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25 April 2018 Photo Supplied
UFS Debate Society to compete in upcoming World Championships

The UFS Debate Society is a diverse, cross-boundary team of UFS students who are not strangers to success, and who are exceptionally brilliant at what they do. Before winning the largest open debating competition in Africa in 2018, the team had qualified and competed in the finals for three consecutive years since 2015. The society has now been selected to compete in the Cape Town Open Debating Competition this coming weekend from 27 to 29 April, in a build-up to the World Championships taking place in December 2018.

According to the UFS Debate Society Chairperson, Tshiamo Malatji: “Thinking artistically about debating requires one to make use of creative reasoning, and essentially, lateral thinking is of importance, even in your everyday life conversations, because you will never fundamentally agree with someone who has opinions which are opposed to yours, but you will be able to appreciate where they are coming from.”

The team is also involved in organising dialogues on our Bloemfontein Campus, such as the Student Rights Dialogue, which brings together various stakeholders of the university for a discussion about human rights. They also conduct debating workshops and, together with the Department of Basic Education, function as judges for debates in the broader Bloemfontein community for less advantaged schools in Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu, Tweespruit, and Dewetsdorp.

The Debate Society is set to host a Global Politics Seminar that will analyse and explain the forces that influence international politics, and South Africa's standpoint in the global perspective. This seminar, taking place in October, will focus on the activities of chief global actors, and some of the core crises that can shape students’ understanding of current foreign affairs. The seminar will comprise presentations from knowledgeable local students and Debate Society alumni, which will conclude with a fiery debate by the society on the dynamic and controversial topic of South Africa's future in the international political arena. 

Access to the seminar is reserved for donors who will pledge their support to the society’s journey to the upcoming World Championships. For more information on how to pledge, visit the World Championships Pledge.

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News Archive

Lecturer publishes a book in New York
2008-12-01

 

Prof. Pieter Verster (left) hands over a copy of his new book to Prof. Francois Tolmie, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the UFS.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
     

 What should the church seek to accomplish in missionary work? This question is asked by Prof. Pieter Verster, head of the Department of Missiology at the University of the Free State (UFS), in his new book “A Theology of Christian Mission: What should the Church Seek to Accomplish”. The book was published in New York by The Edwin Mellen Press: Lewiston, Queenston, Lampeter. The Biblical foundation of missionary work is thoroughly analysed. It also gives information on missionary work in Africa among Muslims and among poor people. In the foreword Prof. Bram van de Beek, writes “…this book exceeds the boundaries of classical dogmatics: it shows that faith without conversion is empty…” Prof. Van de Beek was formerly dean of the Faculty of Theology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Prof. Verster holds a doctorate in Missiology as well as in Dogmatics.

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