Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

UFS continental expedition enhancing collaborative research

11 February 2022 | Story Phumudzo Tharaga | Photo Supplied

African expedition — From the left: Dr Antony Chapoto, Dr Tinashe Lindel Dirwai, Mr Jerry Dlamini, and Mr Phumudzo Tharaga collecting soil samples, assessing viable irrigation systems for implementation, and analysing the micro- and macro-climatic conditions for the establishment of avocado orchards in Mumbwa, Zambia.

A group of scientists from the Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) have initiated a research collaboration with two research institutions in Zambia, namely the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI) and the University of Zambia (UNZA). The preliminary collaboration talks sought to strengthen research efforts in areas of orchard establishment and research, with an emphasis on water productivity, irrigation, and carbon cycling.

The collaborative efforts are expected to yield the establishment of a cross-border and transdisciplinary global think-tank institution. The visiting UFS scientists met with Dr Antony Chapoto, the Research Director at IAPRI, and Prof Elijah Phiri from UNZA. Dr Chapoto is a global expert in food policy, climate change, and livelihood research, while Prof Phiri specialises in agro-hydrology and soil physics. The visit was meant to foster and drive transdisciplinary research in the agricultural sector. Transdisciplinary research is key to reforming the think-tank space.

Joint collaborations

During the visit in Zambia, the team comprising Dr Tinashe Lindel Dirwai, agricultural engineer; Jerry Dlamini, agronomist; and Phumudzo Tharaga, agrometeorologist, visited villages that are still practising nomadic agricultural methods. Dlamini and Tharaga, both part of the New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP) – a prestigious programme of the Department of Higher Education and Training – joined Dr Dirwai on his visit to the sites where avocado orchards are being established by the locals with assistance from IAPRI and the UFS scientists. The scientists were also introduced to the local chiefs and headman of the villages, in order to establish relations with the local communities on the outskirts of Zambia. The UFS team also visited the long-term experimental site conducted by the University of Zambia on conservation agriculture and its impact on groundwater sources. The UNZA team is involved in maize research focused on assessing the sustainability of groundwater fluctuations and yield components of conservation agriculture and conventional tillage. The project sums up a long-term joint UNZA and EU collaboration.

News Archive

New electoral body for student elections

2004-07-24

The University of the Free State (UFS) has appointed the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA) to handle the upcoming election of the Student Representative Council (SRC) and Student Parliament on the main campus.

"EISA specialises in elections and have done vast research on the subject"said Dr Natie Luyt, acting Dean: Student Affairs at the UFS.

Dr Luyt said that the UFS wanted an electoral body that can act as neutral and objective as possible. "EISA is a credible electoral body with the necessary knowledge and expertise. We have full confidence that they will ensure a free and fair election on campus"said Dr Luyt.

"EISA is a neutral party and our main aim is to promote democracy through the process of elections"said Mr Seth Phamuli, Chief Electoral Officer of EISA's UFS election campaign.

Mr Phamuli said that EISA has handled the SRC and Council elections of several other tertiary institutions in the country. These include among others the University of the Witwatersrand , the University of the North, Unitra, Wits Technicon, Vista and Pretoria Technicon. "EISA also acts as the secretariat for the Southern African Developing Countries (SADC) as far as elections are concerned and manages the election processes of various parastatal bodies in the country"said Mr Phamuli.

No changes to the constitution of the SRC have been made for this year's election. "The UFS Council decided last year that any changes to the constitution of the SRC should be submitted for consideration by the Council meeting which took place in June. However, the amendments were submitted late - after the closing date for agenda items to be added"said Dr Luyt.

The elections on the main campus will take place on 11 August 2004 .

MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za 25 Julie 2004

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

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