Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
12 December 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Leonie Bolleurs
Dr Karen Venter
Dr Venter received her PhD at the December graduation ceremonies. She focused on addressing societal challenges through the practice of engaged scholarship in community-university research partnerships for the common good.

When asked what inspired her to pursue a PhD, Dr Karen Venter, Head of the Division of Service Learning in the Directorate Community Engagement at the University of the Free State (UFS), said she wanted to make a difference in addressing societal challenges through the practice of engaged scholarship in community-university research partnerships for the common good. 

“Also, I love to learn and share knowledge – and that is exactly what I did in this PhD, titled: An integrated service-learning praxis approach for flourishment of professional development in community-higher education partnerships.” 

She explains, “My five-articles-style thesis explored the contribution of an integrated service-learning praxis approach towards the flourishment of engaged scholarship in community-higher education partnerships. The approach combined community engaged service-learning (CESL), appreciative inquiry and appreciative leadership, to advance the praxis of engaged scholarship. The study was demarcated in the field of higher education, applied in the discipline of nursing education, and contextually bound to three interrelated action research cycles and settings – for international, national, and local level engagement.”

Community members participate in the research journey

“The intent of the study was to recognise the community-led action learning of community member participants at the core action learning set,” says Dr Venter. 

The study followed a participatory action learning and action research methodology. During her research journey, she was joined by members of the community, specifically from Bloemshelter – a shelter for the homeless. “They co-constructed and completed a four-year community-led action learning pathway to holistic development (spiritual, personal, professional), which brought about holistic social change and well-being in their livelihood, moving from dependence on others to establishing viable multiple micro-enterprises,” she says.

The UFS affiliated with GULL to reward the community member participants’ action learning. “Already in 2019, GULL certified their action learning with a Professional Bachelor’s degree, while I still had to document the action research, and only now received the PhD,” says Dr Venter. 

“I am grateful to all the participants who co-created action-oriented knowledge with me in the study, from international, to national, to local level of engagement.”

Integrating a PhD with work and life

A PhD requires a lot of hard work and effort, to the point that the lines between studies, work, and life become blurred. Dr Venter acknowledged that she tried to balance work/life and study, but “I was not very good at it”. 
Passion, patience, peace, perseverance, positivity, and prayer are good principles to maintain when you are in the process of completing a PhD. – Dr Karen Venter 

She elaborates, “Studying became an integrated part of my work and life.  For the duration of my studies, I started working at 03:00 and I also did not watch any television.” She did, however, make time for herself by joining the wellness workout programme presented by the UFS, enjoyed gardening, and playing with her grandchildren. “I also tried to rest one day over weekends, and made time to praise and worship, which energised me for the next week,” she adds. 

“Passion, patience, peace, perseverance, positivity, and prayer are good principles to maintain when you are in the process of completing a PhD, she believes. 

Dr Venter says that although writing a PhD is indeed lonely, it is also an exciting journey, “especially when you reach those moments of breakthrough that can only come to life after deep reflection.” She also describes it as a deep spiritual journey. “Almost like walking in and out of a labyrinth – and where many hours become equal to a breath.

She is very grateful to her supervisors, Dr Somarie Holtzhausen, Prof Mabel Erasmus, and Dr Elanie Myburgh. “I deeply honour and salute you for your unconditional and continuous coaching, compassion, and care – guiding, supporting, motivating, mentoring, and keeping me grounded until I completed the journey.”

 

 


News Archive

Cornell academic focuses on international trade in inaugural lecture at the UFS
2013-11-12

 
Prof Muna Ndulo
Photo: Stephen Collett
12 November 2013

Prof Muna Ndulo, Professor at the Cornell Law School, delivered his inaugural lecture as Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Mercantile Law at the University of the Free State (UFS). The topic of his lecture was: Facilitating regional and world trade through international trade.

With this topic, Prof Ndulo said that trade is a recognised contributor to the Growth Domestic Product of countries and its role can be used to reduce global poverty and inequality. “Although Africa’s GDP is 5-6% on average, with a positive increase in direct foreign investments, its meaningful participation in world trade has been decimal,” he said.

Trade between African countries is 12%, which is the lowest in the world. This is in comparison to intercontinental trade in European states (72%), North America (48%), Asia (52%) and 26% in Latin America. The EU and USA are Africa’s key export markets. High transport costs, import substitution, intra-regional transactions, conflict of rules and bills of exchange remain as challenges. There are also no common standards with regards to the development of manpower as an important factor in production.

Prof Ndulo suggested solutions which Africa can use to achieve harmonisation. This includes the introduction of normative rules designed in a framework of a treaty. A modern law approach could be used to develop legislation and ensure uniformity; and lastly, the formulation of commercial customs and practice. “Harmonisation demands a high level of expertise and quality research,” said Prof Ndulo.

He added: “When legislation is developed, it must resemble the needs of our trade laws in order to maximise benefits.”

He concluded that, for harmonisation to be achieved, the political environment must play a major role in regional and world trade.

Prof Elizabeth Snyman-Van Deventer, Head of the Department of Mercantile Law, made sincere closing remarks on how much we as a continent have become an enemy of our own self by not having trade relationships among ourselves as Africans. Prof Snyman urged those in the legal fraternity to be part of the harmonisation of trade laws and eliminate the barriers by improving legislation.

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept