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Well done to Kovsies GradStar top 11!

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

Department of Agricultural Economics and agri-business join forces

2009-12-01

Some of the guests who attended the Department of Agricultural Economics' half-century celebration dinner were, from the left: Ms Chrisna van Heerden from Cape Wools; Mr Gielie Swart from Corporate Guarantee; Mr Jaco Heckroodt from VKB (Vrystaat Koöperasie Beperk) in Reitz; Mr Arno van Vuuren from NWK Beperk (Noord-Wes Koöperasie); Prof. Johan Willemse, Departmental Chairperson of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the UFS; and Ms Marcine Morsavel from GWK Beperk (Griekwaland-Wes Koöperasie).
Photo: Stephen Collett

The Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State (UFS) launched a bursary programme to support students studying Agricultural Economics during its recent half-centenary celebrations.

More than half a million Rands were collected from various agri-businesses at this prestigious event in order to support approximately 16 Agricultural Economics students from 2010 onwards.

“The Department is proud of the past 50 years’ training of students for agriculture in the fields of research, governance, banking and the agri-business environment and we have launched the bursary programme in order to position the University closer to agri-businesses,” said Prof. Johan Willemse, Departmental Chairperson of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the UFS.

The agri-businesses, who will act as sponsors, also benefit from the project, because they are afforded the opportunity to identify promising Agricultural Economics students as potential employees and to expose them to the activities of the businesses by means of holiday work. Upon completion of his/her studies, the student will already be fairly familiar with the circumstances of the specific agri-business and loyalty towards the business will already have been established.

Students who major in Agricultural Economics may apply for the bursary programme.

Agri-businesses that have already agreed to act as sponsors are Omnia Fertilizer, Pioneer Foods Pty, Suid-Wes Koöperasie Beperk, Corporate Guarantee, GWK Beperk (Griekwaland-Wes Koöperasie), VKB (Vrystaat Koöperasie Beperk), the National Woolgrowers Association and NWK Beperk (Noord-Wes Koöperasie).

More information can be obtained by phoning Ms Marie Engelbrecht on 051 401 9054.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
1 December 2009

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