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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

‘Africa’s Many Liberations’ seminar series launched

2016-05-11

The Africa’s Many Liberations seminar series, presented on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS), is a direct response to some of the demands made by the #MustFall campaigns during the past year. A constant refrain among activists has been that the curriculum must be ‘decolonised’, and that it should have stronger foundations in African experiences. This seminar series aims to deepen understanding of histories and anti-colonial struggles, including those waged worldwide today.

It was conceived to deepen students’ knowledge of African and South African history, and to help them to engage with ideas from the diaspora and anti-colonial struggles elsewhere. It was planned as a popular seminar for students across faculties. For this reason, the series strives to avoid language or literature that might exclude students from disciplines outside of historical, sociological, political, and cultural studies.

The series is convened by the International Studies Group (ISG), in association with the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ). The coordinator is Prof Neil Roos (associate professor of history in the International Studies Group, and co-director of the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestige Scholars Programme).

Prof Roos presented the first seminar, entitled Du Bois and the ‘Problem of the Colour Line’ on Thursday 28 April 2016. The next theme under discussion will be Fanon and the Relevance of Personal and Collective Decolonisation in Today’s South Africa, which will be presented by Dr Tinashe Nyamunda.

The remainder of the eight-part series will be presented by Dr Rachel Hatcher (postdoc in the IRSJ), Dr Sahar Sattarzadeh (postdoc in the IRSJ ), Dr Ivo Mhike (postdoc in ISG), Busi Ntsele (lecturer in sociology), Leigh-Ann Naidoo (doctoral student and activist, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa), and Prof Richard Pithouse (associate professor in politics, Rhodes University, South Africa).

Date: Thursday 12 May 2016
Time: 16:30
Venue: Albert Wessels Auditorium, Bloemfontein Campus
Entrance is free
RSVP: sattarzadehsd@ufs.ac.za

Seminar series programme

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