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UFS Job Shadows in Germany

20 July 2022 | Story Nonkululeko Nxumalo | Photo Supplied

UFS Academic staff job shadow in Germany — From the left: Helene van der Merwe (Lecturer: Sustainable Food Systems and Development), Herkulaas Combrink (Lecturer: Economic and Management Sciences, and Interim Co-director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures), Prof Dirk Fornahl (Research associate/researcher at Friedrich Schiller University Jena), Dr Karen Booysen (Lecturer: Business Management), Ketshepileone Matlhoko (Junior Lecturer: Sustainable Food Systems and Development), Gretha Lotz (Technopolis intern), Prof Johan van Niekerk (HOD: Sustainable Food Systems and Development), Prof Katinka de Wet (Associate Professor: Sociology, and Interim Co-director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures)

A group of academic staff and PhD students from the University of the Free State (UFS) recently visited the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU) in Germany for a three-week (27 May-16 June 2022) regional innovation training workshop and job shadowing. The opportunity was extended to the university’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures (ICDF) as well as the faculties of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Economic and Management Sciences.

Building a regional innovation cluster for agriculture

With this training, the UFS, in collaboration with the FSU, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the Department of Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA), the Department of Agriculture (DOA), and other industry partners, aims to build a regional innovation cluster for agriculture in the South African perspective that drives innovation, technology advancement, and trade methodology among academic institutions, the government, and industries.

“The collaboration between the UFS and the FSU will have significant benefits for both universities in terms of knowledge sharing and learning. However, the biggest benefit of this project is to build a better community, facilitate innovative solutions for future challenges, and provide academic collaborations,” said Herkulaas Combrink, Interim Co-director of the ICDF.

Another regional innovation cluster in the agricultural sector is arranged within the Cape Winelands region and is centred on wine and liquor production. The projects between the UFS and the relevant stakeholders will grow other agricultural spheres such as textiles, livestock, and diverse crop irrigation.

“We are interested in a broad topic focused on climate change in the challenging context of developmental issues, inequalities, pressing issues of food insecurity, and demands/ opportunities brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Prof Katinka de Wet, Interim Co-director of the ICDF, highlighted.

According to Combrink, the UFS has been engaging online and in person with academic staff from FSU since 2021 to build the skills and capacity to drive this regional innovation.

“Academic institutions, government, and industry rely on these integral bridges to drive a sustainable digital future as well as to capacitate the next generation with the skills to increase the level of innovation required to remain relevant in the context of tomorrow,” he also said.

News Archive

Kovsies, get ready, it’s Extravaganza time

2014-09-02

It is time for the 2014 Kovsie Extravaganza, happening on 27 September – and it is going to be huge!

The Kovsie Extravaganza is the university’s main highlight of the year on the arts and culture calendar. The aim of the event is to showcase the very best of Kovsies’ musical, dance, poetry and other talents on a grand stage in a full production.

This is where our students can experience what being a star and being part of a huge show is all about – hence the ‘Extravaganza’ element!

As every year, guest artists who are at the top of their game will feature as the main act. For 2014, there’s a load of excitement around the award-winning and youthful a cappella trio, The Soil, who will be gracing the stage. It is also an honour that the Free State Youth Orchestra, which is made up of some of the most talented students at our Odeion School of Music, will be performing as part of the show for 2014.

The Kovsie Extravaganza promises lots of thrills, excitement and a platform to celebrate who we are as a university, through song and dance. The university is also grateful to PACOFS for partnering with us and providing their expertise in making this event a resounding success.

Buy your tickets at Office no. 8 at the Thakaneng Bridge on our Bloemfontein Campus or at the PACOFS box office at the Sand du Plessis Theatre.

Ticket Prices:
Students (with student cards) – R50
Non-students – R80

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