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08 October 2019 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Charl Devenish
Gradstar UFS
The 2019 GradStar programme is all about producing well-rounded students and providing them with opportunities in the world of work, explained Head of UFS Career Services, Belinda Janeke.

Congratulations to the Kovsies top-11 students who made it into the GradStar top-100 programme for 2019!

Each year, 100 South African students are selected through a rigorous four-phase judging process to become part of the GradStar programme. The programme is designed to offer opportunities for employment to previously unrecognised students.

What makes the top 11? 

According to the UFS Head of Career Services, Belinda Janeke, the GradStar programme is all about producing a well-rounded student. Approximately 6 000 applications were received from Kovsies, of which 500 were selected based on a personality test. Another test was given to the 500 students who passed the personality test, after which interviews were conducted to determine the top 100 from the UFS.  

The students who were selected to represent the UFS exhibited the most potential as future leaders in their respective fields. Apart from academic achievement, contestants were evaluated according to their individual soft skills such as motivation, discipline, altruism, and attitude. This combination promised to deliver top candidates for future employers. 

2019 GradStar programme experiences

Throughout the competition, Kovsie contestants were exposed to new people and opportunities to network with various companies in their preferred career fields, where they had the opportunity to share their CVs with potential employers. Contestants were also afforded the opportunity to develop critical problem-solving skills in the world of work. The GradStar top-100 students also have a WhatsApp group where jobs are advertised.

The programme was valuable for the Kovsies; not only did it prepare them for employment, but also provided them with an opportunity for learning and recognising their own strengths and weaknesses as individuals in the working world. 

Congratulations to the Kovsies who made it into the GradStar top 100: 

Mariné du Toit: Bachelor of Social Work
Nyiko Maluleka: Bachelor of Arts, Corporate and Marketing Communication
Bianca Malan: Bachelor of Accounting, Financial Accounting
Boitumelo Mancoe: Master of Business Administration
Kabelo Mashego: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB)
Kananelo Moletsane: Bachelor of Agriculture
Mudzunga Mukwevho: Bachelor of Accounting, Financial Accounting
Neo Roberts: Bachelor of Science, Information Technology 
Refilwe Maimane: Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting 
Themba Makhoba: Bachelor of Public Administration
Mpolokeng Mmutle: Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting

News Archive

Research development develops young researchers
2008-11-19

 
Researchers who attended the workshop are, from the left, front: Ms Florence Tladi, Department of Psychology, Ms Makoena Moloi, Department of Plant Sciences, Ms Tobeka Mehlomakhulu, Department of Geography, Ms Nomampondomise Molefe, Department of Chemistry, Dr Micheal van Wyk, Department of Curriculum Studies, Prof. Mabokang ‘Monnapula-Mapesela, CHESD; back: Dr Sebolai, Prof. Muriel Meiring, Department of Hematology and Cell Biology, Mr Mathabatha Maleka, Department of Genetics, Mr Coleman, Dr Gregory Alexander, Department of Psychology of Education, Ms Dorine Masiangoako, Department of Chemistry, and Ms Moipone Mokoena, Department of Chemistry.
Dr Olihile Sebolai, Directorate Research Development, recently organised a series of workshops which is aimed at imparting new skills and knowledge to young and emerging academics.

The directorate endeavored to capacitate the new generation of researchers at the university with skills enable them to be established within the competitive mainstream of research. This is in line with the research strategy of the university that seeks to cultivate a strong culture of research.

Amongst others the workshops focused on innovative ways of adding value to student supervision and improving research project management skills. These workshops were facilitated by Dr Pieter du Toit from the University of Pretoria and Mr William Coleman from the Central University of Technology. Follow up sessions are planned for 2009 to assess the impact of these workshops.

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