Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
29 March 2022 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Supplied
Dr Mikateko Mathebula
Dr Mikateko Mathebula, Senior Researcher within the SARCHI Chair for Higher Education and Human Development Research Programme, speaking about the importance of finishing what you have started.
The Centre for Graduate Support (previously known as the Postgraduate School) welcomed postgraduate students enrolled for 2022 to the University of the Free State (UFS) during an event hosted on Thursday, 24 March 2022. As part of its ‘You belong’ ceremony, the centre focused on making postgraduate studies, programmes, and funding accessible to a new cohort of students. 

Over the years, the UFS has committed itself to excellence in postgraduate education, with a focus on the output of work by postgraduate students as a measure of institutional productivity and research skills.

Embarking on solutions-based research

Speaking to postgraduate students during the welcoming ceremony held at the Centenary Complex on the Bloemfontein Campus, Dr Yong Sebastian Nyam said: “The aim should not just be to be called doctor or professor; you need to go beyond studies and build communities.”

Dr Nyam, an alumnus of the UFS who was recently appointed as an African fellow at the World Bank, said: “As a postgraduate student, do not do research to just fill a gap. Strive to make positive contributions and solve societal problems. Be a tool and show how useful you can be. Your network should be your net worth.” 

Navigating studies for academic excellence 

Noting the “importance of finishing what you have started”, Dr Mikateko Mathebula, Senior Researcher within the SARCHI Chair for Higher Education and Human Development Research Programme, said, “Postgraduate studies expose an individual to new ways of approaching research, connecting ideas, and developing presentation skills.” 

She said: “If you are convinced about pursuing your studies, speak to people who have been there, do not doubt yourself, and if wondering whether it is the right path, seek advice.”

Postgraduate studies can be a challenging journey; during the welcoming event, the importance of students taking care of their mental health and making use of the free Student Counselling and Development services, was also covered. 

To make life easier and to ensure success, the centre and the UFS also support postgraduate students by accessing funding options, developing academic writing, complying with research ethics, and applying for ethical clearance.

The UFS strives for academic excellence, and Dr Cornelius Hagenmeier, Director of the Office for International Affairs, said the institution and his office are “involved in international processes for postgraduate students interested in engaging with other countries”. 

He said: “When conducting research, do not limit yourself and consider global literature. I hope you will leave the institution with a global outlook.”  

The centre will host two welcoming ceremonies this year. The second ceremony will be in the Senate Hall on the Qwaqwa Campus on 30 March 2022.

News Archive

New challenges for animal science discussed
2006-04-04

Some of the guests attending the congress were from the left Dr Heinz Meissner (honorary president of the South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) and senior manager at the Animal Production Institute of the Agricultural Research Council), Mr Paul Bevan (President of SASAS) and Prof Magda Fourie (Vice-Rector:  Academic Planning at the UFS).
Photo: Lacea Loader

New challenges for animal science discussed  

The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) is presenting its 41st Congress at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Main Campus in Bloemfontein. 

The congress started yesterday and will run until Thursday 6 April 2006.  The theme is New challenges for the animal science industries.

It is one of the largest congresses in the 45 years since SASAS was founded in 1961.  Among the delegates 12 African countries are represented, with the biggest delegation from Kenya.  Delegates are also from the United States of America, Iran, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal and African countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana.

“Many of our members play an important role in the training of animal scientists at universities.  The congress is specifically industry orientated so that scientists can interact with farmers through the respective producer organisations,” said Prof HO de Waal, Chairperson of the organising committee and lecturer at the UFS Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences.

According to Dr Heinz Meissner, honorary president of SASAS and a senior manager at the Animal Production Institute of the Agricultural Research Council, the National Livestock Strategy (NLS) Plan clarifies the role and responsibility of the livestock sector. 

“Through this strategy we need to focus on enhancing equitable access and participation in livestock agriculture, improve global competitiveness and profitability of the livestock sector and ensure that the ventures implemented do not over utilise our resources,” said Dr Meissner.

In her welcoming address, Prof Magda Fourie, Vice-Rector:  Academic Planning at the UFS highlighted the related challenges that the UFS will be focusing on specifically over the next five years.  “We have identified five strategic clusters that represent broad areas of excellence in research and post-graduate education.  Two of these are food production, quality and safety for Africa and sustainable development,” she said.

“The food safety and security cluster will focus on the production of food in all its varieties within the African context, encompassing the entire value chain – from production to consumption and nutrition related issues.  This would include a strong emphasis on sustainable production systems,” she said.

According to Prof Fourie the rural development cluster will engage in questions around the role of higher education in sustainable development.  “One of the focus areas in this strategic cluster pertains to sustainable livelihoods.  It refers to a way of approaching development that incorporates all aspects of human livelihoods and means by which people obtain them,” she said.

Prof Fourie said that the challenges we are facing such as food production can only be effectively addressed through collaborative efforts.  “That is why it is important that collaboration takes place between different scientific disciplines, researchers, institutions and countries who are confronted with similar difficulties,” she said.

According to Prof de Waal the congress will give key role players a unique opportunity to present a profile of what they perceive an animal scientist should be and state their specific requirement regarding the animal sciences and its applications. 

“In this way we can determine what the industry’s needs are and we can re-align our curriculum to suit these needs,” said Prof de Waal.

During the next two days, various areas of interest will be discussed.  This includes ruminant and monogastric nutrition, animal physiology, beef, dairy, sheep and ostrich breeding and sustainable farming covering the range from commercial to the small-scale farming level.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
4 April 2006

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