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2021 Mandela Day Fitness Challenge

19 July 2021

The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences invites all its academic departments to participate in the 2021 celebration of Nelson Mandela Day by requesting their staff and students to become involved in a 67-minute fitness challenge to be held over a seven-day period, commencing on 18 July 2021. These kilometres can be completed by running, walking, swimming or on a bicycle (no vehicles permitted).

These activities may be completed at any location, at any time from 18 to 25 July 2021 (terminating at midnight on 25 July). This ensures that social distancing protocols are adhered to, since each individual is completing the challenge on their own.

Participants will be required to provide relevant proof of the distance completed, as well as the date and time interval, by either submitting a picture of the treadmill screen, sharing the progress they logged by using a mobile app such as Strata, pictures of the number of steps completed, etc. (Send this via email to Reabetswe Parkies at Parkiesrg@ufs.ac.za upon completion – at the latest by 08:00 on 26 July 2021.)

Raising funds

To raise funds, each department in the faculty is requested to consider sponsoring a specific amount per kilometre completed by their staff and students. It is recommended that each department consider its available budget for this purpose and that the total departmental contribution should be capped at a specific amount to ensure that departments are not faced with open-ended liabilities. We have sought and obtained approval from the Department of Finance for the use of UFS funds in this manner. To this end, for example, the School of Accountancy has pledged to contribute R10 per kilometre completed, capped at a maximum contribution of R6 700.

To encourage healthy competition and to increase the amount raised, departments will be encouraged to compete against each other and attempt to complete the most kilometres. Each department will donate their pledges to the charity of their choice. In support of this noble cause, the Dean’s office has pledged a donation of R6 700 to the winning academic department, to be added to the department’s donation to the charity.

We believe this is a very good marketing initiative, as well as an opportunity for the faculty to illustrate its commitment to social investment and community engagement. It is also likely to contribute to improving the morale of the staff in the faculty. The UFS Community Engagement office has further indicated that it would like to arrange a radio interview to promote this event – to this end, we can raise awareness and place the spotlight on a worthy cause.

Read More: EMS Mandela Day Fitness Challenge 2021

News Archive

Ranks of NRF researchers at Qwaqwa Campus strengthened

2014-11-03

From the left are: Profs Birhanu Dejene, Oriel Thekisoe, Drs Aliza le Roux and Geofrey Mukwada. (Prof Riaan Luyt was absent due to being abroad.)
Photo: Thabo Kessah

The list of researchers at the UFS Qwaqwa Campus rated by the National Research Foundation (NRF) was strengthened with the addition of Dr Geofrey Mukwada, who will have recognition as established researcher (C) from 2015.

Mukwada is working in the Department of Geography. His research focus is rural livelihoods, sustainable rural livelihoods, conservation of natural resources and climate change.

A total of 119 UFS researchers currently have evaluation and rating status from the NRF, says Nico Benson, Deputy Director: Research Development. Currently (October 2014) 29 researchers are still waiting for response from the NRF regarding applications submitted. A total of 16 ratings are already known. Ratings are valid for a period of six years and researchers are invited to apply for re-evaluation in the fifth year.

On the Qwaqwa Campus, Profs Riaan Luyt and Birhanu Dejene enjoy status as established (C) researchers – Prof Luyt in polymer nano-composites and polymer compounds and Prof Dejene in solar energy (photovoltaic).

Dr Aliza le Roux and Prof Oriel Thekiso are recognised as promising young (Y) researchers. Dr le Roux’s research focus is behavioural ecology, predator-prey interaction, spatial cognition, cognitive ecology, communication, zoology, individual-based modelling, animal behaviour (primates, carnivore biology) and socio-biology (mammals).

Prof Thekisoe is conducting research on applied molecular diagnostics, ectoparasites, blood parasites, helminthology, molecular parasitology, entomology and parasitology, veterinary parasitology, parasitological techniques, host-parasite interaction and zoonosis.

These researchers are proud export products of the University of the Free State.

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