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08 May 2024 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo SUPPLIED
EMS-Awards-2024
From left to right: Prof Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at the University of the Free State (UFS), presenting an award to Ntswaki Moshwaisi.

A cohort of esteemed academic and support staff from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at the University of the Free State (UFS), received well-deserved accolades at the 2024 annual EMS Awards. Notable among them were Programme Coordinator Ntswaki Moshwaisi and Associate Professor Prof Liezel Massyn from the UFS Business School.

Prof Massyn was lauded in the Teaching and Learning category, while Moshwaisi garnered recognition in the Support Staff category at the awards ceremony held on 18 April 2024, on the UFS Bloemfontein campus.

Reflecting on her achievement, Moshwaisi expressed gratitude, stating, “The award serves as motivation to myself to keep working hard and to innovate methods and approaches towards my work.’’

The significance of the awards

Prof Massyn remarked that the awards serve to spotlight the remarkable contributions of both academics and support staff within the faculty. She considers the award as a testament to her dedication, acknowledged by her esteemed colleagues. Both Prof Massyn and Moshwaisi attribute their success to the support they receive from their peers.

Moreover, they emphasise that these awards transcend mere recognition. It will serve as an impetus to the way forward. Moshwaisi envisages leveraging her award to enhance the quality and efficacy of the programmes under her stewardship. Prof Massyn, echoing this statement, asserts, ’’It will strengthen my belief in the transformative power of teaching and make me work harder to provide quality learning opportunities to students. I am a firm believer in following an evidence-based approach and will continue to research learning and teaching.’’

News Archive

When entrepreneurship meets industrial innovation
2014-12-13

Johan Eksteen (Photo: Supplied)

Internationally acclaimed Argicon Pelleting is a worldwide supplier of pelleting machinery and equipment as well as agri-processing factories. The company was established in 1993 by André and Johan Eksteen, UFS 2004 MBA graduate. After taking over sole ownership, the company grew from a one-man business to an internationally respected specialist in the design and manufacturing of pelleting solutions for the agricultural industry.

A common practice in industrial procedures, pelleting involves processing material into small dry pellets. This is used globally by manufacturers of animal feed or recycling facilities that specialise in processing materials for reuse. This process, however, can only be successfully accomplished with specialised equipment, namely a pelletizer. With fifteen years’ experience in agriculture, and international exposure in countries such as Uganda, Australia, Singapore and New Caledonia, this was not a tall order for Johan.

Agricon focuses on consistently developing innovative ways to add value to its offering. The business has successfully installed pelleting equipment for a range of products, including tobacco dust, rooibos tea, human sludge waste, organic fertilizers and vermi-compost. In addition to the manufacturing of machines and equipment, the company also provides training and on-site installation for clients, as well as support following a sale or the provision of spare parts. The company also provides advice on new product developments and business opportunities for clients within the sector.

Apart from doubling its sales between 2013 and 2014, the company gained great recognition within the industry. Johan was awarded the University of the Free State Business School’s Entrepreneur award in 2013 and he is the first-prize winner of the ILO Free State EnterPRIZE Job Creation Challenge for 2014. He is currently one of 15 finalists countrywide in the Entrepreneur of the Year competition sponsored by Business Partners and Sanlam. Johan is the mentor and stand-in manager for Almenta, a skills development company (winner of the ILO Best Social Entrepreneur for Skills Development award) and Equus Groom School (winner of the ILO Social Entrepreneur in Youth Development award).

Johan was also announced as the winner of the SA entrepreneur of the year for small businesses.

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