Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
01 April 2020 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Valentino Ndaba
Commonwealth read more
Takudzwa Nyamunda represented the UFS at the latest Commonwealth Futures Workshop where youth from across the globe convened to develop solutions for social issues.

Gender-based violence, global warming, and inequality are just some of the challenges faced by societies internationally. Examining this and other topics Takudzwa Nyamunda represented the University of the Free State (UFS) at the Commonwealth Futures workshop which convened at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). Participants from 13 nations gathered from 11-14 March 2020 to discuss the future of the world.
 
Over the course of four days, student leaders explored ways of bringing peace and nonviolence to the challenging issues we are facing in the world, under the theme: Reimagining Peace. The workshop was organised by the DUT in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and the British Council. 

The voice of young people 
International forums such as the Commonwealth Futures workshop are to Nyamunda a prerequisite in these modern times. Nyamunda believes that global problems warrant global solutions. According to the Industrial Psychology Master’s student, young leaders have a crucial role to play in nation-building. 

“My experience proved to me that the differences that come out of our diversity are indeed a source of strength demonstrated by the rich insights that came out of the conference,” said Nyamunda who is also an employee of the UFS Department of Human Resources. 

Producing practical solutions
The three-tiered workshop aimed to bring change to campuses across the world, in communities and beyond. This was the third workshop in the series which has taken place in India and the UK. The outcomes will directly feed into the 2020 Commonwealth Youth Forum to be held in Kigali, Rwanda later this year.

The group of students worked together to develop tangible solutions that address shared global issues such as gender-based violence, climate change and inequality. Joining the young leaders were expert speakers and organisations including the International Centre of Nonviolence, the Gandhi Development Trust, as well as the Commonwealth Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Unit.

Global solutions for global problems
The Commonwealth states that with more than 60% of the Commonwealth’s 2.4 billion people younger than 30, the voices of young people have never been more important. Students across the globe are setting new agendas for social debates, challenging communities and governments to listen and work with young people to develop solutions to these intersecting issues and bring about real change.

In joining forces with other young thought leaders from around the world, Nyamunda drew on his experience as an International Students Association Founder and first President, the former 2017 Student Representative Council (SRC) member for International Students, and the Vice-Chairperson of the South African Board for People Practices: UFS Chapter. 

As one of the 40 delegates from across the globe, Nyamunda was given a sense of hope after he witnessed how keen young people are to build a better future. 

News Archive

UFS gives recognition to excellent researchers
2004-11-16

p>The University of the Free State will give recognition to excellent researchers at UFS on Tuesday 16 November 2004. “This recognition function will also serve as the first annual lecture in research excellence,” says Prof Frans Swanepoel, Director of Research Development Division at the UFS.

 

This is the first occasion of its kind in the UFS. It coincides with the university’s centenary celebrations. The recognition of excellent research shows the UFS’s commitment and innovative focus on research as one of its core functions,” says Prof. Swanepoel.

Recognition will be given in different categories. They are female researchers, black researchers, young researchers, C- and L-Rated researchers, researchers with significant research outputs, B-Rated researchers and distinguished professors in research.

The promotion of equity and development of research capacity of designated groups is one of the objectives of the UFS’s research strategy therefore the university is recognising the research achievements of 21 women and 16 black persons. Amongst these are Prof. Margaret Raftery (English and Classical Languages), Dr Liesl van As (Zoology and Entomology), Prof. Peter Mbati (head of the Qwaqwa campus) and Prof. Charles Ngwena (Constitutional Law and Philosophy of Law).

The UFS is also recognising nine young researchers. They must hold a doctorate and have the potential to establish themselves as researchers within a five-year period based on their performance and productivity as researchers during their doctoral studies and/or early post-doctoral careers. Amongst them are Dr Esta van Heerden (Microbial Biochemical and Food Biotechnology) and Prof. André Jooste (Agricultural Economics).

Fifty-eight established researchers with a sustained recent record of productivity are receiving recognition in the C- and L-rated researchers’ category. Amongst them were Prof. Hennie van Coller (Afrikaans, Dutch, German and French) and Prof. Gert Erasmus (Animal- and Wildlife- and Grassland Sciences).

Prof. Francois Tolmie (New Testament) and Prof. Gina Joubert (Biostatistics) are two of the twelve researchers that are receiving recognition for having excelled in research outputs during recent years.

Nine researchers are acknowledged in the B-category for the international recognition they receive from their peers for the high quality and impact of their recent research outputs. Amongst them were Prof. Johan Grobbelaar (Plant Sciences) and Prof. Hendrik Swart (Physics). Prof. Grobbelaar focused in his research on limnology, algal biotechnology, plant stress and Prof. Swart focused on solid state physics and degradation mechanisms that are responsible for the degradation of field emission and TV displays.

Seven individuals are recognised for their exceptional achievements as researchers. Prof. Frederick Fourie, Rector, but previously in the Department of Economics, is recognised for his research in two policy areas: Political Economics, Government Finance and Fiscal Policy, and Industrial Economics, in particular analysis of the South African industrial structure and competition policy, where his research contributions played a key role in reforming South Africa’s competition policy.

Prof. Lodewyk Kock (Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology) focuses in his research mainly on pure and oxidised edible oil where yeasts are used as a study model. He obtained national as well as international recognition for this research program.

The UFS is also awarding the S2A3 Bronze Medal to recognise a Master’s degree student who has delivered outstanding research in one of the sciences. Mr Pieter Taljaard and Ms Tania Venter are recognised in this category.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
16 November 2004

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept