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31 January 2024 | Story EDZANI NEPHALELA | Photo ANJA AUCAMP
Dr Martin Laubscher
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.”

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DiMTEC gets learnership of R5,7 million
2008-05-23

 

The Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC) at the University of the Free State (UFS) received a learnership to the value of R5,7 million for the master’s degree programme in Disaster Management for 2008 and 2009 . The learnership programme is funded by the national Department of Science and Technology and DiMTEC is the implementing agent. The learnership makes provision for the study costs and an allowance for 15 students in 2008 and 20 students in 2009. Students are placed at disaster management centres and departments who deal with disaster management across the country where they obtain in-service training on how to effectively deal with disasters. This is the only learnership of its kind in the country. At the hand-over ceremony were, from the left: Mr Andries Jordaan, Director: DiMTEC, Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Acting Rector of the UFS, and Mr Jerry Madiba, Director: Technical Skills, Department of Science and Technology.
Photo: Lacea Loader

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