Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
10 July 2018 Photo Supplied
Rynardt and Lynique selected for SA team at World Cup
Long jumper Lynique Beneke is one of two Kovsies selected for the South African team to the inaugural Athletics World Cup.

University of the Free State (UFS) middle-distance runner, Rynardt van Rensburg, and long jumper, Lynique Beneke, have both secured a spot in the South African athletics team for the inaugural edition of the Athletics World Cup to be held in London, United Kingdom, on 14 and 15 July 2018. 

The 2018 domestic rankings were used to select the team, with one UFS athlete in each discipline set to represent the country as one of the eight competing nations at the event. Beneke, aged 27, won the long jump for women over the past two years at the national track and field championships, this year with a winning distance of 6,22 m. Van Rensburg, aged 26, won silver.

South Africa will compete against teams from the United States, Poland, China, Germany, France, Jamaica, Great Britain, and Northern Ireland. Beneke and Van Rensburg are both experienced athletes who have competed in the Olympic Games in 2016. The programme for the two-day championship does not include long-distance or combined event disciplines. Yolandi Stander, Van Rensburg, and Beneke have also been selected as part of the preliminary team for the CAA African Championships taking place in Asaba, Nigeria from 1 to 5 August 2018.

Van Rensburg recently clocked his personal best, which was also recorded as the 24th best time of the year, when he finished the Hengelo World Challenge meeting in 1:45.15.
Stander, who has a personal best of 52,81 m, won the bronze medal at this year’s nationals and a silver at the University Sports South Africa (USSA) meeting.

News Archive

UFS launches expansions to Biotechnology Building
2015-11-04

     

Biotechnology Building
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

To support the strategic focus of the University of the Free State (UFS) on teaching and learning in the field of Biotechnology, the Department of Microbial, Biochemical, and Food Biotechnology introduced upgrades and additions to the value of R23 million to the existing Biotechnology Building on its Bloemfontein Campus. The funding was provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The new section, together with renovations to the existing part of the Biotechnology Building, was opened on Thursday 29 October 2015.

The Department, consisting of three disciplines - Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Food Biotechnology - is extremely diverse. Two of the three disciplines – Microbiology and Biochemistry – are housed in the Biotechnology Building.

Additions and renovations to the Biotechnology Building include:
-    Four new research laboratories
-    Nine revamped research laboratories

      

At the launch of the Biotechnology Building were,
from the left: Nico Janse van Rensburg,
Senior Director: University Estates;
Maureen Khati, University Estates,
Prof Nicky Morgan, Vice Rector: Operations
and Ria Deysel, Director: Facilities Management.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

The work to the building will have dramatic effects on the quality, as well as the quantity, of postgraduate students. Given the national priority to deliver students, this is very important, particularly at the doctorate level.

Prof Koos Albertyn from the Department said these were the first renovations and expansions done to the building since 1 January 1990. “We welcome the extra space. Forty-six more postgraduate students can now be accommodated in the department,” he said.

Construction took place on the south-western corner of the existing building. Further developments to the building include:
-    Six new offices
-    A lecture hall for 70 students
-    Laboratories that can accommodate 56 postgraduate students

Prof Martie Smit, Academic Head of the Department, said: “This new and refurbished facility enables us to give our best. As academics, we are committed to doing our part in delivering high-quality education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels to students envisaging a future in biotechnology.”

The James Charles du Preez Seminar Room was also opened at the event. The seminar room is dedicated to Prof Du Preez – who was Head of the Department from October 2002 until the end of 2014. He played a major role in raising funds for upgrading the Biotechnology Building, including the addition of a new wing.



We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept