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15 February 2024
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Story Anthony Mthembu
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Photo SUPPLIED
Crespen Ndlovu (PhD Research Fellow in the Higher Education and Human Development Research Group (HEHD) at the University of the Free State) and Reabetswe Parkies (Senior Officer in Marketing in the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences at the University of the Free State).
The University of the Free State (UFS) proudly sent two PhD students to the inaugural ‘Swiss-African PhD Winter School on Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development,’ held by the Bern University of Applied Sciences Business School from 22 to 26 January 2024 in Switzerland. Representing UFS were Reabetswe Parkies, a Senior Officer in Marketing within the Faculty of Economics Management Sciences and Crespen Ndlovu, PhD Research Fellow in the Higher Education and Human Development Research Group (HEHD). They were among 30 PhD students selected across several African and European countries to attend the school on the institution’s campus.
‘’The winter school was indeed a beacon of holistic learning, where the promotion of sustainable development was seamlessly woven into the fabric of academic exploration. It provided a platform to engage with sustainable development's complex challenges and explore innovative, actionable, and impactful research pathways,’’ said Parkies.
The purpose of the winter school
The primary goal of the winter school was to convene PhD students specialising in innovation and entrepreneurship to foster research insights conducive to sustainable development. It served as a forum for interdisciplinary dialogue, enabling participants to exchange ideas aimed at advancing this common objective. Ndlovu noted the significance of considering both global and local perspectives on sustainability challenges, emphasising the crucial role of ethical considerations, equity, and inclusivity in propelling sustainability initiatives forward.
Insights and experiences
In addition to collaborative discussions, the winter school facilitated activities such as the sharing and deliberation of individual research projects. A highlight for Ndlovu was the opportunity to engage with influential scholars like Prof Sophie Bacq from the International Institute for Management Development, who continues to inspire his work on social entrepreneurship and human development.
Parkies and Ndlovu both affirmed that the experience not only contributed to their personal growth but also provided valuable insights into their respective research projects. Ndlovu stressed the importance of ensuring research relevance across various scales to contribute effectively to broader sustainability goals while addressing localised needs. Parkies echoed this sentiment, underscoring the significance of impactful research in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications.
Construction at Qwaqwa Campus creates jobs for local community
2010-05-28
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At the construction site hand-over ceremony are, from the left: Dr
Elias Malete, Dr Dipane Hlalele, Prof. WF van Zyl and Mr Derek Canavan
(Freelance Construction)
Photo: Thabo Kessah |
Local labour is set to benefit from at least 20 job opportunities that will be created during the building of new facilities valued at R13,5 million for the Faculty of Education on the Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS).
This was announced by Mr Derek Canavan, an architect from Freelance Construction, during the sod-turning ceremony held on the construction site recently.
The soon to be built facilities will include a 100-seater lecture hall, two 50-seater classrooms, an office block, ablution facilities, two separate laboratories for biology and science, as well as an IT laboratory with 70 work stations. All these facilities will be user-friendly to the disabled students.
Addressing a contingent of brains behind the project that included Mr Nico Janse van Rensburg, Manager of Physical Planning at the UFS, Dr Elias Malete, the Qwaqwa Campus Principal, said that this addition to the existing infrastructure would enable the campus to meet its enrolment and output challenges.
“These new facilities will no doubt increase the university’s academic and research capacity and will certainly help us respond positively to Minister Blade Nzimande’s call to institutions of higher learning to improve on scientific research. We are therefore pleased with this multi-million rand investment from the National Department of Education and the UFS,” he concluded.
Also attending was Dr Dipane Hlalele, Programme Head in the faculty, who was also pleased with the new facilities. “These facilities will help us to answer to our community’s needs of pre-school and foundation-phase teacher training which will be added to our study programme in January 2011. We will be introducing a new B.Ed. degree in Pre-school and Foundation phases and these facilities will help in the production of quality teachers for the benefit of our community,” he said.
The new building is expected to be ready for usage in June 2011.
Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication (acting)
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za
27 May 2010