultural boundaries, touching lives and giving hope to so many. Her compassion went beyond words.

Her husband, Pieter, is her strength, biggest supporter and best friend. Their three exceptionally successful children and five beautiful grandchildren (another baby girl is on the way) are her greatest joy.

UP thanks Ronel Swart for her dedication, loyalty and hard work throughout the years, and for being such an example and an agent of change.