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03 October 2018 | Story UFS | Photo Varsity Sports
First ever netball final in Bloemfontein
The Kovsies will be aiming to lift the Varsity Netball trophy in front of their home supporters on Monday when they face Tuks in the final in the Callie Human Centre.
The netball team of the University of the Free State, once again after five years, earned themselves the right to stage a final in the Varsity Netball competition. The two-time champion, the Dream Team, qualified for the final after topping the log and then wiping the floor with the Maties on Monday (1 October 2018) in the semi-final. The score was 56-45. 

They will come up against Tuks in the Callie Human Centre on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus for the final tonight. The match will get underway at 18:45.

The team won the very first two years of the competition in 2013 and 2014. On both occasions, they had to play away from home – in 2013 against the Pukke in Potchefstroom and in 2014 against Tuks in Pretoria. 

It will be the fourth meeting between the Kovsies and Tuks within three months. The Free State students won the group fixture in August by 68-43, but Tuks had to do without a number of their star players. At the University Sport South Africa tournament in Bloemfontein during July, Tuks triumphed twice, winning the final by 48-30.

Apart from the winners’ medals, an award will be handed to the tournament’s top player. Centre Khanyisa Chawane is one of three finalists. The winner gets chosen through public votes.

Dream Team players have won the prize four of the five times. Ané Botha was crowned in 2013, Karla Pretorius in 2014 and 2015, and last year it was the turn of current Kovsie player, Khomotso Mamburu.

To vote for Chawane, click here hover your mouse over the like button and choose the heart emoticon. Voting is closing on 5 October and the winner will be announced after the final.

News Archive

UFS postdoctoral Fellow expands international opportunities for women in Science Communication
2016-12-13

Description: Mikateko Höppener Tags: Mikateko Höppener 

Mikateko Höppener, postdoctoral Fellow at the
Centre for Research on Higher Education and
Development (CRHED), University of the Free State (UFS),
who was selected as one of five South African women
to participate in the Best Practice in Science
Communication UK study tour.

“Often, the power lies in our own hands as individuals to take the initiative, be curious about opportunities to learn, develop an interest to make a positive contribution in society through our research, and make use of our networks within and outside of academia to effect positive change.”

This is according to Mikateko Höppener, a postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Research on Higher Education and Development (CRHED), at the University of the Free State (UFS), who was selected as one of five South African women to participate in the Best Practice in Science Communication UK study tour. This was part of the British Council and Academy of Science South Africa (ASSAf) women in science project.

Höppener said she saw this as an opportunity to expand opportunities for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). “The whole experience reinforced my conviction that there is a lot of untapped potential for young people to practise and enhance science communication in South Africa for the betterment of our communities,” she said.

During her visit to the UK, Höppener was exposed to an international networking platform of science communication practitioners and stakeholders such as the Director for Development of Vitae, departments at The Royal Society, science journalists at the BBC World Service, policy advisers and public engagement teams at the Welcome Trust, the Director of SciDev.net, and the Science Adviser for STEM Education and Public Engagement at the British Council.

Höppener said each of these meetings had highly interactive presentations and discussions with members of various organisations and the South African delegation. 

Being selected for the science communication fellowship and attending the study tour was not only personally and professionally rewarding for Höppener, it also enabled her to pass on what she had learnt to fellow emerging women researchers in South Africa.

Earlier this year, she hosted a WiSTEM (Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Science Communication and Engagement Workshop at the UFS and through press releases and radio interviews, brought positive attention to the UFS to inspire young women across the country to get involved in science communication training.

“I intend to establish a science communication and engagement centre at the UFS where ongoing training, mentorship and support will be offered to young researchers to learn how to orient their knowledge and research to community development through science communication,” said Höppener.

The Best Practice in Science Communication UK study tour took place from 24 to 28 October 2016 as part of the Newton Fund Professional Development Programme South Africa.

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