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Trailblazing win: UFS wins its first-ever Andrew Murray Prize

31 January 2024 | Story EDZANI NEPHALELA | Photo ANJA AUCAMP

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.”

News Archive

Kovsie student receives national political studies award

2016-10-07

Description: ’Manapo ’Mokose Tags: ’Manapo ’Mokose

’Manapo ’Mokose who was awarded a prize for the best Honours
essay at the 2016 South African Association of Political Studies
(SAAPS) awards.
Photo: Supplied

“The UFS gets so little recognition. I hope that winning this award will attest to its strength as a genuine avenue for student success.”

This was the message from ’Manapo ’Mokose to students at the University of the Free State (UFS) after being awarded a prize for the best Honours essay at the 2016 South African Association of Political Studies (SAAPS) awards.

Mokose in a nutshell

’Mokose, who completed her degree in Political Science and Business Management at UFS went on to pursue an Honours degree in International Relations. The topic of her essay was The BRICS Development Bank in the New World Order: Reflections on Africa and China.

Voicing frustration at how little people engaged with political issues, ’Mokose pointed to the reality that political awareness empowered people to influence their environment.

She was candid about her struggles with self-doubt and shared that to her the award meant she had a clue after all and was certainly on the right track.

UFS support meant the world

According to ’Mokose none of this would have been possible without the love and support she received from the UFS. She gave special recognition to her supervisor Prof Theo Neethling in the Department of Political Studies. “I would not have received this award without him,” she said.

The award ceremony took place on 1 September 2016 in Cape Town.

’Mokose is currently doing her Masters in International Relations at the University of Cape Town and is an intern at the Institute for African Alternatives.

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