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12 June 2019 | Story Zama Feni | Photo Charl Devenish
Annatjie Bouwer
Annatjie Bouwer who is a Research Officer in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health.

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Prof Hussein Solomon scooped a prestigious Best Published Book award for his critical analysis on the nature of environments, challenges, and opportunities facing the African continent in his book.

Titled African Security in the Twenty-First Century: Challenges and Opportunities, UFS Vice-Rector: Research, Innovation, and Internationalisation, Prof Corli Witthuhn, hailed the book as “An ambitious and in-depth study covering several regions, and with due regard for changing contexts and relevant historical legacies. This analysis is perspicacious, conceptually sophisticated, and based on a solid range of sources.”

UFS awards to stimulate staff creativity

Prof Solomon is a Senior Professor in the Department of Political Studies and Governance. The annual UFS 2018 Book Prize and Research Support Awards is aimed at recognising outstanding contributions by staff members in these focus areas.
Prof Witthuhn congratulated the winners and all the participants who spent time on their submitted work.

The other two entries in the Best Published Book category were Prof Philippe Burger, the Head of the Department of Economics and Finance, for his book titled, Getting it Right: A new economy for South Africa.

The other published book entry was that of Prof Jacobus Naudé, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Hebrew in the Faculty of the Humanities, titled, A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar.

Winning author’s analysis impressive

Prof Witthuhn said the author of the winning book employed a human security approach which not only examined and analysed these challenges, but also assessed the effectiveness of solutions and progress in addressing these challenges.

“This approach is critical to understanding the true meaning and context of security in Africa, by asking questions such as: security for whom and security for what?”

Bouwer comes top in research support category

Ms Annatjie Bouwer, a Research Officer in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences, emerged victorious among the nine entrants from various faculties. 

Her award was for the support she offered to the broad community of researchers within the Faculty of Health Sciences.



News Archive

R2,5 million received from FNB Fund for Universal Access and Disability Support
2017-10-18

Description: FNB CUADS Funding Tags: FNB CUADS Funding
Tinotenda Magaya (left at the back), Robert Shoba and
Manus van Rooyen are some of the CUADS students
who will benefit from the money donated by the FNB Fund.
In front are Martie Miranda (left), Head of CUADS, and
Thandeka Rantsi from the FNB Fund.
Photo: Jóhann Thormählen

Funding isn’t only about giving money to provide access to education. There are many factors that contribute to the successful completion of studies, and this is even more applicable to students with disabilities. 

That is why the FNB Fund decided to continue and further its relationship with the Center for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS) at the University of the Free State (UFS). The fund recently donated nearly R2.5 million for 2017, 2018, and 2019 to CUADS in order to assist students with tuition fees, study material, accommodation and supportive devices. 

A total of 11 students will benefit from the R 2 497 440. The UFS previously received R200 000 (2014), R238 000 (2015), and R192 500 (2016) from the FNB Fund.

“The FNB Fund would like to take it
a step further and not only provide
access in terms of funding, but also
provide all the support that
students require to be able
to complete their studies.”

Funders should be aware of challenges

“The FNB Fund would like to take it a step further and not only provide access in terms of funding, but also provide all the necessary support that students require to be able to complete their studies,” says Thandeka Rantsi from the FNB Fund.

The fund also partners with disability units from the University of Stellenbosch, the University of the Western Cape, and the University of Cape Town.

Rantsi says funders should be aware of the challenges students with disabilities face in order to provide the right support as their challenges are more extensive.

More flexible funding than others

Martie Miranda, Head of CUADS, says they are very grateful. “In comparison with other funding, this funding provides more flexibility. Because of the gap between government funding and students’ needs, there are always students who fall out of the criteria for the NSFAS bursary. Then the FNB funding comes in very handy.”

According to her, government funding is never enough. She says the FNB funding enables them to address specific needs such as equipment, accommodation etc. as they have more leeway than prescribed NSFAS amounts.

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