Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

Students play leading role to ensure food security

17 June 2020 | Story Dr WP Wahl

The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) prioritises innovation to meet the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition among students. To this end, several student volunteers and student governance structures are collaborating with the DSA on various initiatives.

During 2019, various conversations were held about the possibility of creating a health-promoting food environment at the UFS where students and staff are well informed and empowered to take appropriate action regarding their food and nutritional needs. These conversations resulted in an institutional strategy to address the food environment at the UFS. Student representatives serve on a technical committee that directs the implementation of this strategy. In this regard, several initiatives have already been launched.

Students from residences and other student communities have planted vegetable gardens on the Bloemfontein Campus with the assistance of KovsieACT and the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Students and staff are already harvesting and distributing vegetables to needy students every week. Measurements were put in place to continue this during the COVID-19 period. The following vegetables were planted: spinach, cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.

Food parcels, donated by Tiger Brands and Gift of the Givers, are continuously handed out by DSA staff and student volunteers. In this regard, 540 food parcels have already been handed out on the Bloemfontein Campus during the COVID-19 period alone. During the same time, 117 students received food parcels on the Qwaqwa Campus. The innovation of this food parcel project rests on the fact that business, NPOs, UFS students, and DSA staff are collaborating to address food insecurity and malnutrition.

More collaborative initiatives will be implemented over the next 12 months. The DSA staff and students are already working with the Department of Dietetics and Consumer Sciences to create information packages about the preparation of low-budget nutritious meals.

News Archive

Imperium honours top performers

2012-08-17

Attending Imperium Residence’s academic evening was, from left: Dr Scarpa Schoeman, Residence Head of Veritas, Dr Mpho Moagi-Jama, Residence Head of Imperium; Michael van Niekerk, Primarius of Imperium; Monique Visser; Mr Pura Mgolombane, Assistant Dean of Student Life and Leadership; and Monique Janse van Rensburg, a former primaria of Imperium.
Photo: Amanda Tongha
17 August 2012

The city residence Imperium, previously known as Medix, honoured its academic performers during the residence’s annual academic evening, which was held on Thursday 16 August 2012. Certificates were handed out to the residence’s top first-year and senior students.

A bursary of R10 000 was also handed over to a student. The money was collected by the students themselves. Monique Visser, a first-year medical student, who was among the top ten matriculants in the Western Cape in 2011, received the bursary. Monique was also named the second best student in her year group.

Michael van Niekerk, Primarius of Imperium and the best third-year student, praised Monique for her hard work and said it was good to give back to students.

Dr. Mpho Moagi-Jama, the residence head of Imperium, praised her students and said they must continue being outstanding.

Imperium, which underwent a name change recently, is open to male and female students in all fields of study.

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept