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Kovsies Model UN Summit 2023: Shaping the Future of Diplomacy and Leadership

04 August 2023 | Story Edzani Nephalela | Photo Supplied

KMUN 2023 — Young leaders unite! Fostering diplomacy and innovation – The Kovsies Model UN Summit 2023 shaped future global change makers!

The saying goes, ‘Leaders are born, not made,’ but what term do we use when more than 50 young individuals from various institutions gather to address and tackle many of our global socio-economic issues collectively?

The University of the Free State United Nations (UN) Chapter hosted the first of many Kovsies Model United Nations (KMUN) Summits – a simulation of the UN General Assembly (GA) – from 28 to 30 July 2023. The event brought together students from various institutions, including the University of Pretoria (UP), Wits, North-West University (NWU), as well as the UFS South and Qwaqwa campuses, who convened on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus for this prestigious gathering.

The students represented different countries and embarked on a comprehensive research project focused on the challenges faced by their respective nations and their progress in addressing them, which they had to present at the GA. Their investigations encompassed various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty eradication, building partnerships, promoting quality education, and advancing gender equality. These efforts align perfectly with the university's Vision 130, which is dedicated to promoting academic excellence, fostering social impact, and embracing diversity.

Siphilangenkosi Dlamini, Executive Chair of the UN Association of South Africa’s UFS Chapter and Student Assistant in the UFS Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL), said that the summit served as a platform to bring together young people and student leaders from participating institutions to address an array of issues as if they were leaders of different countries.

"Our objective was to create a platform where these young minds could participate in constructive dialogues, refine their diplomatic skills, and address urgent global challenges. The most remarkable aspect was observing the participants' passion and dedication. Witnessing them wholeheartedly embrace the principles of diplomacy and cooperation was genuinely uplifting.”

Moreover, the attendees expressed their appreciation for this prestigious event, as it provided them with invaluable information and insights into what the future holds for them.

Keoratile Moloto, a North-West University student who proudly represented Belize – a Central American country – emphasised that this unique experience provided him with a valuable opportunity to acquire knowledge. As a student leader, he believed that this knowledge could positively influence and inspire both those he served and those in leadership positions.

“This is a too exciting initiative to ignore as a young individual who aspires to improve the world. I have always envisioned a time where I can make a difference in a community. I am big on most SDGs and saw this opportunity as a stepping-stone to educate myself on the proceedings. It is an awesome experience to engage with these topics rather than just being a viewer.”

Students were encouraged to collaborate and be active observers of pressing issues that affect their future. Student Affairs Assistant Director, Motlogelwa Moema, also advised the delegates to approach the debates with an open mind, network, familiarise themselves with the SDGs, and develop sustainable, innovative solutions to these socio-economic challenges.

This summit proved to be an enriching and transformative experience for all participants. From engaging in diplomatic negotiations to tackling global issues, delegates developed crucial leadership skills, fostered diplomacy, and shaped the future of international relations. As delegates from prestigious universities came together, the discussions were diverse, thought-provoking, and inspiring. Undoubtedly, the KMUN Summit left a lasting impact on the delegates and contributed to developing future leaders who would make a positive difference on the global stage.

News Archive

UFS receives R13,7 Million for Research into Prehistoric Organisms

2007-03-27

Some of the guests attending the launch of the research contract are: Dr Siyabulela Ntutela (Deputy Director: Biotechnology at the Department of Science and Technology), Dr Godfrey Netswera (Manager of Thuthuka and the Support Programme at the National Research Foundation (NRF)), Dr Esta van Heerden (Platform Manager and lecturer at the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the UFS), Mr Butana Mboniswa (Chief Executive Officer of BioPAD), and Mr Vuyisele Phehani (Portfolio Manager for BioPAD).
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

The University of the Free State (UFS) has been awarded a massive R13,7 million contract to conduct research into prehistoric micro-organisms which live under extreme conditions, for example in mineshafts.

This is one of the biggest research contracts awarded to the UFS in recent years.

The biotechnology research contract was awarded to the UFS by BioPAD, a South African biotechnology company that brokers partnerships between researchers, entrepreneurs, business, government and other stakeholders to promote innovation and create sustainable biotechnology businesses.

The project is endorsed by the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation (NRF), which contributes to the bursaries of the 17 postgraduate students on the programme.

The contract involves the establishment of a Platform for Metagenomics - a technique which allows researchers to extract the DNA from microbes in their natural environment and investigate it in a laboratory.

“Through this platform we will be able to understand deepmine microbial populations
and their potential application in the search for life in outer space. It is most likely
that, if life were to be found on other planets in our solar system, it would probably
resemble that which existed millions of years ago on earth. Apart from all this, these
organisms have unique properties one can exploit in biotechnological application for
South Africa and its community,” said Dr Esta van Heerden, platform manager and
lecturer at the UFS Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology.
She is assisted by her collegues, Prof. Derek Litthauer and Dr Lizelle Piater.

“The platform aims to tap into the unique genetic material in South African mines
which will lead to the discovery of new genes and their products. These new and unique products will find application in the medical field (anti-cancer, anti-bacterial en anti-viral cures), the industrial sector (nanotechnology, commercial washing agents and the food industry), environmental sector (pollution management, demolition of harmful metals and other toxic waste),” said Dr Van Heerden.

According to Dr Van Heerden, the Metagenomics Platforms stems from the Life in
Extreme Environments (LExEN) programme which was started in 1994 by Princeton
University in the United States of America (USA) in South African mines with grants
from among others the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and
the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the USA. Other international collaborators
on the project include Geosynec Consultants Inc. (USA), Oak Ridge National
Laboratory (USA), the University of Tennessee (USA) and in South Africa the
Universities of the Witwatersrand, North West and Limpopo and companies like BHP
Billiton, MINTEK and mining companies like Harmony, Gold Fields and AngloGold
Ashanti.

The research field laboratory of the Metagenomics Platform, which was situated in
Glen Harvey, was moved to the Main Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein. “In this
way the university has become the central hub for all research programmes. We are
also the liaison between the LExEN programme and the various mining companies
involved,” said Dr Van Heerden. The new laboratory was introduced during the
launch of the research contract.

“Our decision to commit BioPAD to this project stems from the company’s commitment to advance human capacity development to strengthen South Africa’s research infrastructure. It is also part of our aim to create and protect intellectual property,” said Mr Butana Mboniswa, Chief Executive Officer of BioPAD.

Talking on behalf of the UFS senior management, Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Vice-Rector
of Academic Operations, said that the university shares the excitement to be part of
the exploration of unknown forms of life, the discovery of new genes and
their products and in applying newly gained knowledge to better understand our
universe.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za
27 March 2007

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