Universal Education Foundation

Education by All for the Well-Being of Children

About UEF

The Board

John Volmink

John Volmink

Member of the Board

John Volmink was born and raised in Cape Town South Africa. He started his academic career at the University of Western Cape, South Africa and completed the PhD in mathematics education at Cornell University, Ithaca NY in 1988. He held various teaching positions including the University of Western Cape, University of Cape Town and Cornell University. He returned to Southern Africa in 1990 after almost a decade in the USA.

After a brief stay at the University of Botswana in Gabarone he returned to South Africa in 1991 and immediately got involved in development initiatives as the Director of the Centre for Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education in Durban, South Africa as well as other partnership programmes in KwaZulu-Natal and elsewhere in South Africa. Dr. Volmink later served as Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Partnerships at the University of KwaZulu-Natal until 2004. During his term at the University of KwaZulu-Natal he was responsible for partnership programs with business, government and the community and served as the Executive Director of the Development Foundation of the University.

Dr. Volmink has also been centrally involved in curriculum reform in post-apartheid South Africa and has been asked by the Minister of Education to play a leading role in the transformation of education in the new South Africa. He has recently been appointed by the Minister of Education as the Chairperson of Umalusi, a statutory organization which monitors and improves the quality of general and further education and training in South Africa. He is currently the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Cornerstone Christian College.

Dr. Volmink continues to provide leadership on the Boards of several South African non-governmental development organizations involved in education, health and community upliftment. He is currently Chairperson of the International Partnerships Network (IPN) and he is also the Chairperson of the Board of a large South African publishing company. Dr. Volmink and his wife Engela, who is also a teacher, work together in voluntary community based educational projects in the Cape Town area with a focus on young people.