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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.”
New online journal repository launched during research week
2016-08-03
Open Access core team.The annual research week marked the official launch of KovsieJournals published on KovsieScholar, the UFS output repository. Library and information Services and the office of the Vice Rector: Research, Prof Corli Witthuhn, hosted the week-long events of 26-29 July 2016 on the Bloemfontein Campus.
KovsieScholar is the UFS’s research repository that collects, preserves, and distributes open access digital material. It is an important tool for preserving the university’s legacy, facilitating digital preservation and scholarly communication. It aims to increase the university’s global visibility, the impact and profiles of its researchers, and contribute to the preservation and sharing of knowledge. Currently, it holds journals published since 2010.
The main launch event of 27 July was opened at the Equitas Building’s Senate Hall by Mr Charlie Molepo, Deputy-Director: LIS Research and Scholarly Communications, who also presented the project background. Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector said it is a great initiative that will allow anyone to have access to UFS research outputs anywhere in the world, something he is glad to see happening during his term.
A roundtable discussion brought together more than ten senior professors and heads of department to explore topics such as Open Access and its benefits and pitfalls, centralisation of institutional research output, and the future publishing platform of KovsieJournals, amongst others. Research Week will end with training for Open Access and Centre for Teaching and Learning’s core teams.