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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 awards honorary doctorates during its centenary week

2004-10-07

The University of the Free State (UFS) will award 12 honorary doctorates on Thursday 14 October 2004 to a diverse group of outstanding South Africans and international experts.

This will be the last in a group of 18 honorary doctorates that the UFS will be awarding in its centenary year.

The awards comprise of a number of well-known language experts and writers, experts in higher education, first-time awards in community service and development studies, as well as music.

“This reflects quality and also diversity, a spectrum of convictions as well as the recognition of persons who played a major role in changing society in the last couple of decades, “ says Prof Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

The awards can be grouped in the following categories:

Language and literature:

Mr Karel Schoeman (D Litt (hc)) – well-known Afrikaans author and former student of the UFS. Some of the awards he has received include the Hertzog prize for prose (1970, 1986 and 1995), the CNA prize (1972 and 1994), the Old Mutual prize (1985 and 1991), the SABC prize for best television drama in 1990, the M Net book prize in 1997 and the State President award (former President Nelson Mandela: Order for Excellent Service – silver) in 1999. It is an honor for the UFS to have this gifted and creative person among its former students. This conferment is a fitting recognition of his status as leading South African writer.

Ms Antjie Krog (D Litt (hc)) – well-known South African poet and former student of the UFS. Her popularity as poet is evident in her piercing honesty and unequalled power of expression. Some of the awards she has received include the Eugéne Marais prize in 1973, the Rapport prize in 1987, the Hertzog prize in 1990 and the RAU prize in 2000. Her writing has been translated into seven languages. She has also received numerous honors for her involvement in and journalistic documentation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) proceedings. It is therefore an exceptional privilege for her alma mater to honor her with an honorary doctorate.

Prof Jaap Steyn (D Litt (et phil) (hc)) – recently, Prof Steyn again distinguished himself as biographer whose thorough research is apparent in the published biographies of illustrious writers such as NP van Wyk Louw and MER. The numerous awards, among which the Stals prize from the South African Academy of Science and Art for the Van Wyk publication, are a matter of record. He conducted the research for this great prize-winning work as honorary professor at the UFS.

Prof Jakes Gerwel (D Phil (hc)) – Chancellor of the University of Rhodes and Director of Naspers, Old Mutual, Gold Fields and Brimstone. His doctoral thesis was published in The Netherlands under the title Literatuur en apartheid. Konsepsies van “gekleurdes” in die Afrikaanse roman tot 1948 (1983). He received an honorary doctorate from Clark College ( Atlanta), the City University of New York and Missouri in the USA, the University of the Western Cape, the University of Cape Town, the University of Natal, Rhodes University, the University of Stellenbosch and the University of the Witwatersrand. He is also outstanding professor in the Humanities at the University of the Western Cape, honorary professor in the Humanities at the University of Pretoria, and was the chairman of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

Development Studies:

Dr Frederick van Zyl Slabbert (D Phil (hc)) – for his academic achievements, his endeavors for bringing about a peaceful transition in South Africa and his demonstration of the social investment role of the corporate sector. Dr Van Zyl Slabbert has received honorary degrees from the University of Natal and the Simon Fraser University in Canada. He has published seven books and various academic articles.

Community Service:

Prof Robert G Bringle (D Phil (hc)) – from the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in the USA. He is currently Chancellor’s Professor of Psychology and Philanthropic Studies at the IUPUI and also Director of the IUPUI’s Centre for Service Learning. He is honored for his exceptional contribution to several of the UFS’s community service projects as well as his role in the advancement of a multi- and inter-disciplinary approach to academic development and the integration of service learning within the faculties of the UFS. He has also made a valuable contribution to the conceptual framework of the UFS’s unique community service policy and more recently to the advancement of a research culture regarding community service.

Higher education:

Dr Khotso Mokhele (D Phil (hc)), President of the National Research Foundation (NRF) is honored for his contribution to the South African higher education sector. He has also made a substantial contribution to the development of the research capacity of universities and technikons in South Africa. Dr Mokhele was born in Bloemfontein and matriculated at the Moroka High School in Thaba Nchu.

Prof Saleem Badat (D Phil (hc)), the Chief Executive Officer of the Council on Higher Education (CHE). Prof Badat has devoted himself to transforming and building South African higher education, and has constantly challenged the higher education sector to retain the moral basis of higher education and tackle its challenges with intellectual honesty, ingenuity, creativity and courage. He is honored for his intellectual leadership in the development of a equitable, just and quality higher education system in South Africa.

Law:

Prof HA (Boelie) Wessels (D Legum (hc)) – for his contribution to the fields of Roman Law, Legal History at the UFS. He is currently a part-time lecturer at the UFS’s Faculty of Law.

Medicine:

Prof CJC Nel (D Phil (hc) Posthumous) – for the way in which he strived for the advancement of excellent medical education in the country. Prof Nel also did pioneering work in the field of transformation in higher education. Under his guidance the School of Medicine at the UFS became one of the first medical schools to adopt a parallel-medium system of instruction.

Music:

Prof Leo Quayle (D Mus (hc)) – for the significant contributions he has made to the development of music – not only in Bloemfontein, but also on national level and abroad. His initiative, enthusiasm and dedication contributed to the eventual founding of the Free State Musicon, as well as the first symphony orchestra and the first string quartet in Bloemfontein. Prof Quayle is a former head of the Department of Music at the UFS.

Prof Jack de Wet (D Mus (hc)) – well-known for his exceptional contribution to violin tuition in South Africa. As pedagogue of international stature, he still moulds violinists who compete at national and international level. At an advanced stage of his career, he still actively conveys his knowledge, experience and distinctive insight in his field of speciality to yet another new generation of young violin teachers. Today the symphony orchestras in Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth also stand on the foundations laid by him.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
7 October 2004

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