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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.”
Graduates bloom at 2014 Spring Graduation Ceremony
2014-09-12
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On Thursday, 18 September 2014, our university celebrated the 2014 Spring Graduation Ceremony. A total of 727 diplomas and certificates were conferred to graduates from all seven of our faculties.
Well-known satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys was the guest speaker at both ceremonies on the day. “A person seldom gets the job he or she wants,” Uys said. “The secret is rather to become the job you want to have.”
He referred to comic examples from the South African history in order to describe to graduates that the power is in each and every South African to contribute to a good democracy.
“In a good democracy, the people lead and the government follows. Go out and lead.”
The Faculties of Economic and Management Sciences, Health Sciences and Natural and Agricultural Sciences conferred their degrees at a morning ceremony, followed by a later afternoon ceremony for the Faculties of the Humanities, Education (CE, NPDE and ACE excluded), Law and Theology degrees.
The following amount of diplomas and certificates, up to and including honours degrees, were conferred during the graduation day:
- Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: 167
- Faculty of Health Sciences: 119
- Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences: 155
- Faculty of the Humanities: 185
- Faculty of Education: 66
- Faculty of Law: 29
- Faculty of Theology: 6