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16 November 2020 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath

In this webinar, Prof Brownhilder Neneh of the University of the Free State, and Christopher Rothmann, co-founder of LiquidCulture, discuss the intersection between the two fields of science and entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship and the university curriculum from an interdisciplinary perspective. The webinar will provide insight into entrepreneurship at universities, particularly the UFS, advancing entrepreneurship development and entrepreneurship-related programmes that are student focused, and illustrate the critical role that entrepreneurship plays in the lives of students.

This webinar is part of a series of three webinars on Interdisciplinarity that is presented from November to December 2020 via Microsoft Teams for a duration of 45 minutes each. The webinar topics in the series explore the intersection between Neuroscience and Music, between Science and Entrepreneurship, and between Science and Visual Arts.  

Date: Tuesday 24 November 2020
Topic: The intersection between science and entrepreneurship 
Time: 13:00-13:45 (SAST)
RSVP: Alicia Pienaar, pienaaran1@ufs.ac.za by 23 November 2020 
Platform: Microsoft Teams

Introduction and welcome

Prof Corli Witthuhn 
Vice-Rector: Research at the University of the Free State 


Presenters

Prof Brownhilder Neneh 

Prof Neneh is Associate Professor and Academic Chair (HOD) in the Department of Business Management at the University of the Free State.  She is an NRF-rated researcher in the field of entrepreneurship and small business development. Her research is primarily based in the field of entrepreneurship, where she looks at different aspects of a business venture – from business gestation activities to performance, growth, and exit.  She also focuses on some niche areas in entrepreneurship, such as women and student entrepreneurship. She was a 2019 winner of the Emerald Literati Awards in the category Outstanding and Highly Commended papers. 

Christopher Rothmann – Co-founder of LiquidCulture

Liquid Culture (LC) was started by Christopher Rothmann and Dr Errol Cason in the UFS Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology in 2018. They produce yeast in its purest liquid form. LC is the only company in Africa to do so. Their yeast is mainly used by breweries for the fermentation of beer and they have since also branched out to the baking and distillery industries. Christopher was awarded the joint runner-up position in the Existing Tech Business category of the 2019 Entrepreneurship Intervarsity.

News Archive

New Dean of Student Affairs appointed
2016-08-23

Description: Pura Mgolombane Tags: Pura Mgolombane

Pura Mgolombane, newly-appointed
Dean of Student Affairs at the
University of the Free State.
Photo: Charl Devenish

“Students must always remember that people are human beings before any other identity they may embody.”

This is the message to the students of the UFS campuses from Pura Mgolombane, newly-appointed Dean of Student Affairs at the University of the Free State (UFS) in August 2016. He has replaced Cornelia Faasen, who acted as Dean from December 2014 to July 2016.   

Being part of the Kovsie community
Previously, he was part of the Kovsie family as Assistant Dean of Student Life and Leadership (2011-2013). Before that, he was the Diversity, Ethics, and Social Justice Manager at the University of the Witwatersrand from August 2013 to July 2016. Mgolombane said he is most excited to “observe and experience an inclusive culture” at the university.

“I am looking forward to being part of a team that creates sufficient conditions for every member of the Kovsie community to feel that they belong here; from Qwaqwa campus, to South campus, to Bloemfontein campus.”

Making sure humanity comes first
His primary focus will be “to create Humanising Student Lived Experiences”. I want to create conditions where students feel that their humanity matters, because it is in such conditions that students are likely to excel academically,” he said.

These conditions will be created through the introduction of programmes and activities known as pedagogies, namely the humanising pedagogy and the pedagogy of discomfort. “All of these pedagogies and frameworks will be contained and further clarified in the Dean of Student Affairs Strategy which will be finalised no later than December 2016.”

Overcoming challenges faced by students
Regarding the challenges facing UFS students, Mgolombane said that “it is only when all out humanity is affirmed that we are likely to find lasting peace.

“Those who are in power or privileged positions have a responsibility to be in solidarity with the marginalised groups in pursuit of Social Justice.”

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