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15 March 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Rulanzen Martin
IAC members
The IAC from left; Dr Ivor Zwane, Reneë Beck, Gus Silber, Luhlumelo Toyana, Dr Adri van der Merwe, Nick Efstathiou, Avela Ntsongelwa, Prof Colin Chasi, HOD Communication Department, Alzane Narrain, Nomvo Bam and Dr Gustav Puth.

Building ties with industry experts provides greater prospects for bursaries, prizes for top students, as well as informal internships. This is why the Department of Communication Science at the University of the Free State (UFS) took the bold and commendable step of soliciting the expertise of an Industry Advisory Council (IAC).

“As a department we believe it is important to stay in touch with the industry to ensure that we, and the work we do, stays relevant in order to increase the chances of making our students preferred candidates in the workplace,” said Dr Adri van der Merwe, lecturer at the department.

The advisory panel consisted of Reneë Beck, founder and CEO of Pink Lemon; Nick Efstathiou, newly appointed CEO of Central Media Group; DDr Ivor Zwane, chairman of the board for Small to Medium Enterprise Development; education journalist Gus Silber; journalist Alzane Narrain; Dr Gustav Puth, Academic Director of Post-Graduate Executive Education at Monash South Africa; photographer Luhlumelo Toyana; Avela Ntsongelwa,master's student and Nomvo Bam.

The initiative also created a platform for the students to engage with IAC members. The Department hosted the IAC on 6 March 2019 on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

Advice to assist in improving curriculum

“The IAC members’ feedback will influence our curriculum, both in the short term when we begin to shift emphasis on certain matters, as well as in the longer term when we replace or expand on specific modules,” Van der Merwe said.

The advice given by IAC members will be taken very seriously. “We have captured all their input on video, and will now, in preparation for our strategic planning session later this year, analyse and prioritise the actions we need to implement their proposals.” she said. The students are also represented on the IAC in order to hear and take into consideration what the students have to say about how the curriculum can be improved to prepare them more effectively for the workplace. 

The department plan on hosting the IAC yearly.

News Archive

UFS awaits applications for a full scholarship
2013-01-07

The office of the Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State, Prof. Jonathan Jansen,  offers a full scholarship to one learner  to study at the UFS in 2013.  

This scholarship will cover the tuition, residence, stationery and any specified course-related costs.  

All students who are passionate about  education and wish to contribute towards developing the South African education system, are encouraged to apply for this scholarship. The student may choose which education course he/ she would like to study and will be advised by our Dean of Education, Prof. Dennis Francis.  

The scholarship is a continuation of the Great Teachers Project headed by Prof. Jansen and research assistants, Nangamso Koza and Lihlumelo Toyana, who edited the book, Great South African Teachers.  

The editors have decided to donate the proceeds from the book towards the scholarship, and in partnership with our Faculty of Education, produce the country’s best teachers.  

This scholarship will also look at the holistic development of the learner, and thus award him/her with experiences of shadowing some of the country’s best educators, and take up internships in some of the country’s best schools in both the urban and developing communities.  

To apply, learners should provide their June and December gr. 12 results and also write an essay of 1 000 words titled: Educating a South African Citizen in the 20th Century.  

Applications must reach the UFS before 11 January 2013.
Please forward applications to: greatteachers@ufs.ac.za or fax to (051) 401 2705. Applications can also be mailed to: Office No. 26, Main Building, UFS, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein 9301

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