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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

UV ken grade en diplomas toe tydens die jaarlikse lente-gradeplegtigheid
2004-09-07

The University of the Free State (UFS) will award a total of 423 degrees and 267 diplomas on Wednesday 22 September 2004 during this year’s spring graduation ceremony.

Altogether 25 doctorates and 3 honorary doctorates will also be awarded. The honorary doctorandi are D r Calvin Seerveld (D Phil (hc), Prof YK Seedat (MD (hc) and Dr Mary Seely (D Sc (hc). These doctorandi form part of the greater group of 18 doctorandi who will be awarded honorary doctorates during the UFS’s centenary year. The last group will be receiving their honorary doctorates in October 2004.

In the Faculty of Health Sciences 59 degrees, 29 diplomas and 1 doctorate will be awarded, in the Faculty of Humanities (excluding the School of Education ) 72 degrees and 6 doctorates will be awarded. In the School of Education 33 degrees, 212 diplomas and 4 doctorates will be awarded and in the Faculty of Law 7 degrees will be awarded.

In the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences 122 degrees, 2 diplomas and 8 doctorates will be awarded, in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences 118 degrees, 20 diplomas and 3 doctorates will be awarded and in the Faculty of Theology 12 degrees, 4 diplomas and 3 doctorates will be awarded.

The diploma ceremony will start at 08:30 and the graduation ceremony will start at 14:30 . Both ceremonies will take place in the Callie Human Centre.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
7 September 2004

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