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Alumnus donates painting to the Department of Economics and Finance

13 August 2021 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied

painting_web read more — Mr Steve Strauss, an alumnus from the Department of Economics and Finance at the University of the Free State (UFS) who donated one of his paintings to the department, pictured with Dr Nico Keyser, head of the Department of Economics and Finance with the painting.

The office of the Head of the Department of Economics and Finance in the University of the Free State (UFS) Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences received a new piece of art in the form of a flower painting donated by an alumnus.

Steve Strauss, who is now a fulltime painter, donated one of his paintings to the department from which he graduated in 1989 with a degree in BCom Economics. Strauss, who started painting as a hobby while still a student at the UFS, enjoys painting flowers because it reminds him of his mother’s garden.

Dr Nico Keyser, head of the Department of Economics and Finance, says he is delighted that alumni still want to be part of the department and the university. “It points to the extraordinary role that the years at the university have played in one's life, and also the diverse talents that people have besides the academy. Steve enjoyed his years at the university, as they were wonderful years. That is why he decided to donate the painting,” says Dr Keyser.

According to Dr Keyser, Strauss enrolled for a few formal and informal classes from 2011 and now has a studio on the farm in the Schweizer-Reneke district where he lives.

“Steve Strauss’s motivation to start painting was to express his God-given talent. He is currently a full-time artist, and his work is on display at various galleries in Clarence, Kimberley and Johannesburg. He often attends art festivals to exhibit his paintings.

“The painting will be on display in the HoD’s office. The donation is much appreciated by the department, and so is all involvement of alumni students in the department. I hope that the future HODs will also find joy from the painting,” says Dr Keyser.

News Archive

New SANRAL Chair in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education

2014-09-19

MEC: Butana Khomphela
Photo: Jerry Mokoroane

The University of the Free State (UFS) in partnership with the South African National Roads Agency launched the SANRAL Chair in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education on the Bloemfontein Campus on 11 September 2014. Prof Loyiso Jita has been appointed as the first SANRAL Chair. He is a professor in the School of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology at the UFS, where he shares his expertise in science teaching, which has been influenced by his broad and deep intellectual and experiential engagements both internationally and domestically.

Speaking at the event were Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS; Dr Choice Makhetha, Vice-Rector: External Relations; Prof Jita, the inaugural SANRAL Chair; the Free State MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, Mr Butana Komphela and Mr Nazir Alli, CEO of SANRAL.

At the event, Prof Jansen celebrated that “SANRAL has rewarded the faith in our children to do well in science and mathematics with this Chair.”

This SANRAL Chair in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education will help to improve the quality of teaching in these vital subjects at schools in the province. It complements the university’s School Partnership Project (SPP) – a flagship initiative launched by Prof Jansen.

The SANRAL endowment will enable the university to hone in on the ‘gateway subjects’ of mathematics and natural science. At school level, it will help to train teachers, support student-teacher interns, and incentivise education results so that participating schools become centres of excellence. At an academic level, the SANRAL Chair will supervise a cohort of doctoral and masters students, while also guiding research and publications in mathematics, science and technology education.

Through the endowment, SANRAL will assist the UFS in producing education leaders who can turn around maths and science education in disadvantaged schools throughout Southern Africa.

For the full text, read: New SANRAL Chair in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education

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