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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

Trading innovative ideas for academic bursaries worth R275 000

2015-11-09

The top three individual bursary winners with TATA and UFS representatives. From Left: Naquita Fernandes, Henrike Prinsloo, Lebohang Motsisi, Stefan Strampe, Dr. Johan van Zyl, Jehan van Vuuren, Sanjeeb Lahiri and Salomien Boshoff.
Photo: Lize Van Den Berg

Learning from industry experts is essential for students’ development. When that learning eases the financial burden of tuition fees, it is even better. TATA Africa has ensured that students from the University of the Free State (UFS) earn academic currency for displaying leadership and business skills.

Jehan Van Vuuren walked away with R40 000 in his student account, Hendrike Prinsloo earned herself R30 000, Stephan Strampe has R25 000 less to worry about when the 2016 academic year arrives, and seven other students managed to save their parents R20 000 each.

These top 10 Strategic Marketing students from the UFS Department of Business Management and Department of Communication Science took up the challenge of devising strategic concepts to be implemented by the Africa branch of TATA Group companies.

TATA Group is a multinational conglomerate which specialises in a wide range of products and services, such as automobile manufacturing, hotel accommodation, construction, textiles, food and beverages, amongst other enterprises operating under its banner. On 15 October 2015, the company’s Head Office representatives signed a cheque for R275 000 to reward the creative input of our students.

Lesle-Ann George won an academic bursary worth R20 000 for her individual effort, and was also part of one of the best four groups that won R10 000 each. She said the competition was an opportunity of a lifetime. The financial aid will be channeled towards the BCom Marketing Honours degree she intends pursuing next year.

The students’ ideas included market research for TATA motors, the development of a mobile application for the Taj Hotel, as well as innovative student-oriented social media, and guerrilla marketing strategies.

“This collaborative partnership between TATA Africa and UFS has provided the students with an opportunity to learn from key role-players in the industry and, in turn, to gain practical exposure to real-life industry happenings,” said Naquita Fernandes, a Business Management lecturer and the competition’s co-organiser.

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