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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!
Married couple from the UFS launch their latest book on psychology
2008-10-28
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A book by Prof. Dap Louw (right), head of the Centre for Psychology and the Law in the Department of Psychology at the University of the Free State (UFS), and his wife, Prof. Anet Louw (left), associate professor in the same department, was recently launched. The 400-page book with the title “Child and Adolescent Development” (also available in Afrikaans as “Die Ontwikkeling van die Kind en die Adolessent”), is full of South African data, examples, case-studies and illustration material such as photos and sketches. Various universities have already prescribed the book. Profs Louw are currently busy with a book that links up with the book mentioned, namely “Adult Development/Die Ontwikkeling van die Volwassene”. This book should be published before the end of 2008. Afterwards a total revision and renewal of their existing first-year book, with "Abnormal Behaviour in the South African Context", are next on the list. Here Proff. Louw are handing a copy of their latest book to the Acting Rector of the UFS, Prof. Teuns Verschoor (middle). According to the Louws, Prof. Verschoor’s support regarding the academic jurisdiction of the book as well as his view that the writing of books should not be neglected by lecturers and researchers, has contributed a lot to the publishing of the book.
Photo: Supplied |