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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.”
University celebrates ten years of research excellence
2012-09-06
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Celebrating ten years of research excellence were, from the left: Eleanor van der Westhuizen, Manager: Strategic Academic Clusters; Prof. Driekie Hay; and Dr Glen Taylor, Director: Innovation and Business Development.
Photo: Stephen Collett
6 September 2012
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The University of the Free State (UFS) is on course to becoming a research university that is ranked among the best in the world. That was the message that came out at the launch of the 2011 Annual Research Report where the university celebrated ten years of research excellence. Prof. Driekie Hay, Vice Rector: Academic, delivered the keynote address, highlighting many of the research successes of the last ten years. Some of the achievements outlined were the university being awarded its first three South African Research Chairs Iniatitive (SARChi) Chairs, the establishment of a Postgraduate School, the first of its kind at a residential public university in South Africa and the launch of the Strategic Academic Cluster initiative.