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03 September 2019 | Story Charlene Stanley | Photo Katleho Mbele
UFS-UCT workshop
Attendees at the successful inaugural UFS-UCT medical research training workshops.
“A pioneering training session.”
“Excellent attention to my specific challenges.”
“Research as a whole makes so much more sense now.”

These are some of the responses by attendees after first-of-its-kind workshops for supervisors and MMed students in the UFS Faculty of Health Sciences, recently held at the FARMOVS Clinical Research Facility on the Bloemfontein campus.

UCT trainers

The workshops were presented by two medical research experts from the University of Cape Town (UCT), Prof Delva Shamley and Ms Annemie Steward. 
The two facilitators went through the research process with attendees and helped to refine individual research questions.
“There was a fantastic turnout by our students and great engagement from them,” says Dr Claire Barrett, Clinical Research Director from the School of Clinical Medicine, who initiated the training.

Training research supervisors

Two “train-the-trainer” workshops were also presented to MMed research supervisors at the School of Clinical Medicine. 
“The mandatory research component in our MMed studies was only implemented in 2012 and is applicable to all medical schools in South Africa. This means many supervisors don’t really have a research background themselves,” Dr Barrett explains. “These workshops gave them the tools to effectively guide students through the research process.”  

Inter-institutional effort

The invitation was also extended to supervisors from the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT).
Dr Barrett is hoping to have similar inter-institutional sessions at least once every three months.

She notes that these introductory workshops would not have been possible without the support of the Head of the School of Clinical Medicine, Prof Nathaniel Mofolo, and FARMOVS.

“We have a valuable mutually beneficial relationship with the Faculty of Health Sciences, whose clinical expertise is often put to great use in drug development trials,” says Dr Michelle Middle, CMO of FARMOVS, who hosted the workshop. 
“Medical research is something we’re passionate about – so it was a great privilege to contribute to the success of these groundbreaking workshops.” 

News Archive

“Deploy your education and not connections,” Chancellor tells graduates
2012-05-16

 

Qwaqwa Autumn Graduation
Photo: Thabo Kessah
16 May 2012

Our Qwaqwa Campus conferred 424 degrees, diplomas and certificates at this year’s autumn graduation ceremony held on 12 May 2012.

Amongst the degrees conferred were two doctorates in Polymer Science, two Master’s of Arts in Geography and African Languages, respectively, five Master’s of Science degrees in Physics (3) and Polymer Science (2) and 37 honours degrees in Education, Zoology, Physics, Botany and Polymer Science.

In their congratulatory messages, both the Vice-Rector: Institutional Affairs, Prof. Teuns Verschoor, and the Chancellor, Dr Khotso Mokhele, challenged the graduates to start focusing their attention beyond their graduation on what they both referred to as “the real world”.

“Graduation ceremonies are a fantastic event, but you must never lose sight of appreciating the support given by those around you,” said Dr Mokhele.

“This hall was full of shouting and yes, you must bask in that glory, knowing that you have achieved part of your goals. Yes, this is your moment, so shine. You deserve it. You have earned it.”

“However, this noise also means you must go out there and face the real world. You are graduating in a model country on how people can reconcile, despite their painful and divided past. You deserve all the accolades, but that model country is disappearing before your eyes. How can you mess up what Mandela, Biko, Sobukwe, Nardine Gordimer lived and fought for? How can you mess up such a good thing?” Dr Mokhele asked of an attentive audience that included proud parents and siblings, as well as educators and learners from the Thabo Mofutsanyana District.

“Go out there and deploy your education and not your connections, as these are embedded in corruption. Go out there and help get rid of the patronage system where hard-workers are more likely to be constructively dismissed as they stand in the way of those with corrupt tendencies. Save this country from becoming another Zimbabwe. Let us do whatever it takes to save this country. Let these matriculants who are here today want to walk that red carpet with pride in the next few years,”,said Dr Mokhele.

Dignitaries in attendance included the former Chief Minister of the former Qwaqwa homeland, Dr T K Mopeli; the Executive Mayor of the Dihlabeng Local Municipality, Councillor Tjhetane Mofokeng; Dr SWF Moloi (Thabo Mofutsanyana Education District) and representatives from various government departments.
 

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