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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

Memorial lecture: Repositioning of the Free State Provincial Government
2005-08-29

The repositioning of the Free State Provincial Government to respond to the 21st century demands is the topic of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) JN Boshoff Memorial Lecture that takes place on campus next week.

The lecture will be delivered by Dr Charles Nwaila, Director-General of the Free State Provincial Government and Vice-Chairperson of the UFS Council and will take place on Thursday 8 September 2005 at 18:00 in the CR Swart Auditorium on campus.

The title of the lecture is Free State Government repositioning itself to respond to the 21st century demands with special focus on the human capital edge.

Dr Nwaila obtained his BA in 1984 at the University of the North, his BA Honors (English) in 1987 at Wits University, his MA (English) in 1990 at Durham University (UK) and D Litt (English) in 1997 from the University of Pretoria.  

Dr Nwaila is also Chairperson of the Forum of Heads of Departments, Governance and Administration and Secretary of the Executive Council.

Previously, Dr Nwaila was the Superintendent-General of the Free State Department of Education from 2002 to February 2005. Dr Nwaila also served in government as Chief Director in the Gauteng Department of Education. Dr Nwaila is highly experienced and his career includes serving as a headmaster in rural and urban schools, lecturer at the Soweto College of Education, and supervisor at ABET centres.

Enquiries can be directed to Ms Joan Nel at (051) 401-9301.

Media release

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

29 August 2005

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