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06 November 2023
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Story MBALI MABOEA
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Photo SUPPLIED
The Department of Geography on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus recently played host to the Society of South African Geographers Conference (SSAG 2023), which gathered more than 100 students over three days.
Fostering academic growth, collaboration, and inspiration among students and researchers in the field of geography, the Department of Geography on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus recently played host to the Society of South African Geographers Conference (SSAG 2023), which gathered more than 100 students over three days.
Following a five-year hiatus, the three-day conference comprised student proposal presentations in different fields: human geography, environment geography, geoinformatics, and physical geography, divided into breakaway sessions over two days. Furthermore, day three of the annual conference included an excursion to the Basotho Cultural Village and Clarens.
The three-day annual student conference focused on different themes presented by two main speakers. The topic of the first keynote speaker, Dr Mahlomola Daemane, General Manager of the SANParks Arid Research Unit, focused on the contemporary conservation, transition, and relevance of science in policy and decision making.
The second keynote speaker was Dr Felicia Akinyemi, a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research Fellow affiliated with the Institute of Geography at the University of Bern in Switzerland. Her work focuses on the intersection of geoinformatics, global change, and sustainability. Dr Akinyemi focused her talk on the integrative geospatial methods and metrics for sustainable land use. She introduced different techniques and metrics and gave students insight in early-career African research.
Speaking about the success of the conference, Nthebohiseng Sekhele, Geography Lecturer on the Qwaqwa Campus and chair of the organising committee, said, “The local organising committee was also very impressed with the quality of presentations from our postgraduate students in Geography, as well as the robust discussions that happened during the parallel sessions in the two days of the conference. We had a positive response of physical and online participation from many universities across South Africa. We are pleased that we have achieved our goal with this conference, which is to inspire the next generation of geographers.”
A Kovsie friend in need is a Kovsie friend indeed
2015-09-23
Several student organisations have recently started
initiatives to lessen the burden on needy students,
and on the broader community. It is because of
these initiatives that donations of food, commodities
and clothes reached the No Student Hungry (NSH)
Bursary Programme at the University of the Free State.
Photo: René-Jean van der Berg |
Kovsie students have often showed that a friend in need is a friend indeed. Several student organisations have recently started initiatives to lessen the burden on needy students, and on the broader community.
It is because of these initiatives that donations of food, commodities and clothes reached the No Student Hungry (NSH) Bursary Programme at the University of the Free State.
The Rag Community Service and NSH offices are extremely grateful to students and staff for their selfless donations, also in respect of the difference these initiatives are making to Kovsies’ chances of having a better future.
The food and commodities will be distributed to the community, while the clothing donations are used for regular clothing sales in order to raise funds.
The food donations included a substantial donation from the support organisation, Gift of the Givers. The organisation heard about the NSH Bursary Programme and, due to the scope of the student-hunger problem, decided to become involved.
“This is an excellent initiative, and the passion with which it is driven motivated us to make a donation,” said Ms Emily Thomas, representative from Gift of the Givers.
Ms Karen Scheepers, Assistant-Director: Student Life responsible for Rag Community Service, said the recent donations and initiatives are proof that the Kovsie community really cares for each other.
“I found it amazing how willing students were to help and to give. From the moment we asked for help, students arrived at our offices with loads of stuff.”