Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
13 March 2020 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Xolisa Mnukwa
Daniela and Stefan recognised by national quantity surveying organisation
Daniela Da Costa and Stéfan Olivier bagged the DJ Laing Memorial Scholarship for the 2020 academic year from the prestigious Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS).
The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) plays a vital role in the building industry in South Africa and aims to advance and promote the science and practice of Quantity Surveying and cognate matters in the country.

University of the Free State (UFS) second-year Quantity Surveying students, Daniela da Costa and Stéfan Olivier, were awarded DJ Laing Memorial Scholarships for the 2020 academic year by the prestigious association. 

The scholarship advocates for the education and development of Quantity Surveying students by providing those exemplifying academic merit and ongoing dedication to the profession through financial assistance. 

Karl Trusler, Edutech Director for ASAQS, says in addition to being academically strong, both Da Costa and Olivier have demonstrated leadership and good character through their work experience, sports achievements, and community involvement. “We believe that they have the potential to make a great contribution to the future of the Quantity Surveying profession,” he added.

“I was having a pretty bad Monday when I received the call from ASAQS telling me that I had been awarded the scholarship. At that point, I don't think I realised quite what had happened and didn't really have words to describe my happiness,” reflected Olivier. 

He went on to say, “I can only hope that it will show people that I am a hardworking, dedicated, and trustworthy person.” Governed by his practical and problem-solving mind, Olivier believes that he will make an excellent quantity surveyor one day. 
Fellow scholarship recipient Da Costa says she would like to break the glass ceiling in her career and encourage young girls to pursue their education in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field. 

Da Costa described the qualities which set her apart from others as her intellectual curiosity. “I am enthusiastic about attaining knowledge about every subject matter possible, which creates a genuine interest in Quantity Surveying,” she explained.
Trusler further mentioned that ASAQS has a free student membership category. He encouraged Kovsies studying towards a Quantity Surveying qualification to join the association to enjoy the wide range of resources and opportunities available to them.

News Archive

Grant from the Andrew W Mellon Foundation provides significant boost for graduate and postdoctoral studies in the Humanities
2013-05-19

20 May 2013

The Andrew W Mellon Foundation has made an award of US $500 000 [c. ZAR 4.85 million] over three years to support graduate and postdoctoral studies in the Humanities at the University of the Free State (UFS).

The award will underwrite 20 postgraduate studentships and postdoctoral fellowships, as well as annual postgraduate skills training workshops and a research seminar programme, amongst other initiatives. Already underway following national and international advertisement, the programme has attracted highly qualified young scholars from South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as from the United Kingdom and the United States. While their fields of study include history, politics, anthropology and development studies, most of the research projects have an African focus and a marked historical dimension.

Postdoctoral fellows and postgraduate students alike are associates of, or are registered in, the Centre for Africa Studies. Several of them, have already published articles in international refereed journals. Chapters in books, edited collections and single-authored monographs are all in the pipeline.

“The application to the Mellon Foundation was made in the context of UFS' strategic plan and the priority given to the importance of fostering and consolidating postgraduate and postdoctoral research. Together with other funding, this grant gives the university the opportunity to develop graduate studies in the Humanities in such a way that it surpasses many South African universities and approaches that of the best universities in the country,” says Prof Ian Phimister, Senior UFS Research Professor.

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