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 Qwaqwa Campus honours research champions
2016-11-22
Best Emerging Researcher in the Faculty of
Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Dr Puseletso Mofokeng,
being congratulated by Drs Elsa Crause
(Campus Vice-Principal: Academic and Research)
and Dipane Hlalele
(Acting Campus Vice-Principal: Operations).
The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and the Academic and Research Office on the Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State recently honoured innovative academics and leading researchers. The event was the highlight of the 2016 academic year and was aimed at recognising academic innovation, dedication, and hard work.
The winning academics and categories were:
CTL Awards:
Dr Emile Bredenhand – Design Your Course
Dr Marga Stander and Bianca Naude (joint winners) – Student Engagement
Dr Marga Stander – Research in Teaching and Learning (runner-up: Fani Radebe)
Wouter de Wet – Assessment Methods (runner-up: Ntebohiseng Sekhele)
Ben Mase – Technology (runner-up: Dr Jared McDonald)
The History Department – Departmental Award
Outstanding researchers were also honoured per faculty on the day.
Academic and Research Awards:
The winners were:
Habasisa Molise – Best Emerging Researcher (Faculty of Education)
Calvin Mudzingiri – Best Emerging Researcher (Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences)
Dr Oliver Nyambi – Best Emerging Researcher (Faculty of the Humanities)
Dr Puseletso Mofokeng – Best Emerging Researcher (Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences)
Dr Dipane Hlalele – Prolific Researcher (Faculty of Education)
Dr Jared McDonald – Prolific Researcher (Faculty of the Humanities)
Dr Tom Ashafa – Prolific Researcher (Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences)
Prof Birhanu Dejene – Consistent Researcher
Prof Rodney Moffett – Life-long Researcher
The event also acknowledged Drs Geofrey Mukwada (Geography) and Aliza Le Roux (Zoology and Entomology) as newly-appointed Professors. The duo leads the Afromontane Research Unit.