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06 August 2020 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Pixabay
Antonie Beukes says although the university is involved in a number of projects that add to its BBBEE rating, considerable attention is given to initiatives to better the lives of some of its suppliers.

For the past two years, the University of the Free State (UFS) has had one of the best Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) ratings among universities in South Africa. The university recently received confirmation that its Level-4 rating has been approved for another year. 

According to Antonie Beukes, Assistant Director in the UFS Department of Finance, this rating enables the university to compete with the advantage of a 100% procurement level regarding tenders. “It will also help with our third-stream income, and more importantly, this level assures everyone that we are on the right track regarding BBBEE,” says Beukes. 

Opportunity to better the lives of others

The university had to work hard to maintain their Level-4 BBBEE status. Beukes says one of the initiatives they focused on was the development of suppliers and enterprises that are not associated with the UFS. 

“Many people think of BBBEE initiatives as a project where money is paid, and that is where the buck stops. Although this may get you some points, it is important for the university to better the lives of others.”

“We mostly focus on Exempted Micro Enterprises (EMEs) and Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs), because they are the small, start-up companies that need help to be sustainable. Even though assistance can take various forms, such as spending time with suppliers and offering services at a lower cost or free of charge, the university gives considerable attention to providing training to these service providers,” says Beukes.

Always strive for a better rating

The UFS Department of Finance strives to achieve a better rating each year. “The aim for next year will obviously be to be rated as a Level 3 but maintaining the Level 4 will be a big achievement.”

Beukes, however, points out that one needs to be realistic and must keep track of what is going on in the economy, as well as the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He continues: “Strict new rules regarding BBBEE scoring also came into play last year and we see that most businesses are rating lower scores (higher levels), which directly impact the UFS.”

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Prof. Driekie Hay appointed as SANPAD Facilitator
2009-06-26

 
Photo: Supplied


 

Prof. Driekie Hay, Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the University of the Free State (UFS), has been appointed as SANPAD facilitator for its Research Capacity Building Initiative (RCI). SANPAD (South Africa-Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development) is a unique collaborative research programme that has been financed by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1997, says Prof. Frans Swanepoel, Director: Research Development at the UFS.

SANPAD funds high quality, collaborative research by South African researchers in association with Dutch researchers.

SANPAD has established a capacity development programme, the RCI, to build the knowledge of research methodology of a selection of junior researchers.

The RCI is aimed at producing reflective academics
• who have a broad insight into theories, ideas, methods and practices in research in the social sciences,
• who are capable of making informed choices among these, and of further developing their knowledge and expertise in their chosen fields,
• who are capable of bringing a research project to a successful conclusion within a specified time frame and budget,
• who are capable of writing up their results as academic articles worthy of publication in reputable journals, and
• who are capable also of disseminating their results less conventionally among those who can best make practical use of them.
 

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