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#YouthMonth: Celebrating youth empowerment (Sanchay Kalicharan)

21 June 2023 | Story Sanchay Kalicharan | Photo Supplied

The University of the Free State (UFS) is celebrating Youth Month by showcasing the positive influence of the institution on career development. As part of this initiative, we are sharing the stories of UFS alumni who are now working at the university.

Sanchay Kalicharan, ETDP SETA Intern at DiMTEC, shares his UFS journey:

Q: Year of graduation from the UFS:

A: I graduated from the UFS Bloemfontein Campus in 2022.

Q: Qualification obtained from the UFS:

A: I obtained my Postgraduate Diploma in Disaster Management through the Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC) at the UFS.

Q: Date of joining the UFS as a staff member:

A: In August 2022, I embarked on a new journey as a staff member at the UFS. From the outset, the UFS provided a nurturing and challenging environment that fostered both personal and professional growth. As an intern, I was immersed in a diverse range of tasks and responsibilities that contributed significantly to my understanding of my chosen field.

The experience has been highly rewarding, equipping me with valuable insights and practical skills, while offering an opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the university's community. The camaraderie and support of my colleagues made for a dynamic work culture that drove excellence and innovation. Overall, joining the UFS marked a significant step on my career path.

Q: Initial job title and current job title:

A: In August 2022, I embarked on an enriching journey with the UFS as a PYEI intern at DiMTEC. Over the course of six months, I was deeply immersed in a variety of tasks, honing my skills, and gaining valuable insights into disaster management.

As my initial internship drew to a close in January 2023, a new chapter began. I transitioned into the role of an ETDP SETA intern with DiMTEC. From February 2023 till now, I have been extending my understanding and practical knowledge of the field. Each day brings a new learning opportunity, reinforcing the theoretical concepts I have studied with real-world applications. These successive roles at the UFS have played an integral part in shaping my professional career.

Q: How did the UFS prepare you for the professional world?

A: The UFS prepared me for the professional world in numerous ways. The internships I undertook at DiMTEC provided me with a robust platform to acquire practical skills and insights that are highly valuable in the professional world.

During my time as a PYEI intern, I was exposed to various facets of disaster management. This hands-on experience, paired with guidance from seasoned professionals, allowed me to delve into the complexities of the field and build my competency. Transitioning into the role of an ETDP SETA intern, I was able to further develop my understanding and skills in the disaster management field. The UFS provided continuous opportunities for learning and development, reinforcing theoretical knowledge with practical, real-world experiences.

In addition to the technical skills, the UFS also fostered the growth of soft skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership, which are paramount in the professional world. Through collaborations, projects, and day-to-day interactions, I learned how to work effectively with diverse individuals, navigate challenges, and lead initiatives. This holistic training at the UFS has equipped me with the tools and confidence to navigate the professional landscape.

Q: What are your thoughts on transitioning from a UFS alumnus to a staff member?

A: Transitioning from a UFS alumnus to a staff member has been an enriching and rewarding journey. As a student, the university provided an excellent foundation of academic knowledge and practical skills. As a staff member, I have had the opportunity to apply and extend this knowledge, further deepening my understanding of my chosen field.

This transition has offered a different perspective on the workings of the institution. While my focus as a student was primarily on learning and personal development, as a staff member I am now contributing to the university's operations and its mission. This has given me a greater appreciation for the efforts that go into running such an institution, and the responsibilities that come with my role.

Being a part of the UFS staff also gives me a unique opportunity to give back to the community that has given so much to me during my student years. It is a chance to contribute to the academic and personal growth of current and future students, just as my teachers and mentors did for me. Overall, the transition has been a fulfilling experience and I look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in my role at the UFS.

Q: Any additional comments about your experience?

A: Throughout my journey at the UFS, both as an alumnus and as a staff member, I have found the environment to be nurturing and inspiring. Each role has brought new challenges and opportunities that have fostered my personal and professional growth.

