Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
03 October 2024
|
Story Ansie Barnard
|
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!
UFS salary model makes salary adjustment of 16,13% possible
2008-12-11
Staff from the University of the Free State (UFS) will receive a salary adjustment of 16,13% for 2009. This adjustment is 2,78% higher than the 13,35% that was agreed by the management and unions last month.
The UFS has received the actual state subsidy for 2009 from the Department of Education. The amount is significantly higher than previously calculated as a result of a once-off inflationary adjustment that was made.
“The good news is that, as a result of the application of our Multi-Year, Income-Related Remuneration Improvement Model, this increased subsidy can be passed on to staff members in full,” said Mr Lourens Geyer, Director of Human Resources at the UFS.
“We are grateful that we can pass on this favourable salary adjustment to UFS staff members. This adjustment makes our remuneration packages more competitive with those of other universities, and also facilitates the retention of skilled personnel. We have experienced an exceptionally challenging and difficult 2008. For this reason, we are grateful that we are able to compensate staff members for their hard work and loyal support in a special way by granting this excellent salary adjustment,” said Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Acting Rector of the UFS.
The implementation date for the salary adjustment is 1 January 2009. The adjustment will be calculated on the total remuneration package.
|
|
Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
11 December 2008
|