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Celebrating Success: Project Empower optimises UFS student-athletes through the GROW programme

27 November 2023 | Story Cindé Greyling | Photo SUPPLIED

In the latter part of 2023, KovsieSport (KS) Soccer, in collaboration with Student Counselling and Development (SCD) at the University of the Free State (UFS), introduced a transformative self-development initiative for student-athletes. The GROW programme, an acronym for growth, resilience, optimism, and wellness, is a meticulously structured, resilience-based project firmly rooted in Positive Psychology (PP). PP methodologies aim to foster human strengths, psychological capabilities, and overall flourishing.

Cultivating an optimised mind for an optimised body

Dr Munita Dunn-Coetzee, Director of SCD, emphasises the critical link between physical and mental well-being for student-athletes. Pushing their bodies to excel significantly influences their mental health,” she notes. “Creating awareness and a supportive culture within sports teams is important.” The GROW programme, initially piloted by students four years ago on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa campuses, demonstrated statistically significant improvements in students’ subjective well-being, resilience, hope, and noteworthy reductions in experiences of depression and stress. Encouraged by these positive outcomes, the programme was subsequently integrated into KovsieSport.

Balancing the equation: The other side of sport

Tobias van den Bergh, Senior Psychologist: SCD, underscores the multifaceted nature of well-being. While physical exercise is a potent natural medicine supporting mental health, he highlights the importance of addressing emotional, spiritual, cognitive, social, and physical aspects of well-being. Van den Bergh cautions against the potential harm associated with exercise when linked to high-pressure performance goals or unhealthy objectives, advocating instead for a holistic approach to well-being.

Bridging the gap: Impact of the GROW programme

The GROW programme successfully bridges the gap between sports and mental health, fostering increased trust among student-athletes. Godfrey Tenoff, Senior Official at KS Football, observes enhanced cohesion among participants, affirming that the programme positively influenced their preparedness for life’s challenges. Makhaola Mohale, one of the attendees, encapsulates the sentiment, stating, “The biggest takeaway was to always have a heart and mind of gratitude.”

Celebrating victories: Stop at the top

On 27 October 2023, the GROW Certificate and Celebration Ceremony acknowledged student-athletes who completed the project, the event served as a reminder that, beyond the pursuit of victories in sports, investing in mental health is a significant triumph. In the words of the author, “Congratulations to all our student-athletes who completed the GROW-programme.”

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UFS Business School positioned as key partner in the fight against fraud

2016-11-21

A collaborative effort to curb the scourge of fraud in public and private companies has been identified as the most effective method at the launch of International Fraud Awareness week, 13-19 November. The programme kicked off with a media briefing held in Bloemfontein, under the theme: “Curb Fraud and Accelerate Economic Transformation”. At this occasion, the Free State Provincial Treasury and key partner institutions which are: UFS Business School, Standard Bank, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), and PricewaterhouseCoopers, made a pronouncement on their efforts to stop fraud in public and private institutions.

Strategic partnerships empower companies
The UFS Business School, in collaboration with Strategic Investigations and Seminars, formed a collaborative effort to present the Advanced Certificate in Fraud Examination, thus empowering individual companies to have within their ranks, certified fraud examiners. The programme is a registered SAQA, NQF level 7 course comprising four modules; Law, Investigation, Fraud Prevention, Detection and Ethics, Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes. Students are assisted to continue to the ACFE Board examination in order to become internationally accredited. In 2016, a new e-learning model was introduced to decrease the time spent away from the workplace, thereby encouraging more professionals to enrol.

Commitment is key driving force
Speaking at the media briefing, Jo’Anni Deacon, Senior Officer at the UFS Business School, said “by presenting the programme, the university had positioned itself as a key partner with provincial government and other entities in the fight against fraud”.

Head of Department in the Free State Provincial Treasury, Godfrey Mahlatsi, reiterated the stance of zero tolerance against fraud, and that the department was committed to ensuring that this partnership continued to grow, enabling all to strengthen the message that fraud and corruption undermined the goals and objectives of the National Development Plan.

Gerhard Geldenhuys, Director of PwC Forensic Services said: “I believe we are making a difference and further believe that the time for dialogue on fraud is now better than ever.”

The week-long campaign encourages employees (both in the public and private sector), and business leaders, to proactively take action to minimise the impact of fraud in their environments.

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