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01 April 2021 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath | Photo Supplied
Back: Dr Nico Keyser (editor), Dr Ivan van der Merwe. Front: Minette Weideman (Portfolio Manager at Levevis Investment and Consulting Services), Melanie Ferreira (Business Development Manager at Allan Gray), Dr Cecile Duvenhage (editor) and Lizelle Jansen van Rensburg (Lecturer). Dr Jesse de Beer (Lecturer at University of Namibia) was absent.

Two lecturers from the Department of Economics and Finance at the University of the Free State (UFS) teamed up with alumni – who were once students in their department – to write a book on personal finance. This book is the latest hands-on application of the theory in practice.

“From the book it is evident how our alumni – who once were learners – became educators and contributed to teaching and learning,” says Dr Cecile Duvenhage, Lecturer in the Department of Economics and Finance, about the book Personal Finance. The desire to write this book stems from previous studies done by Dr Duvenhage and Dr Nico Keyser, Senior Lecturer, on the financial literacy levels among young adults. 

One such study was published in the Journal of Psychology in Africa (29(4):460-465). According to the study, young adults lack the basic understanding of financial aspects. Theory can be learned by heart, but the understanding and execution of well-informed financial decisions need to be addressed. Thus, the book was written in such a way that it is easy to understand, and with the aim of changing financial behaviour and attitude in a positive manner. The book provides useful websites and appendices for additional information and reading, and is aimed at the man on the street, researchers, and practitioners. 

Acording to the authors, during the writing of the book in 2020, new challenges arose, including the dramatic impact of COVID-19 on the financial market, and these aspects were included during the final stages and editing of this book. 

“Why personal finance? ‘Money makes the world go round’, the saying goes. Good financial decision making has a positive influence on overall well-being, allowing people to maximise their opportunities and lead more fulfilling lives. Personal finance teaches individuals financial skills so that they can manage their money better. The subject, Personal finance, is an interdisciplinary subject and encompasses many areas and core topics such as decision making, cash-flow management, savings, credit, debt, housing, and planning for the future.” 

Personal Finance (first edition) was published by Van Schaik Publishers and has been available from leading bookshops since the end of December 2020.  All chapters were critically reviewed by three (3) university lecturers and a qualified editorial panel.

News Archive

UFS’ position on student politics
2011-09-01

The University of the Free State (UFS) welcomes politics on its campus. It especially invites students to participate in all the political activities on campus, ranging from seminars and debates on national and provincial politics, and organization within party political structures. Earlier the year, in the run-up to the Local Government Elections, a programme was run on campus with all political parties participating in public and radio debates with students on political issues.

A university must be a place for all kinds of ideas and organizations---social, cultural, religious, academic and, yes, political. The perception that the UFS has “banned” politics is simply not true, nor is it possible within a constitutional democracy.
 
The University of the Free State once again invites SASCO and any other political groupings that have not yet registered to participate in campus life, to do so as soon as possible. It is important to the UFS that all student bodies enjoy full participation in campus life, and that there exists a vibrant and exciting political life on the campus alongside academic, social, cultural and religious life.
 
The Student Representative Council (SRC) Elections at the UFS has been constituted on independent candidacy and non-party-political basis. This is a decision crafted and recommended by the Broad Student Transformation Forum, whose members are elected by students, and approved for implementation by the highest authority of the university, the Council. The decisions of the Student Forum entails that all students can nominate individuals for a variety of student leadership positions, which includes nomination for elective portfolios in the SRC elections, but also within nine sub-councils that hold ex-officio seats on the SRC.
 
The old system which restricted student leadership to representation on a party-political basis only (DA, ANC, Freedom Front Plus etc) no longer exists.
 
This decision of the Student Forum ensures that the rights of all students to directly elect their representatives are protected, and that the SRC in fact represents the student body as a whole and not particular interest groups alone. This decision enables ALL students to stand for and participate in campus politics in the SRC elections, though not on a party political ticket. In the 2011 SRC Elections, for example, SASCO members were indeed mandated by its local branch to stand as candidates for various elected positions, as did other political parties such as the DA Student Organisation, a development which the university welcomes. 
 
Most importantly, the UFS insists that all students participate in university life with respect for the rights of all students, irrespective of their social beliefs or political commitments. The UFS insists that no student or student grouping acts to disrupt campus life or insult university staff or denigrate fellow students on grounds of race, religion, language, gender, etc. This is very important to the UFS as it works to build a non-racial culture that respects our common humanity. Our students must learn that democracy and decency go hand in hand, and that part of learning at a university, is to learn to differ without resorting to a language of derision.
 
In short, the University of the Free State warmly welcomes full participation in politics, as in other spheres of student life, on all three its campuses.
 
Statement by Prof. Jonathan Jansen, UFS Vice-Chancellor and Rector.

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