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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

Architecture rewards talent

2016-11-25

Description: "Architecture Corobrik Tags: Architecture Corobrik

Lana Bramley (winner), Petru du Toit (second place),
Sinjon Moffett (third place), and Nina Nel
(best use of brick in a design) were
winners at the Corobrik Architecture
Student of the Year competition.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

During the recent announcement of the Corobrik Architecture Student of the Year, Lana Bramley was named regional winner in the Free State. Bramley is currently a master’s degree student in the Department of Architecture at the University of the Free State (UFS).

For her dissertation, she examined the design of an art gallery as a liminal architectural intervention, questioning the rigid boundaries of the UFS Campus. Bramley obtained distinctions for her Architecture dissertation, Design dissertation, and for Construction.

Bramley will join Roodt Architects next year.

The following students were also named winners in this year’s regional competition:

Best use of brick in a design: Nina Nel
Second place in the Corobrik Architectural student of the year competition (regional): Petru du Toit
Third place in the Corobrik Architectural student of the year competition (regional): Sinjon Moffett

From the master’s class, a total of 27 students obtained distinctions (nine for Design dissertation, 12 for Construction and six for Architecture dissertation). Prof Jan Smit and Henry Pretorius, Head of the Department of Architecture, awarded two prizes respectively to the best Technical Design student, Janrie Haarhoff, and the best Architecture dissertation student, Petru du Toit.

Musa Shangase, Commercial Director of Corobrik, congratulated students on the quality of their work. It is the 30th year this competition has been presented by Corobrik, a company that is 114 years old, to encourage talent in this profession. The national winner is expected to be announced in May 2017.

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