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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!
Translation Day Seminar at UFS
2007-09-21
The Programme in Language Practice at the University of the Free State (UFS) cordially invites all stakeholders in language practice to a translation day seminar:
Subverting the west: Engaging language practice as African interpretation
Date: Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Venue: C.R. Swart Auditorium
Cost: R50
Apart from papers read by Prof. Jacobus Naudé (UFS), Dr Kobus Marais (UFS), Prof. Joan Conolly from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and Ms Lolie Makhubu (DUT), a full session will be devoted to a panel discussion involving the audience.
Against the background of the cabinet's proposal for language services for all government departments, the seminar day seeks to put up for discussion the African context in which language practice takes place. It will also be exploring an approach to translator education that is engaged in its African context by means of service learning.
The following four focus areas will receive attention:
- engaging translator education by means of a socio-constructivist approach;
- challenging the dominance of Western concepts in translator training and practice;
- exploring African indigenous oral knowledge as an interface for language practice;
- questioning code-switching in African interpreting settings.
Closing date for registrations is 1 October 2007.
For enquiries, registration forms, and programme details, contact Mr Kobus Marais on 051 401 2798.