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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

UFS releases draft charter to accelerate transformation
2007-02-02

The University of the Free State (UFS) today released a draft Institutional Charter which is intended to enhance and accelerate the ongoing transformation of the institution towards a non-racial, non-sexist future.

Speaking at the official opening of the university today, the Rector and Vice-chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, said the draft Institutional Charter, was an important milestone in the transformation debate for the university and the country.

“The draft charter acknowledges that black people, women and people with disabilities have been marginalised from job and developmental opportunities, within the higher education sector and at this university,” Prof Fourie said.

The charter commits the university to meeting the challenges of a transforming higher education institution in a developing society, in particular the challenges of nation-building, reconciliation, redress, non-racialism and non-sexism – and ultimately normalisation – within a high-quality academic institution.

The principles of the draft charter firmly signal the university’s commitment to diversity – attaining and maintaining substantive and sufficient diversity (including multiculturalism and multilingualism) – in its quest for quality and excellence. 
Prof Fourie said the draft charter seeks to build consensus among staff and students at the UFS about the ultimate goals of transformation at a higher education institution.

The charter proposes several basic values and principles that should guide the transformation process and at the same time serve as a basis for a future, normalised university - a promised land to transform towards.

The discussion document says academic quality is intrinsically linked to transformation and it commits the university to strengthening the core competencies of research, teaching and learning as well as community service so as to ensure a robust university for future generations.

“Indeed the thousands of matriculants, black and white, who apply to study at the UFS want to study at a good university, and a good university wants to attract the best black and white students and the best black and white staff, male and female,“ Prof Fourie said.

He said the draft charter also seeks to safeguard academic freedom and institutional autonomy as the foundation of critical inquiry and scholarship.

Regarding the critical issue of creating a new institutional culture, the draft charter commits the UFS to creating a sense of belonging for all members of the university – black and white, male and female, of whatever language, religious, cultural or economic background, as well as people with disabilities.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:  (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl@mail.uovs.ac.za
02 February 2007

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