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05 October 2023 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Stephen Collet
UFS Research scholars celebrated at the annual research awards
The recipients of the various awards presented at the annual UFS Research Awards.

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

Centre for Africa Studies concludes ANC Centenary Dialogue series
2013-02-20

 

Attending the closing seminar were from left: Prof Chris Saunders, Editor of the ANC Centenary dialogue book; Vincent Khetha from the Free State Provincial Government’s Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation; Prof Kwesi Prah; Siphamandla Zondi, Editor of the ANC Centenary dialogue book; Dr Dennis Goldberg and Prof Kwandiwe Kondlo.
Photo: Steffi Cawood
20 February 2013

Speech:"The future of South Africa in Africa" (pdf)

The Centre for Africa Studies received praise for the series of dialogues it hosted on the ruling ANC party, conversations which started before the party held its 53rd National Conference on our Bloemfontein Campus.

The Centre recently hosted the last seminar in the ANC Centenary Dialogue series, a project which started in November 2010 when the ruling party prepared for its centenary celebrations in 2012.

Prof Kwandiwe Kondlo, former Head of the Centre, and currently professor at the University of Johannesburg, told guests at the closing seminar, "it was a job well done which kept dialogue going on". Prof Kondlo said a book with a collection of papers presented during the series is being finalised, with senior ANC officials expected to attend the book launch on the Bloemfontein Campus later this year. The book features chapters by scholars like Profs Stephen Ellis, Shireen Hassim, Colin Bundy and Ben Turok and covers topics on the role of women in the liberation struggle, the party's economic policy and the history of the party in exile.

Speakers at the closing seminar included Prof Kwesi Prah, whom Prof Kondlo introduced as "one of Afica's intellectual giants,” struggle veteran, Dr Dennis Goldberg and the new Head of the Centre for Africa Studies, Prof Heidi Hudson.

Prof Prah, who delivered the keynote address, spoke about "The future of South Africa in Africa."

 

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