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23 October 2023 | Story SAMKELO FETILE | Photo SAMKELO FETILE
Third year students: Sipho Majenge, Thapelo Tinte, Dr Edson Vengesai, Busisiwe Nhlapo and Tsolofelo Zwane.
Third year students: Sipho Majenge, Thapelo Tinte, Dr Edson Vengesai, Busisiwe Nhlapo and Tsolofelo Zwane.

The University of the Free State (UFS), Department of Economics and Finance in the Faculty of Economic and Management Science, has recently made headlines by achieving remarkable success in the prestigious JSE Investment Challenge competition. The 3rd-year group secured an impressive second position, while the Honours group claimed an outstanding third place. These achievements are truly commendable, given the fierce competition and rigorous evaluation of financial acumen that characterises this national competition.

The 3rd-year group, consisting of Thapelo Tinte, Sipho Majenge, Busisiwe Nhlapo and Tsolofelo Zwane, showcased their financial prowess by excelling in trading futures, a complex financial instrument that demands in-depth knowledge and expertise. On the other hand, the Honours group, comprised of Dawie Bekker, Divan Koch, Keith Tarr, and William Oosthuysen, dedicated their efforts to the stock market. These talented individuals took on the trading aspect of the competition, meticulously constructing and managing their portfolios.

The significance of the JSE Investment Challenge

The JSE Investment Challenge, organised by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), is a prestigious national competition designed to introduce students to investment fundamentals, offering practical experience that equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary for informed decision-making in real financial markets. This educational stock trading programme also champions financial inclusion and equality by welcoming students from all fields of study. Distinguished by its association with the JSE, one of Africa's leading stock exchanges, the competition exudes credibility and prestige. Participation from universities across South Africa further enhances its national appeal. Moreover, it imparts invaluable real-world financial skills and knowledge, highlighting the participants’ ability to navigate the complexities of the stock market and effectively manage portfolios.

A test of financial prowess

In the challenge, each participating team is allocated R1 million in virtual money and is tasked with constructing a portfolio by purchasing securities on the JSE. This portfolio is closely monitored over six months, from March to September, with the team that generates the highest return across all universities declared as the winner. The rewards are enticing, with the top team receiving R30,000 and an all-expenses-covered international trip. The second and third-placed teams receive R20,000 and R10,000, respectively.

Dr Edson Vengesai plays a pivotal role as the guiding force behind the JSE Investment Challenge in the Department of Economics and Finance. He emphasises, “The success of the students in the JSE Investment Challenge reflects the institution's commitment to providing practical and relevant education. It demonstrates that the students are not only learning theory but also how to apply that knowledge in real-world scenarios. This achievement enhances the institution's reputation, particularly in the fields of finance and economics. It signifies a high-quality curriculum and a dedication to excellence in education”. 

For more information about the competition, interested individuals can contact Dr Vengesai through the Department of Economics and Finance in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences or via email at vengesaie@ufs.ac.za.

Dawie Bekker, William Oosthuysen, Dr Edson Vengesai, Divan Koch and Keith Tarr

Honours students: Dawie Bekker, William Oosthuysen, Dr Edson Vengesai, Divan Koch and Keith Tarr.

News Archive

Update on the Review of the Language Policy of the UFS
2015-11-26

On 5 June 2015, the Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) mandated Management to conduct a review of the Language Policy. The University Management Committee (UMC) then established a Language Committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the existing parallel-medium policy and to make recommendations on the way forward with respect to the university's Language Policy.

The Language Committee has now completed its work and the review report and its recommendations were presented to the UMC, the Executive Committee of Senate (ECS), as well as the full Senate. Each of these bodies debated the report and its recommendations and the views of these various structures will be presented to Council on 4 December 2015.

Council will study the report of the Language Committee and deliberate on the recommendations and views of these different university bodies ahead of, and at its December 2015 meeting. At that meeting, Council will then decide whether or not to accept the findings and recommendations of the Language Committee.

Should Council decide that - having reviewed the committee report - a new Language Policy must be developed, it would then mandate that such a policy should be designed and presented to itself as the highest decision-making authority of a university. In that case, the new Language Policy would have to be presented again to the UMC and Senate for voting purposes and that vote would be formally presented to Council at one of its meetings in 2016. The Institutional Forum, a statutory body that represents all university stakeholders, would also at that point advise Council, per its mandate, on a new Language Policy.

In the event that a new Language Policy is accepted by Council in 2016, the earliest possible date for implementation would be January 2017.

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