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ARU strengthens ties with Japanese universities

12 March 2020 | Story Thabo Kessah | Photo Thabo Kessah

Japan UFS Afromontane Research Unit research collaboration — Dr Melissa Hansen (left) with ARU guest researchers. They are, from the left: Gema Carlota Cubelos Perez, Emilie Jones, Ven Paolo Valenzuela, Kanako Matsuyama (International Christian University), and Dr Kudo Shogo.

Research ties between the University of the Free State, the University of Tokyo, and the International Christian University strengthened when the Japanese scholars visited the Afromontane Research Unit (ARU) on the Qwaqwa Campus.

“The visiting delegation is part of the larger research group on sustainability studies that has been sharing research expertise with the Afromontane Research Unit’s researchers over the past three years,” said Dr Kudo Shogo, Assistant Professor from the University of Tokyo’s Graduate Programme in Sustainability Science – Global Leadership Initiative (GPSS-GLI).

Entrepreneurship in Qwaqwa
“Our focus this time is on entrepreneurs who have had exposure to megacities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town, and who are finding themselves back in places like Qwaqwa. We have discovered that they actually find Qwaqwa more resourceful than when they left. Two to three years of unstable living in the cities gave them a fresh view to see the many opportunities in Qwaqwa and they then start their businesses. Talking to the Qwaqwa entrepreneurs has been a great learning experience for all of us,” he added.

The visiting scholars conducted interviews with 10 local entrepreneurs to get a sense of how they use entrepreneurship for sustainability purposes.

“We are pleased by the local people’s understanding that local problems require local solutions. I would really like to contribute to these people’s understanding of how these solutions fit the problems better than solutions that come from outside. We have quite a number of voices talking about empowering Qwaqwa, with the emphasis on creating jobs for Qwaqwa, solving the problems that Qwaqwa is facing. I have found education to be a unifying factor through tutoring, after-school classes, mentorship, and the personal imperative of sharing,” said Emilie Jones, originally from the United States of America and now studying for a master’s degree in Sustainability Science focusing on water supply and resources.

Education and arts empower communities
“Most of the entrepreneurs we spoke to have experience of the big cities. For them, Qwaqwa is very close to the heart and is home. There are challenges, but they are doing their best to empower their community with ideas and skills from the big cities. They provide services such as education and arts to empower the community to come up with a local identity,” said a PhD candidate, Ven Paolo Valenzuela from the Philippines.

“I was impressed with the people who realise the opportunities to identify problems and even come up with solutions themselves. A lot of communities can learn from this,” said Gema Carlota Cubelos Perez, a PhD candidate originally from Spain.

Their host, Dr Melissa Hansen, Lecturer from the Department of Geography, said the visit was part of the bigger study on migration and sustainable development. “This was a Global Field Exercise (GFE) for teaching research methods in the field. We found that Qwaqwa is overflowing with potential for entrepreneurship in a wide variety of fields and that there is a strong, vibrant network of young individuals brimming with talent. We are learning from each other, as Akita City in Japan and Qwaqwa are similar in more ways than one,” she said.

One of the entrepreneurs, Refiloe Seekane, is a self-taught fashion designer, choreographer, and event coordinator. “The interview has actually made me realise the gaps we have for business opportunities in Qwaqwa and the importance of implementing some of the projects I have been planning for years,” said Seekane, a second-year Education student and CEO of Evomind.

News Archive

Fundraising campaign launched to help feed hungry students

2012-03-28

From the left is Dr. Carin Buys (Patron of NSH), Ms. Nicky Abdinor (guest speaker), Mrs. Grace Jansen (patron of NSH) and Redi Tlhabi (master of ceremonies).
Photo: Johan Roux
28 March 2012

Video clip (YouTube)

The University of the Free State (UFS) received over R200 000 for its No Student Hungry (NSH) Programme at the NSH launch dinner on Friday 23 March 2012 in Bloemfontein.

Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS as well as founder of the NSH Programme donated R100 000 from the proceeds of his book We Need to Talk to this programme. Standard Bank also donated R30 000.

An additional amount of about R90 000 was raised by means of pledges made by guests and the auctioning of several items. These items were donated by local companies and university staff.

The No Student Hungry Programme (NSH) aims to raise funds to provide modest food bursaries for needy students and give them daily access to a balanced meal.
Prof. Jansen started the NSH programme in 2011 with the proceeds of his book, We Need to Talk.

The NSH funds more than 100 students in the hope of helping them to excel in their academic endeavours and, ultimately, to obtain their degrees.

In 2011, Prof. Jansen discovered that a significant number of students were studying without eating on a regular basis. These were often students with strong academic records but without adequate funding to sustain themselves with regular meals.

The project was established in January 2011 when the NSH Team started to develop the structure and processes of the programme. The first 100 students who were awarded the food bursaries started using their student cards for daily meals on campus on 1 April 2011.

“The No Student Hungry Campaign is not only about creating a university campus that cares. It is about creating a country where being human matters. Our students on the NSH project are amazing young people. They struggle to get by, but they have great potential and achieve good marks," Prof. Jansen said on Friday.

Prof. Jansen’s wife, Grace, and Dr Carin Buys, wife of Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, volunteered to drive the programme and raise funds to address the problem. They are supported by various divisions within the university.

Students apply for the bursaries and are selected on the basis of their financial needs, good academic results, active participation in student life programmes and commitment to give something back to the community.

The raising of funds is a continuous process involving awareness campaigns, seeking of partnerships with companies and institutions and support from the general public, staff and individuals.

An agreement has been made with several food outlets/restaurants on campus who offer healthy, balanced meals to NSH students when they swipe their student cards that are funded by the programme.

At the end of the year the process is reviewed and students who still qualify are reinstated on the programme, whilst those whose circumstances have changed or are no longer in need of the bursaries, make way for new applications.

The NSH Team meets with students on a regular basis with the purpose of offering training, motivation and opportunities for personal growth and career development. Students are also expected to become involved in projects as a way of ploughing back into the community.

The goal is to expand the project annually as support for it grows.
Ms Nicky Abdinor, a clinical psychologist from Cape Town, who was born without arms and with shortened legs, provided an entertaining motivational speech at the launch. Ms Abdinor, founder of the Nicky's Drive organisation, also visited the UFS’ Unit for Students with disabilities where she delivered a talk on independence for people living with disabilities.

To become involved with the NSH Programme, please contact Mrs René Pelser on +27(0)51 4019087 or e-mail pelserr@ufs.ac.za.

Media Release
28 March 2012
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: +27(0)51 401 2584
Cell: +27(0)83 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

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