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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.”
A new society on Kovsie grounds
2013-06-06
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ESA members outside the Faculty of Education. From left: SentshoTseki, KabeloNoosi, RefilweMabengu and SemakaleMoiloa. Photo: Linda Fekisi 6 June 2013 |
The Education Student Association (ESA) is the latest addition to the associations on the Bloemfontein Campus. ESA is made up of 12 executive members who have a portfolio in the Faculty of Education’s governance structure. They serve as a voice to 1 600 students in this faculty.
Chairperson, SentshoTseki, describes ESA as “new, fresh and out there. We are here for students and we want to build a structure that is recognisable. Our goal is to facilitate students’ participation in programmatic and faculty-wide feedback. We also want to represent the students in management and governance structures.”
With just a few weeks since its establishment, the association has been involved in a community project in Ladybrand. “Community engagement with the schools around the Free State area lies at the heart of our association. We went to Ladybrand to motivate learners and also give them necessary information about university,“ Tseki added.