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22 September 2021 | Story Michelle Nöthling | Photo Supplied
Annemarie Le Roux.

“I love working with children.” This is one of the first things Annemarie le Roux mentions when asked to describe herself. This love for children propelled Annemarie into the field of education and she graduated in 2006 with a BEd in Foundation Phase at the UFS. Annemarie immediately immersed herself in the Deaf community, enriching the lives of children at the Thiboloha School for the Deaf in Qwaqwa and the De la Bat School for the Deaf in Worcester. 

The academic world enticed Annemarie back to the University of the Free State (UFS) and she was appointed as a junior lecturer in the Department of South African Sign Language (SASL) and Deaf Studies in 2013. Going from strength to strength, Annemarie completed her master’s degree in SASL in 2019, and published an article earlier this year that she co-wrote with Marga Stander. In this article, they found that SASL “has become an increasingly popular language that hearing university students want to learn as a second language” and subsequently explored different teaching methods used for this emerging group of interested students. 

Although now firmly established in academia, Annemarie is still committed to the practical application of SASL. “I am closely involved in student and community engagement through the SIGNALS Sign Language student association that helps empower the Deaf community and South African Sign Language.” She also interprets for the Deaf community whenever she gets an opportunity, as well as for Deaf students in class and meetings.

On the importance of Sign Language and the recognition of the Deaf community in South Africa, Annemarie believes it will open greater opportunities for development. “More people will be able to learn SASL, and it might even become a subject in school for hearing children.”

News Archive

Department of Agricultural Economics and agri-business join forces
2009-12-01

Some of the guests who attended the Department of Agricultural Economics' half-century celebration dinner were, from the left: Ms Chrisna van Heerden from Cape Wools; Mr Gielie Swart from Corporate Guarantee; Mr Jaco Heckroodt from VKB (Vrystaat Koöperasie Beperk) in Reitz; Mr Arno van Vuuren from NWK Beperk (Noord-Wes Koöperasie); Prof. Johan Willemse, Departmental Chairperson of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the UFS; and Ms Marcine Morsavel from GWK Beperk (Griekwaland-Wes Koöperasie).
Photo: Stephen Collett

The Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State (UFS) launched a bursary programme to support students studying Agricultural Economics during its recent half-centenary celebrations.

More than half a million Rands were collected from various agri-businesses at this prestigious event in order to support approximately 16 Agricultural Economics students from 2010 onwards.

“The Department is proud of the past 50 years’ training of students for agriculture in the fields of research, governance, banking and the agri-business environment and we have launched the bursary programme in order to position the University closer to agri-businesses,” said Prof. Johan Willemse, Departmental Chairperson of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the UFS.

The agri-businesses, who will act as sponsors, also benefit from the project, because they are afforded the opportunity to identify promising Agricultural Economics students as potential employees and to expose them to the activities of the businesses by means of holiday work. Upon completion of his/her studies, the student will already be fairly familiar with the circumstances of the specific agri-business and loyalty towards the business will already have been established.

Students who major in Agricultural Economics may apply for the bursary programme.

Agri-businesses that have already agreed to act as sponsors are Omnia Fertilizer, Pioneer Foods Pty, Suid-Wes Koöperasie Beperk, Corporate Guarantee, GWK Beperk (Griekwaland-Wes Koöperasie), VKB (Vrystaat Koöperasie Beperk), the National Woolgrowers Association and NWK Beperk (Noord-Wes Koöperasie).

More information can be obtained by phoning Ms Marie Engelbrecht on 051 401 9054.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
1 December 2009

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