On 29 May 2025, the University of the Free State (UFS) Business Incubator, housed in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, hosted representatives from the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) for a luncheon at the UFS Bloemfontein Campus. The event brought together AGOF representatives and 10 UFS students who are part of the highly competitive Allan Gray Fellowship Programme.

The luncheon celebrated the growing partnership between UFS and one of South Africa’s leading student entrepreneurship and leadership development organisations, and it honoured the 10 students’ achievements. The cohort includes three AGOF scholars who joined the fellowship this year, after participating in the Business Incubator’s first-year students’ pitching competition held in July 2024. This is a significant accomplishment for UFS, considering only 10 scholarships were awarded nationwide in that particular segment.

According to Chipo Matambo, Assistant Director of the Business Incubator, UFS is one of AGOF’s 11 partner universities in South Africa. The luncheon was organised to “honour and acknowledge the students who got this Allan Gray Orbis Foundation scholarship” and to “offer them support as they grow – not just academically, but as future leaders.”

Building together through shared values and vision

Matambo said the partnership between the university and AGOF was built on the principle of collaboration. “Nobody makes it alone. The university needs partners, and partners like AGOF are here to support us in our goals. This relationship is not just about student success. It brings resources, experience, and support that help shape young leaders.”

She added that both the incubator and the foundation are united by a common purpose: “We have one goal, one vision: to be impactful, make a difference in society, and create the Africa we want.”

Prof Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, reinforced the importance of such collaborations. “We want our students to realise their dreams, reach for the stars, and become the stars. Partnerships like this one help us do just that.”

Prof Burger also emphasised the central role of entrepreneurship within the faculty. “We are not only preparing students to become employees. We’re also creating opportunities for them to become entrepreneurs who can create jobs and help address issues like poverty and unemployment in South Africa.”

From fellowship to purpose-driven impact

Speaking on behalf of AGOF, Lethabo Tloubatla, Programme Director: Fellowship at AGOF, highlighted the alignment of values between the university and the foundation.

“At the UFS, a student isn’t just a number. They have a name. They have a face. That’s why it’s so important for us to invest in this relationship – because we share that common value and vision,” she said.

She also left the students with a message of purpose and responsibility: “I really do hope that we’ll see you use the potential we saw in you to really make an impact, not just in your personal lives, but also the lives of others around you. Our biggest BHAG [Big Hairy Audacious Goal] is impacting the lives of millions of Africans.”

Pebetse Mohlabi, one of the Candidate Fellows, said the foundation’s support has been life-changing. “The Allan Gray Foundation has not only supported me academically,” she said, “but helped me grow in ways I never imagined. It has opened my mind, taught me to think creatively, and helped me see myself as someone capable of building something meaningful.”