The transition from being a student to joining the staff was seamless, largely due to the supportive community and culture of the UFS. I have been fortunate to collaborate with and learn from a diverse and talented group of professionals who are deeply committed to their work and the university's mission.

One significant aspect of my experience has been the real-world impact of the work we do at DiMTEC. It is fulfilling to know that our efforts contribute to the broader goal of enhancing disaster management strategies and practices.

Lastly, I greatly appreciate the continuous learning opportunities provided by the UFS. Whether it is through formal training, learning from colleagues, or tackling challenging projects, there is always an opportunity to learn and grow. This commitment to continuous learning is something I value deeply, and it fuels my passion for my work at the UFS.

News Archive

UFS Department of Physics offers unique learning experience with on-campus radio telescope

2015-12-14

Athanasius Ramaila, an Honours student in the Department of Physics, and Dr Brian van Soelen, a lecturer from the same department, in the laboratory where the radio telescope is housed in the new wing of the Physics Building on the Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS. The telescope will be used to expose graduate students to the basic techniques of radio astronomy.
Photo: Charl Devenish

The university this year added a four-storey wing to the existing Physics Building on the Bloemfontein Campus. The new development, which includes four lecture halls and four laboratories, complements other world-class facilities such as the X-ray photoelectron spectroscope and the scanning electron microscope.

A unique asset that distinguishes the UFS Department of Physics from other similar institutions, is the Boyden Observatory situated approximately 27 km northeast of Bloemfontein. The observatory houses a powerful 1.5 m optical telescope, and several smaller, but well equipped telescopes.

According to Pieter Meintjes, Professor in the Department of Physics, the observatory has acquired a new addition - a 0.5 m optical telescope donated by the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) to the UFS Astrophysics Group. This optical telescope is one of two powerful optical telescopes used to introduce students to techniques such as photometry and spectroscopy.

“The telescope at Boyden forms an integral part of the Department of Physic’s student training and research programme. Because the UFS is the only university in South Africa operating such a facility, and one of only a few globally, Astrophysics students at the UFS have the unique privilege of having unrestricted access to these telescopes for their MSc and PhD studies,” says Prof Meintjes. In addition, the department has also built a radio telescope as part of a post-graduate student project. The telescope, housed in the new wing of the Physics Building at the Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS, will be used to expose graduate students to the basic techniques of radio astronomy, especially in light of the fact that the SKA is nascent. Prof Meintjes would like to act proactively by grounding his students in the relevant techniques of radio astronomy. The telescope will be used to introduce students to the manner in which radio flux calibrations are performed in order to determine the energy output of an emitting source.

At undergraduate level, the radio telescope will be used, together with optical telescopes in the Astrophysics laboratory, to place students at a high baseline regarding the level of multi-wavelength astrophysics training received at the UFS.

Third-year and Honours students will also have the opportunity of practical training in a research laboratory with 15 computers. The laboratory is equipped with software used to reduce and analyse multi-wavelength data.

“My goal is for the UFS to become the major centre of multi-wavelength astrophysics in South Africa and a key role player in the international arena. To be able to do this, our training should be world class,” Prof Meintjes said.

Aided by its world-class facilities and research, the Department of Physics is competing with the best in the world. Research-wise, a group from the Department of Physics is intensively involved with the SKA Project (Square Kilometre Array), with 3 000 dishes reaching from Carnavon in the Karoo to Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. According to Prof Meintjes, many detailed studies can be conducted with the SKA system of sources, showing major eruptions and mass effluent from the systems. Athanasius Ramaila, a BSc Honours student in Astrophysics at the UFS, has also received a two-year SKA internship, where he will be engaged in the SKA software engineering programme to help with developing software for the telescope.

The UFS Astrophysics Group is focusing on the multi-wavelength study of high-energy astrophysics sources. “This multi-wavelength approach to astrophysics is in line with the recent announcement by government that multi wavelength astrophysics will be the main focus for astrophysics research in South Africa. It is also a very important focus for research in the international arena, as can be seen from the large number of international conferences having a multi-wavelength character,” Prof Meintjes said.

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