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02 December 2020 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
The UFS team that emerged as victors in the IFAMA International Case Study Competition, were from the left: Carien Denner, Alina Ntsiapane, and Andries Strauss, all three from the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, and Michelle Marais from the Department of Agricultural Economics.
A group of students in the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State (UFS) walked away as victors in the recent International Case Study Competition presented by the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA).

“It is an amazing accomplishment to be world champions. The competition was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talent of the UFS on the international stage. It has also been a platform for some insightful and educational conversations with students and specialists from around the world. Winning has been an affirmation of the high standard that the UFS holds and has shown that the department is excelling on a global scale,” says Dr Jan Swanepoel, Senior Lecturer in the UFS Centre for Sustainable Agriculture.

After submitting their essay and video on the challenge, How can the sustainability, productivity, and market access of smallholder sugar cane farmers be improved? the team is now the world champions of the IFAMA International Case Study Competition.

A fresh and inspiring perspective 

According to Dr Swanepoel, the group participated against teams from 17 countries all over the world and faced the Philippines in the final round. 

The top finalists were invited to a final round to present their essay online before a panel of judges consisting of an international team of researchers, entrepreneurs, and policy makers.

The UFS team that emerged as winners in the IFAMA International Case Study Competition in the category for Graduates / Early Career Professionals are Carien Denner, Alina Ntsiapane, and Andries Strauss, all three from the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, and Michelle Marais from the Department of Agricultural Economics.

Dr Swanepoel believes that by taking a personal approach to the problem, focusing on the people, made the students stood out in the competition. “It was not just about the business plan, but also about the story behind the solution to the problem. On the international stage, this was a fresh and inspiring perspective.”

It was not just about the business plan, but also about the story behind the solution to the problem. On the international stage, this was a fresh and inspiring perspective. – Dr Jan Swanepoel

He adds: “The challenges are also very personal, because it is around us and we should be part of the solution. 

Making a positive difference in society

The students who participated in the competition are involved in similar projects that will make a positive difference in society, including increasing employment, community upliftment, and development of small-scale farmers.

At the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, they consider the students as well-rounded individuals. “We believe that the students should not only have the theoretical knowledge, but also be practical in their applications.”

One of the students acknowledged that, “The centre sees each student as an individual and go above and beyond to create opportunities for students to apply and develop their skills and talents in contexts that stretch far beyond the classroom.” 

The top essays and the winners will be published in a special online publication, Food for the Future essay collection on IFAMA’s website.

 

 

WATCH:Video of the winning team: Alina Ntsiapane, Andries Strauss, Carien Denner, and Michelle Marais. Video: RooistoelTV



News Archive

Number of NRF-rated researchers increases in 2012
2012-10-29

29 October 2012

Three researchers at the University of the Free State received B-ratings for 2013 from the National Research Foundation (NRF). Prof. Johan Henning, Dean of Law, obtained the highest rating in his field of mercantile law in South Africa, a B1.

Prof. Jackie Naudé from Classical and Near Eastern Studies and Prof. Dingie Janse van Rensburg, Professor Extraordinary at the Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, also obtained B3-ratings. Prof. Naudé is the first B-rated researcher in the Faculty of Humanities.
Prof. Helene Strauss obtained the highest rating (Y1) for a UFS young scholar in the Humanities.
In total, the NRF rated researchers at the UFS grew from 95 in 2011 to 109 in 2012, a growth of almost 15 percent.
The NRF ratings committee consist of three reviewers from South Africa and three from abroad. A rating is valid for six years and researchers must reapply for rating before the end of that period.
For a B1-rating all reviewers must be firmly convinced that the applicant enjoys considerable international recognition for the high quality of the researcher’s recent output, with some indicating that the researcher is a leading international scholar in a field. For a B3-rating most of the reviewers must be convinced that the researcher enjoys international recognition for the high quality and impact of the research.
Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, said in the UFS Research Report “The UFS now has among the highest number of NRF-rated scientists per size of the academic faculty and we have seen the productivity graph bear witness to a record growth in our funded research outputs; we have won our first-ever NRF/DST Research Chairs. In each of these achievements, the excellence we seek comes with and through the diversity we celebrate.”
More ratings and renewals were expected by the time of Bult went to print.. More than 35 researchers applied for ratings or renewal of ratings.
  • Colleagues who were admitted to the prestigious Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) are Profs. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Driekie Hay, Heidi Hudson, Lodewyk Kock, Odireleng Ntwaeaborwa, Hugh Patterton, Ian Phimister and Melanie Walker. ASSAf was established in 1996 with the mission of using science for the benefit of society. New members are elected after nomination by four existing members (at least two of whom do so from personal knowledge of the candidate). ASSAf has some 350 members and represents South Africa in the international community of science academies.
  • Dr Marieka Gryzenhout of Plant Sciences became a member of South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS). SAYAS celebrated its first year in 2012. It was launched as a means to enable South Africa’s young scientists to fully participate in locally and internationally relevant research and development agendas. Prof. Aldo Stroebel, Director: Internationalisation, is also a member of SAYAS.

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