Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
20 November 2020 | Story Charlene Stanley

Two lecturers in Business Management from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences walked away with the 2019/2020 UFS Excellence in Teaching and Learning Awards in the category Innovation in Student Engagement and Learning.

Dr Ekaete Benedict and Mrs Risna Opperman are also both real-life entrepreneurs who own businesses in and around Bloemfontein, using their practical experience from the business world to supplement the theoretical knowledge they impart to their students.

Success recipe

Lecturing the flagship entrepreneurship module in the Department of Business Management, the two lecturers use the graduate attributes theory as a starting point, which states that students should learn and develop certain skills, abilities, knowledge, and attitudes during their studies at university.  

They then integrate and design their module outcomes, academic activities, and assessments to align with these attributes, ensuring that their students develop the skills that will help them to be better prepared for the work environment and self-employment.


Ekaete Benedict_web
Dr Ekaete Benedict. Photo:Supplied

To enhance learning and engagement, they employ blended learning techniques in the form of face-to-face classes supplemented with online activities via Blackboard. 

They also effectively implement experiential learning, inviting real-life entrepreneurs and officials from various small-business development agencies as guest lecturers to communicate and interact with students.
Some of the lessons these industry experts have shared with students are: 
How to protect your business ideas; How to access government funding; How to start your business; and How to market your business.

Aims of Excellence in Teaching and Learning Awards 

The Excellence in Teaching and Learning awards, hosted by the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL), recognise academics for their innovative learning and teaching practices within different disciplines, as well as the advancement of the scholarship of teaching at the institution.Among its aims are to share best practices, innovative ideas, and research findings in learning and teaching.

Risna Opperman web
Risna Opperman. Photo:Supplied

Value of Entrepreneurship

Both winners are passionately advocating the critical need for entrepreneurship education and training in the South African context.
“In the light of South Africa’s high unemployment rate (over 30%), plus the fact that we have the highest youth unemployment rate in the world (58.2%), there is a big demand for meaningful engagement of young people in productive activities – hence the need for entrepreneurship,” says Benedict.
“As entrepreneurship lecturers, our focus is not just on graduating future employees for the workforce, but to create and develop future employers who can contribute to the economic development of the country,” emphasises Opperman.

News Archive

UFS law alumni presents gala dinner
2004-11-05

The Law Alumni of the University of the Free State (UFS) will present a gala dinner on Wednesday 17 November 2004 in honor of the Appeal Court and the Free State Supreme Court.

According to the chairperson of the Law Alumni, Mr Nico Botha, the function will be attended by more than 200 guests from across the country. The main speaker is Mr Pius Langa, acting Chief Justice.

“Through the years the Faculty of Law at the UFS has produced students who have made their mark – not only in the law profession – but also in the trade and industry. In the same sense there are former Kovsies who have even advanced to the Appeal Court and who have produced leading sentences which have contributed to the development of the common law,” said Prof Johan Henning, Dean of the Faculty.

According to Prof Henning the Faculty of Law aims to present students with practical education. To bring this about, close links are maintained with members of the judicial bench and other practitioners – some of whom have been appointed as honorary or extraordinary professors. These professors are obliged to present lectures from time to time and act as a promotor or moderator for postgraduate students.

“It is a priviledge for this Faculty to be involved with the dinner, which forms part of the UFS’s centenary celebrations. The dinner is presented in honor of all members of the different judicial benches – whether they are former Kovsies or not,” said Prof Henning.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
5 November 2004

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