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03 October 2024 | Story Ansie Barnard | Photo Supplied
Amrut Foundation 2024
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! 

News Archive

Prof Magda Fourie is visiting the University of Oxford
2004-08-30

 

Prof Magda Fourie, Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the University of the Free State (UFS), is currently visiting the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom where she is doing research at the Institute for the Advancement of University Learning.

 

The primary role of the Institute is giving effect to the Teaching and Learning Strategy of Oxford University by supporting the quest for excellence in learning, teaching and research at the university. Prof Fourie will pay particular attention to research that the Institute has done on creating an optimal learning environment for students, with the purpose of enhancing the learning environment of students at the UFS.

Prof Fourie was awarded a University of Oxford Fellowship by the Association of Commonwealth Universities to spend two months at Oxford University for professional development purposes.

She will also visit the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education, the Office for Distance and Online Learning and the Planning and Resource Division.

Prof Fourie’s visit abroad will be concluded with a visit to Dundee in Scotland, where she will attend a conference for vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors on managing change in higher education. She will return to South Africa by the middle of next month.

 

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