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18 June 2020 | Story Nitha Ramnath | Photo Supplied
Mischke Bouwer.
Mischke Bouwer was recently awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study her PhD in Geoscience at the Southern Illinois University (SIU). The duration of the programme at SIU is five years, starting in August 2020.

Fulbright is a scholarship programme that recruits students from all over the world in any field of study to do their postgraduate studies in America. This is done through funding from Fulbright, together with the country's government and American universities. 

“This is not only a funding scholarship, but a supportive community! It really does feel like teamwork so far. The people from Fulbright ensure that the students feel as comfortable and enlightened as possible when leaving the country, and I am sure it will be the same when I arrive in America,” says Mischke.

Mischke considers herself an average girl who grew up in Pretoria; she enrolled at the UFS for a BSc in Geology from 2014 to 2016, followed by an Honours in Geology in 2017, and MSc in Soil Science. 
“I took a big chance by applying for a Fulbright scholarship but did not expect anything, as I felt I would never be good enough – but look where I am now,” says Mischke.

“I am speechless about the scholarship I received. There are many people I would like to thank who helped me along the way to achieve this scholarship. I would love this opportunity to thank all my lecturers from the UFS, both in the departments of Geology and Soil Science. Thanks to my supervisors for always believing in me. A special thanks to Prof Cornie van Huyssteen who was fully behind me, impacting my way of thinking, and teaching me a lot in two years.”

Mischke dedicates this scholarship to the late Prof Marian Tredoux, a true scientist and lecturer in the Department of Geology, who not only contributed greatly to the sciences, but truly impacted her students. “She inspired me to work hard and showed me an example of what a woman in science could be,” says Mischke.

She encourages students to apply for this scholarship, adding that there is nothing to lose. According to Mischke, students are much smarter than they would like to believe and should therefore always be mindful that their future is way brighter than they think.

“Make your role model YOU in 10 years and keep it that way! This way you always have someone to strive for!” says Mischke.

Mischke works on the absorption potential of arsenic and selenium in the field of environmental geochemistry and geochemical modelling. She hopes to return to South Africa with this knowledge and to make a difference in the remediation and rehabilitation of mines. 

News Archive

Access meets quality in UFS-Varsity College partnership for law degree
2012-07-30

 
At the event were, from the left: Mr Frank Thompson, CEO of ADvTECH, Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, and Prof. Johan Henning, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the UFS.
Photo: Johan Roux
30 July 2012

The University of the Free State (UFS) and Varsity College this week officially launched a partnership whereby the university’s Faculty of Law will offer a four-year Bachelor of Law qualification through the UFS School of Open Learning on eight Varsity College campuses nationwide. This new degree will be offered as early as 2013.

This is the fulfilment of a dream, said Prof. Johan Henning, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the university. He was one of the speakers at the event that was attended by staff members and management from the, Faculty of Law, the university’s South Campus, Varsity College and ADvTECH.

The UFS Faculty of Law is one of the oldest and most distinguished faculties of law in South Africa, and has a close association with several overseas universities which ensures that the institution is internationally recognised.

“I am very positive and enthusiastic about this new partnership. We want to make this an enriching experience for staff and students from both the university as well as Varsity College,” Prof. Henning said.

The CEO of ADvTECH, Mr Frank Thompson, said he is overjoyed about the project and its potential. Varsity College is a brand of the ADvTECH Group, a JSE listed company invested in human capital.

“This is a new beginning for Varsity College and the UFS. Learning together, the slogan for this project, is very appropriate. We are excited to add new students to the university and Varsity College’s line-up,” Mr Thompson said.

Varsity College is part of the Independent Institute of Education (IIE), the leading provider of private higher education in South Africa. According to Dr Felicity Coughlan, Director of the IIE, the partnership between the IIE and the university is an example of the potential that is inherent in public-private partnerships to increase the range of high quality options available to students.

Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, who also was one of the speakers at this event, said with this partnership, students will get the best of both worlds in accessing higher education.

The Faculty of Law will ensure that students obtain both a thorough grounding in legal theory, as well as a solid practical foundation, and Varsity College, through a strong commitment to innovative teaching and learning, will empower more students to become legal graduates of the highest calibre. Thus, the innovative partnership between the UFS and Varsity College will produce a Bachelor of Law degree that is highly sought after in the legal profession.

This partnership is the first of its kind, paving the way for increased collaboration between public and private tertiary institutions to best serve the education sector and the future of graduates.

“This is what is possible when two dynamic partners like the university and Varsity College come together,” Prof. Jansen said.
 

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