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03 October 2024
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Story Ansie Barnard
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Photo Supplied
From left to right: Londeka Mkhwanazi, Semither Mkhize, Salima van Schalkwyk, Slindokuhle Ndlovu, Asanda Mpinga, Mantombi Molefe, Ntombinkulu Khumalo, Mosebjadi Chauke and Thembinkosi Mkhwanazi.
The Amrut Foundation, in partnership with the University of the Free State (UFS), successfully hosted its Inaugural Innovathon at the UFS Qwaqwa Campus. This competition is designed to identify and support innovative products and services that not only generate profit but also contribute to the public good, with a strong emphasis on ethical business practices. Through this collaboration, students gain national exposure for their businesses and receive support to create sustainable social enterprises.
Five teams of student social entrepreneurs from the Qwaqwa campus were shortlisted to participate in the regional finals. Their selection was based on ventures that adhered to a social entrepreneurship model and demonstrated plans for long-term profitability and sustainability.
During the Innovathon, a panel of judges from the UFS, the Amrut Foundation, and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) selected two outstanding teams to represent the UFS at the national finals, which will take place in October. The winning ventures, Biofly-Pro and Root Rescue were each awarded R20,000 to further develop and expand their initiatives.
Hemang Desai, Executive Director of the Amrut Foundation, expressed his enthusiasm for the event: "Amrut is proud to co-host the Free State leg of the inaugural Innovation Challenge with the UFS. Supporting students with entrepreneurial ambitions that align with societal care is one of our key focus areas."
Dr Grey Magaiza, Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director for the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the UFS, highlighted the importance of social entrepreneurship: “Social entrepreneurship is a collaborative effort towards creating sustainable and ethical business processes. The two winning projects embody these principles, and we look forward to their continued growth. In line with our Vision 130, social entrepreneurship can serve as a critical lever for university-community engagement.”
Congratulations to Biofly-Pro and Root Rescue on their well-deserved achievements!
Academics deliver paper at international congress on urban planning
2008-10-07
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Dr Maléne Campbell from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of the Free State (UFS) and Mr Andile Mshumpela, master's graduate in Urban and Regional Planning of the same department, presented a paper titled: 'The Peoples Housing Project: The Case of the Amathole District Municipality' at the recent 44th ISoCaRP congress, which took place in Dalian, China. The theme of the congress was 'Urban Growth without Sprawl a Way Towards Sustainable Urbanization' and was jointly organised by the Urban Planning Society of China and ISoCaRP, a global association of experienced professional planners. ISoCaRP (International Society of City and Regional Planners) was founded in 1965 in a bid to bring together recognised and highly qualified planners in an international network. The ISoCaRP network consists of both individual and institutional members of more than 70 countries all over the world. Here are, from the left: Councilor Luntu Bobo of the Buffalo City Municipality, Mr Mshumpela, and Dr Campbell.
Photo: Supplied
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