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31 January 2024
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Story EDZANI NEPHALELA
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Photo ANJA AUCAMP
Dr Martin Laubscher’s thesis, crowned with the Andrew Murray-Desmond Tutu Prize, is testament to the university’s unwavering commitment to scholarly excellence.
In a historic triumph that reverberates over four decades since its inception, the UFS has clinched the coveted
Andrew Murray Prize – now renamed the Andrew Murray-Desmond Tutu Prize – for the first time. Standing shoulder to shoulder with institutions such as the University of Pretoria (UP) and Stellenbosch University (SU), this achievement marks a significant milestone in the UFS’ journey.
At the heart of this accomplishment lies the profound contribution of
Dr Martin Laubscher, distinguished Senior Lecturer specialising in Practical and Missional Theology in the
Faculty of Theology and Religion. Dr Laubscher’s dedication and scholarly prowess culminated in the groundbreaking work titled
Publieke teologie as profetiese teologie? (Public theology as prophetic theology), a revised edition of his doctoral thesis, which was originally crafted at Stellenbosch University in 2020, with a focus on the eminent Karl Barth.
Dr Laubscher received the Andrew Murray Prize for Theological Books in Afrikaans for his research and insightful analysis. The journey started when he realised, under the guidance of his study leader,
Prof Dion Forster, that his script had the potential to be published in Afrikaans. Sun Media’s interest in publishing this work in Afrikaans, led to it being the first-ever published thesis in Afrikaans. Dr Laubscher recalls, “I was grateful and excited about Sun Media’s interest. The book emerged within a year, and during a celebratory launch Prof Forster suggested I submit it for the Andrew Murray Prize.”
Earlier this year, Dr Laubscher was excited to learn that he was being shortlisted for the prestigious award. Reflecting on the significant moment, he shares, “The elation I felt upon receiving the news was unparalleled. I was not only celebrating a personal triumph, but also etching my name as the first laureate from our faculty to secure this prestigious accolade.”
Kovsie netball coach learns from international specialist
2009-10-15
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Ms Yvonne Willering and Vanes-Mari du Toit, a member of the UFS first netball team.
Photo: Hannes Pieterse
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Ms Burta de Kock from KovsieSport at the University of the Free State (UFS), and coach of the UFS’s first netball team recently learned from the well-known coach Ms Yvonne Willering from New-Zealand. Ms Willering is the recipient of various Coach-of-the-Year Awards. She is also known for her innovative methods and dynamic style. She made use of the top players of the university to demonstrate different techniques to the coaches who attended the training.
Ms De Kock was one of approximately 15 coaches from schools in the Free State and the Northern Cape who attended this international netball coaching course. The focus of the course was to teach coaches the principles of coaching. According to Dr Elsjé Jordaan from SportsMax, the coordinator of this course, our players in South Africa miss basic principles in their training, which is the reason why we do not perform optimally at international level. |