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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

Student represents UFS and SA in world orchestra
2015-11-27



The A-list violist, Maja van Dyk 

Among the 100 musicians from 74 countries who performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York as part of the International Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPHIL) tour was Maja van Dyk. The viola player was one of two South Africans, and the only University of the Free State (UFS) representative, in the main performance of the tour on 27 September 2015.

“The highlight of the tour was definitely the concert in Carnegie Hall,” said Maja.

The fourth-year BMus student at the UFS Odeion School of Music (OSM) was one of 900 musicians between 18 and 26 years of age who auditioned for the world orchestra.  She reached a major milestone in her music career when she was selected as both our country and our university’s ambassador.

The YPHIL project is a hub for the most powerful young performers from all over the world who spotlight social issues affecting the global collective through music. This objective behind creating one symphonic voice is to unite and empower in an unconventional manner.

Over the years, Maja has gathered a wealth of experience by playing for the MIAGI Youth Orchestra, the South African National Youth Orchestra, the Free State Youth Orchestra, the OSM Camerata, and the Free State Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Bloemfontein and Stellenbosch City Orchestras.

As a member of the National Youth Orchestra, she was invited to tour the country with the world-class Zurich Chamber Orchestra and the Zürcher Kammerorchester in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Her recent international exposure cannot be separated from past stints on the world stage. “I participated in tours of The World Orchestra to Spain and Lebanon, prior to the YPhil tour to New York City this past September,” she said.

The award-winning Maja is currently playing as an ad hoc member for the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. She moved to the Western Cape after she played in her last exam last week.

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