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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!
SRC and Faculty of Law to re-open Student Court
2015-03-19
Front, from the left: Matshediso Tladi, Tumelo Lekhanya, Palesa Mafisa, Gabriel Dzeha, and;
Back, from the left: Emmanuel Mashele, Johnny Davis, Shelton Mellentze and Marvin Odendaal |
The Student Representative Council, together with the Faculty of Law and the Department of Student Affairs, has re-established the Student Court. This body will operate as a student administrative organ of the university, exercising its disciplinary powers as assigned to it in terms of its constitution and institutional delegations.
The Student Court is an independent body that will exercise its legal powers impartially with the aim of establishing a student community and a student governance culture committed to justice, equity, and accountability. The Court will decide on matters between students, student associations, or any part of the student body at the student level.
Newly-appointed judges and clerks are currently undergoing training in preparation for the court sessions which will begin in the second semester of 2015. The student court judges for this year are as follow:
- Palesa Mafisa
- Gabriela Dzeha
- Marvin Odendaal
- Emmanuel Mashele
- Johnny Davis
- Shelton Mellentze
- MatshedisoTladi
The student court clerk is Tumelo Lekhanya.