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Takudzwa Nyamunda represents UFS in 2020 Commonwealth Future Student Leadership programme

26 June 2020 | Story Nitha Ramanth | Photo Valentino Ndaba

Takuduza_web read more — Takudzwa Nyamunda.

Takudzwa Nyamunda is the proud new representative of the University of the Free State (UFS) for the 2020 Commonwealth Future Student Leadership programme. Nominated at a recent workshop themed ‘Reimagining Peace’, organised by the Association of Commonwealth Universities in collaboration with the British Council and the Durban University of Technology, Takudzwa demonstrated exceptional leadership, coupled with his experience of issues related to the UFS student committee, which provided the perfect foundation for his selection.

“From a personal point of view, this was one of the most enriching experiences I have ever had, both in terms of the relationships established and the world knowledge gained. I am personally grateful for the opportunity to attend and would support any further initiative of this nature. I think the essence of this workshop was to encourage the young leaders present – all of whom were active citizens in their communities in one way or another – to continue fighting the good fight. The core message from the panellists was that it is all worth it in the end, and that even in the face of adversity and discouragement, we should keep fighting for the work we believe in,” says Takudzwa.

Participants from 13 nations, including activists and thought leaders on non-violence affiliated with the International Centre of Nonviolence, the Gandhi Development Trust, and the Commonwealth Countering Violent Extremism Unit, contributed to the workshop. Over the course of three days, participants were divided into five groups and worked together on projects linked to three main themes – gender-based violence, global warming, and inequality.

The selection committee was convened by the Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation, Prof Corli Witthuhn, and facilitated by the Office for International Affairs. Currently in the final year of his Master of Industrial Psychology degree, Takudzwa’s wealth or experience includes being the founder and first president of the International Students Association (2016), and holder of the International Student portfolio as Student Representative Council (SRC) member (2017), coupled with being co-founder and first vice-chairperson of the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP): UFS Chapter and Vice-president of the SABPP National Youth Council (2019).

“I will continue to do what I have been doing for the past five years at the UFS, which is to make a difference in my sphere of influence”, says Takudzwa.

News Archive

Anchen Froneman selected for NY post-grad programme

2015-04-29

Anchen Froneman

Anchen Froneman, PhD-student at the UFS Odeion School of Music (OSM), has been accepted into the Modular Certification Programme in Laban Movement Studies at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS), in New York (USA).

This programme is a postgraduate certificate that is considered the equivalent of a master’s degree programme. Successful completion earns the title of Certified Movement Analyst (CMA). Anchen’s attendance at the first module of the programme from 1 to 17 June 2015 has been made possible by a Postgraduate Scholarship granted by the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust.

Participation in the CMA Programme stems from her multidisciplinary doctoral research project as well as a personal interest in the ways that body movement contributes to a holistic musical performance. In her research project, she investigates the application of Laban Movement Studies to obtaining embodied, integrative piano performances. Laban Movement Studies is an approach whereby both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of body movement is analysed, codified, and developed, using specific considerations. This somatic approach uses a framework based on the personal uniqueness and complexity embedded in human movement, explaining and developing the organisation of the body, the position and relation of the body to itself, space, and other objects as well as the dynamic range of body movement.

CMAs contribute to various areas of human development, including leadership development, cross-cultural communications and management, interpersonal skills and conflict management, team development, self-awareness and performance improvement, performing arts as well as movement therapies.

Anchen uses the foundation of the Laban approach in her hypothesis that the development of both functional and expressive movement will enhance musical performance. She also centres this on the literature findings on body movement in the disciplines of music performance, neuroscience, psychology, and physiology. With this project, she aims to make a scholarly contribution towards raising awareness of the importance of integrating functional and expressive movements in performance.

Anchen completed her previous music qualifications at the OSM.

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