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UFS research scholars celebrated at the annual research awards

05 October 2023 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Stephen Collet

The University of the Free State (UFS) recently hosted its annual Research Awards function at the Wynand Mouton Theatre on the Bloemfontein campus. Present at this event on 26 September 2023 were Prof Francis Petersen, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UFS, Prof Crain Soudien, a globally renowned academic and the President of the Cornerstone Institute, and members of the UFS academic community, among others.

The awards ceremony

Prof Petersen stated, ‘’The purpose of the event is to recognise scholars at the University of the Free State who are conducting outstanding research in their respective fields of expertise.’’ Certificates were presented to researchers in various categories, including National Research Foundation (NRF) Rated Scholars from categories P to A. Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation at the UFS, highlighted that there are precisely 217 NRF-rated scholars within the institution. However, some of these scholars had not been acknowledged internally. Hence, the ceremony aimed to celebrate these scholars.

Furthermore, UFS staff members were acknowledged for their research at both national and international levels. Prof Abdon Atangana, named as one of five recipients of the inaugural UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), was among these individuals. Future professors of the institution who are part of the Professoriate Programme were also recognised for their outstanding performance in transforming the programme.

The highly anticipated category of the evening was the UFS Book Prize for distinguished scholarship. Prof Reddy explained, ‘’the purpose of the award is to recognise outstanding publications produced by any permanent member of the UFS staff, which are research-based and published in a book. Prof Soudien, who was the guest speaker for the evening and one of the reviewers of the books nominated in this category, indicated that he found the books ‘’illuminating and in many ways challenging of positions I hold and positions that I think that we all ought to be reflecting on in terms of where our world is going’’.

From the four nominees vying for this award, Prof Helene Strauss was announced as the winner of the 2022 UFS Book Prize for her book entitled, ‘Wayward Feeling: Audio-Visual Culture and Aesthetic Activism in Post-Rainbow South Africa’. Strauss expressed her appreciation, saying, ‘’It is a great honour to be awarded the UFS Book Prize given the high calibre of this year's nominees. It is a lovely morale boost at this time of the year when our motivation can start to flag under the weight of the workload. It inspires me to continue to try to live up to the many examples of outstanding research produced on this campus.’’ The prize includes a certificate of honour as well as a monetary award.

The significance of the awards ceremony

While the award ceremony aims to recognise and celebrate research outputs by the UFS staff, Prof Petersen emphasises that it is also an acknowledgement of the researchers’ impact. Through their contributions, they elevate the research profile of the institution, thereby bringing the vision of becoming a research-led university, as outlined in Vision 130, closer to reality.

News Archive

Kovsie students attend African leadership conference in Stellenbosch

2012-11-26

The proud Kovsie students that will attend the Africa Leads 2012 conference in Stellenbosch.
Photo: Alzane Narrain
26 November 2012

Thirteen of our student leaders have been chosen to attend the Africa Leads 2012 conference in Stellenbosch. The conference takes place from 18 to 21 November at the Spier Wine Farm.

A small function was held on Thursday, 15 November, to celebrate this amazing achievement and wish the students all the best for their participation at the conference.

The thirteen students are: William Clayton (SRC President of the Bloemfontein Campus), Anesu Ruswa, Vusumzi Mesatywa, Lehlohonolo Mofokeng, Hannerie Hay, Tshepo Mabuya, Tumelo Moreri, Lerato Molisana, Goodwill Shelile, Moloi Josian, Kamohelo Mzangwa, Teboho Motloung, Nombulelo Mini.

The Africa Leads programme is a collaborative learning, research and engagement opportunity held by Stellenbosch University Business School in partnership with the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative and the University of Pretoria’s Albert Luthuli Centre for Responsible Leadership.

The aim of this conference is to establish an African partnership that mobilises and converges the energy of actors across the continent, involved in developing responsible leadership, in order to achieve more collectively than that which they can achieve individually.

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