Jaaroorsig - University of the Free State

The pursuit of equity07Although equity, diversity andredress are central to transformation,the UFS regards transformationas a much broader and morefundamental matter than simply changingthe “face” and “voice” of the institutionthrough employment-equity initiatives.The pursuit of equity, fairness andjustice in everything we do remains animportant goal.Council adopts EmploymentEquity PolicyAfter a thorough consultation process ofthree years, which gave individual staffmembers, the trade unions, Senate, management,faculties and the support servicesthe opportunity for contributions,Council unanimously adopted the EmploymentEquity Policy of the Universityof the Free State in March 2005.The policy is seen as a human resourcesdevelopment strategy and istherefore fully integrated into the HumanResources Department.Since its approval, emphasis in theimplementation of employment equityhas shifted from a top-down approach,mainly driven by Top Management andthe Employment Equity Committee, to adecentralised programme empoweringfaculties and support services to implementemployment equity according totheir specific needs.Towards the end of the year equitycommittees in all the faculties and three re-EmploymentEquity Policyis a valuabletool tomanage andharmonisediversity atthe UFS.53