Latest News Archive

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

PhD student Alina Ntsiapane dominates in international research pitching contest

10 May 2022 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Supplied

Alina Ntsiapane, a PhD student at the University of the Free State, obtained second place in the partners category of the International Livestock Research Institute’s (ILRI) CapDev Grand Challenge research pitching contest, which took place on 13 April 2022. The pitching contest is the first part of the CapDev Grand Challenge, which is a 10-month process aimed at equipping scientists with the necessary skills to contribute to new research.

Presenting Research to a Tough Panel of Judges

Ntsiapane was one of 30 contestants who presented their research virtually to a panel of esteemed judges. “It was not easy, it was very challenging for me because it was my first time presenting my PhD study and I had to do it live on an international platform,” expressed Ntsiapane. Although each contestant is thoroughly prepared for their respective presentations, Ntsiapane argues that some of the questions asked by the judges can be quite daunting. “Some of their questions were very challenging and I did not know how to respond to them, but they made me aware of ways in which I needed to improve my research,” she stated. However, regardless of the intensity of the pitching contest, Ntsiapane’s research allowed her to progress to the next stage of the CapDev Grand Challenge. She will be part of the rigorous 10-month training process that will begin in June 2022.

Ntsiapane’s Research Project

Ntsiapane’s PhD research focuses on the production of smallholder wool as a means to improve livelihoods in both Thaba ’Nchu and Botshabelo in the Free State. In fact, in the research Ntsiapane highlights that there has been a significant decline in the production of wool within the last three decades. As such, Ntsiapane believes it is imperative to create spaces that allow for the training of small-scale farmers, so that the production of wool can still be a possibility.

Consequently, Ntsiapane hopes that the 10-month training she will receive from the CapDev Grand Challenge will not only allow her to grow but will assist in opening doors for her. “I’m hoping to get exposure and to make connections with policy makers and the donors as well. This will assist me in achieving my goals,” she explained.

Future Endeavours After the Training Course

Subsequent to the training course, Ntsiapane would like to utilise that knowledge by continuing to make her most recent project a reality. Ntsiapane is currently working on developing a television show aimed at providing adequate training to small-scale farmers, so that they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and understanding of the industry in which they find themselves. As such, being part of the CapDev Grand Challenge will allow her to learn some of the necessary ways in which this dream could become a reality.

News Archive

UFS becomes Varsity Netball champions – again

2014-10-21

Photo: Catherine Kotze, SASPA

Kovsies has become the first team to successfully defend the Varstiy Netball title when they beat Tuks 49-42 in the 2014 final in Pretoria on Monday 20 October.

University of Pretoria (Tuks) might have been unbeaten for the entire 2014 tournament, but this did not hinder Kovsies in becoming the Varsity Netball champions for a second consecutive time.

From the outset, both these furiously focused teams fought hard and only after ample turnovers could Kovsies finally manage to open the score board.

The Mostert sisters, Karla and Tanya, won a couple of crucial balls, leaving the UFS dominating possession in the opening exchanges.

When Tuks eventually got to scoring, they could not stop the UFS from rushing to a 9-3 lead after the first ten minutes. The visitors had established a 13-5 advantage by the first break, keeping the Pretoria crowd quiet.

The home side came back shooting in the second quarter with great determination, fighting their way back into the game. Tuks ran hard, needing to work hard against Kovsies, who still managed to be in the lead with 22-16 at half-time.

Kovsies made good use of their power play early in the third quarter to stretch their lead further to 30-22. They made the most of their opportunities, going into the final quarter with a 39-31 upper hand.

Even though Tuks made a couple of changes during the final break, they could not avoid defeat in the end.

Kovsies’ Lauren-Lee Christians was also the player of the match, while the champion’s captain, Karla Mostert, was announced as the Player of the Tournament.

This hard-working defender made a number of crucial interventions alongside her sister Tanya in the final. Karla proved that she was the fans’ tournament favorite, claiming the most votes and winning a Samsung S4.

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