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Read More NAS Danie Vermeulen
The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences held its very first virtual Academic Awards Ceremony this year, where 103 prizes were awarded in 75 different categories. Prof Danie Vermeulen sponsored the award for the best undergraduate student in the faculty.
The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) presented its very first virtual Academic Awards Ceremony this year, celebrating the achievements of students.

According to Tracy Isaacs and Heidiry White, both from the Office of the Dean: Natural and Agricultural Sciences and organisers of the event, the aim of this event is to award and reward skills, knowledge, talent, and abilities. They believe the event contributes to encourage, inspire, and motivate other students to excel.

“Academic awards in the faculty create meaningful moments of recognition that inspire others and reinforce the behaviour that led to the reward. Rewarding students for their hard work forms an integral part of creating a competitive spirit among students. Competition is essential, as it encourages every student to do their best to stand out,” says Isaacs. 

Support and innovation

During this year’s ceremony, 103 prizes were awarded in 75 different categories. Dedicated academic staff who went the extra mile to ensure that no student was left behind, played a major role in the faculty awarding this number of prizes. 

The quality of the programmes and the curriculum, together with innovative teaching and learning activities and approaches, form the basis for academic excellence in the faculty. Lecturers and students are also provided with ongoing support and proper resources to maintain a high quality of teaching.

An achievement that stood out was the work of Philip Schall, who received the Dean’s Award for best undergraduate student in the faculty. Schall obtained his degree with distinction. The Dean, Prof Danie Vermeulen, sponsored this award.

Search for knowledge encouraged

Lecturers and researchers encourage students on a daily basis to pursue academic excellence by challenging them to obtain the highest level of success in their work. 

Students are also provided with an academic, creative, and enterprising spirit that not only prepares them for their academic journey, but also for the world of work. “While being exposed to a range of valuable and relevant learning experiences, students are prepared for further study, ongoing learning, and for their future work environment,” says Isaacs.

News Archive

‘Africa’s Many Liberations’ seminar series launched
2016-05-11

Description: Seminar Series Tags: Seminar Series

The Africa’s Many Liberations seminar series, presented on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS), is a direct response to some of the demands made by the #MustFall campaigns during the past year. A constant refrain among activists has been that the curriculum must be ‘decolonised’, and that it should have stronger foundations in African experiences. This seminar series aims to deepen understanding of histories and anti-colonial struggles, including those waged worldwide today.

It was conceived to deepen students’ knowledge of African and South African history, and to help them to engage with ideas from the diaspora and anti-colonial struggles elsewhere. It was planned as a popular seminar for students across faculties. For this reason, the series strives to avoid language or literature that might exclude students from disciplines outside of historical, sociological, political, and cultural studies.

The series is convened by the International Studies Group (ISG), in association with the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ). The coordinator is Prof Neil Roos (associate professor of history in the International Studies Group, and co-director of the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestige Scholars Programme).

Prof Roos presented the first seminar, entitled Du Bois and the ‘Problem of the Colour Line’ on Thursday 28 April 2016. The next theme under discussion will be Fanon and the Relevance of Personal and Collective Decolonisation in Today’s South Africa, which will be presented by Dr Tinashe Nyamunda.

The remainder of the eight-part series will be presented by Dr Rachel Hatcher (postdoc in the IRSJ), Dr Sahar Sattarzadeh (postdoc in the IRSJ ), Dr Ivo Mhike (postdoc in ISG), Busi Ntsele (lecturer in sociology), Leigh-Ann Naidoo (doctoral student and activist, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa), and Prof Richard Pithouse (associate professor in politics, Rhodes University, South Africa).

Date: Thursday 12 May 2016
Time: 16:30
Venue: Albert Wessels Auditorium, Bloemfontein Campus
Entrance is free
RSVP: sattarzadehsd@ufs.ac.za

Seminar series programme

 

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