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21 September 2018 Photo Charl Devinish
Abe Bailey Bursary victor
“I believe in self learning,” says 2018 UFS Abe Bailey victor, Nkahiseng Ralepeli.
The Abe Bailey Trust is a leadership-development opportunity that targets university students or junior lecturers who are academically strong and have shown exceptional qualities of leadership and service. Recipients of the bursary are required to have a good record of accomplishments, not only on campus but also in a broader social context, where they function as an integral piece of a select and highly-skilled group of individuals.

Ralepeli, the over-achiever

Final-year Law student, Nkahiseng Ralepeli, embodies this exact description and exemplifies the essence of distinction and merit when it comes to who he is. Ralepeli  who has represented the university at various international debate platforms, an alumni of the F1 programme to Thailand and other leadership programmes such, recently, International Youth Leadership Conference (IYLC) programme in Prague, will represent the University of the Free State (UFS) during the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary tour in the UK in December 2018. He, along with 16 other candidates from other South African tertiary institutions, will participate in the tour for its full duration and will take part in the exciting developmental programme that is planned.

With an intense but fruitful leadership-training schedule, he said he was looking forward to meeting the British members of parliament as well as other persons of stature in the British government.

Travelling: A catalyst for critical thinking

Ralepeli, who was also 3rd overall Kovsie Dux student, underlined that he truly enjoys travelling. He has subsequently mastered the art of constantly positioning himself among the best academically and socially, and this has aided his mission to trot the globe extensively, which he has been doing since his junior years.

A man of value

“I have a small yet select and impactful network of people in my life who play an influential role in reminding me during times of triumph that, while it is important to celebrate, each win is just a step towards the ultimate goal of success,” said Ralepeli. 

He emphasised the importance of the roles played by those close to him, describing them as “my double-edged sword who played a crucial role in carving out the inner Nkahiseng, who, hopefully, will do great things”. The Kovsie Dux believes that those you surround yourself with, channel the kind of energy that will either make or break you.

News Archive

Business School in top ranks of survey
2012-02-15

 
UFS Business School
Photo: Liezl Muller

The UFS Business School was ranked amongst the top business schools in South Africa in a survey by Finweek and MBAConnect.net. MBAConnect.net is the biggest social network for MBA graduates in South Africa. 

More than 10 000 MBA graduates and students were invited to take part in the survey and 1 575 of them completed it. More than half of the respondents are in senior or executive positions.
 
Prof. Helena van Zyl, the Director of the UFS Business School, says any business school has a moral obligation towards its alumni to ensure that the quality of the qualification that they obtained is maintained, that network opportunities are created for graduates, and that job opportunities are communicated, etc. Investment in and involvement with the alumni are non-negotiable as they form the backbone of a business school.
 
The UFS Business School’s results are listed below. The respondents rated the school as the school with the highest:
  • percentage of respondents saying they had definitely made the right choice in doing an MBA: second with 92% (average 86%)
  • score in leadership effectiveness: third with 8.9 (average 8.7)
  • decision-making effectiveness: shares first place with 9.4 (average 9.1)
  • credibility in business: second with 8.9 (average 8.6)
  • impact of an MBA in changing industries: third with 8.3 (average 7.9)
  • score for influence of an MBA in starting your own business: second with 8.5 (average 6.9)
  • percentage of respondents saying an MBA was definitely worth the price paid: shares first place with 80% (average 72%)
  • score for changing the outlook of students: shares first place with 9.3 (average 8.9)
  • score for improving people’s views of their own potential: shares first place with 9.5 (average 9.1)
  • score for helping people become better leaders in their personal lives: shares third place with 8.3 (average 7.8).
The UFS Business School shared first place with its alumni averaging the shortest payback period amongst those who thought the MBA was worth it. Its score was 1.1 years (average 1.8 years)
 
The report says across all schools, at least 73% of students report a negative impact on their stress levels. In the worst case, this goes up to 94%. The impact on the UFS’s students was the lowest at 18%. The average was 81%. At least a quarter of students in all schools report a negative impact on their health, and it goes up to 47% in the worst case. The UFS got 0 (nil) in the category for serious impact.
 
Alumni of the UFS Business School were very satisfied with the school. These results are as follows:
  • Helps keep business knowledge up to date: third (6.5)
  • Provides networking opportunities: first (7.3)
  • Informs about business events: second (8.9)
  • Communicates regularly: first (9.2)
  • Helps access MBA-level jobs: second (6.2)
  • Helps build personal brand: first (5.2)
  • Helps start or grow business: first (5.2)
 

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