Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
03 March 2021
|
Story Giselle Baillie
|
Photo Supplied
Residence members who led the project, included:
Bohlokwa Rantja, the Residence Prime, and Transformation Committee members Nsuku Mutemela, Ofentse Motlakeng, Phindile Tjale, Madinku Mabala, Mmapopi Motshoso, Karabo Shuping, and Tagane Sekete.
The University of the Free State (UFS) Council approved and adopted Lehakwe House as the new name for the
NJ van der Merwe residence on the Bloemfontein Campus. The approval on 26 November 2020 followed a lengthy process of deliberation, consultation, and public engagement that has taken place since November 2019 and is aligned with the UFS Policy on Naming and Renaming. The name-change process was initiated by the Prime and Transformation Committee of the residence, guided by the
Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice and supported by a multi-stakeholder committee representative of the residence, the Housing and Residence Affairs Office, the Department of Student Affairs, the Student Representative Council, and alumni.
Lehakwe – a precious gem
Following a lengthy evaluation process of the names submitted through a public voting and recommendation platform in July 2020, ‘Lehakwe’ – a Sesotho word referring to a ‘precious gem’ – emerged as the front runner. As many current and past members of the residence attest, this womxn’s residence has come to occupy a significant space within the hearts and minds of UFS students and the UFS community, given that its spirit has always been closely aligned with the constitutional values of dignity, equality, and freedom and with the human values of ubuntu. In this vein, the new name of ‘Lehakwe’ presents a consolidation of constitutional and university values into the day-to-day thinking, learning, living, and legacy spaces of students, as well as everyone who interacts and engages with the UFS.
UFS Qwaqwa Campus honours research champions
2016-11-22

Best Emerging Researcher in the Faculty of
Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Dr Puseletso Mofokeng,
being congratulated by Drs Elsa Crause
(Campus Vice-Principal: Academic and Research)
and Dipane Hlalele
(Acting Campus Vice-Principal: Operations).
The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and the Academic and Research Office on the Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State recently honoured innovative academics and leading researchers. The event was the highlight of the 2016 academic year and was aimed at recognising academic innovation, dedication, and hard work.
The winning academics and categories were:
CTL Awards:
Dr Emile Bredenhand – Design Your Course
Dr Marga Stander and Bianca Naude (joint winners) – Student Engagement
Dr Marga Stander – Research in Teaching and Learning (runner-up: Fani Radebe)
Wouter de Wet – Assessment Methods (runner-up: Ntebohiseng Sekhele)
Ben Mase – Technology (runner-up: Dr Jared McDonald)
The History Department – Departmental Award
Outstanding researchers were also honoured per faculty on the day.
Academic and Research Awards:
The winners were:
Habasisa Molise – Best Emerging Researcher (Faculty of Education)
Calvin Mudzingiri – Best Emerging Researcher (Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences)
Dr Oliver Nyambi – Best Emerging Researcher (Faculty of the Humanities)
Dr Puseletso Mofokeng – Best Emerging Researcher (Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences)
Dr Dipane Hlalele – Prolific Researcher (Faculty of Education)
Dr Jared McDonald – Prolific Researcher (Faculty of the Humanities)
Dr Tom Ashafa – Prolific Researcher (Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences)
Prof Birhanu Dejene – Consistent Researcher
Prof Rodney Moffett – Life-long Researcher
The event also acknowledged Drs Geofrey Mukwada (Geography) and Aliza Le Roux (Zoology and Entomology) as newly-appointed Professors. The duo leads the Afromontane Research Unit.