Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
29 October 2024 | Story Jacky Tshokwe | Photo Supplied
RAiN Automate Innovate Challenge 2024
The University of the Free State accounting students rise to the challenge in the RAiN Automate to Innovate Challenge.

The School of Accountancy at the University of the Free State (UFS) is leading a forward-thinking initiative by introducing the RAiN Automate to Innovate Challenge in 2024. This marks the first time that the UFS has run this challenge, and it is already making waves in the accounting education landscape. As one the few Accountancy department in South Africa to host such an event, the UFS is paving the way for technological integration in the academic world, setting the stage for future inter-university competitions.

The RAiN Automate to Innovate Challenge invited second-year BAcc students enrolled in the EIDE2724 module to participate in groups of three to four. Their task was to identify and solve a real-world problem related to either students or business by developing a robotic process automation (RPA) bot using Power Automate.

The challenge followed an exploratory learning approach, empowering students to dive into the world of automation with minimal formal lecturing. This approach develops students’ creativity and problem-solving skills. The students worked hard to master Power Automate and applied their knowledge to build automation bots that successfully solved business and student life problems.

Presentations and the final showdown

After presenting their bots on 10, 11, and 14 October, the top six groups were announced in class, eagerly awaiting the grand finale. The final round took place on 18 October from 12:00 to 14:00, where the top six groups competed head-to-head.

A distinguished panel of judges, consisting of three judges from RAiN Auditors and three from the UFS, evaluated the bots based on creativity, functionality, and potential impact. By the end of the event, the winning groups were announced, and the following prizes were awarded:

  • First place: R1 500 each
  • Second place: R1 200 each
  • Third place: R1 000 each

The prizes were generously sponsored by RAiN Auditors, showcasing their commitment to fostering innovation in education.

Looking ahead

As the first South African university to run this type of challenge, the UFS aims to inspire other institutions across the country to follow suit. The School of Accountancy is eager to expand this competition, with the hope of challenging other universities in 2025 and beyond, creating a platform for students to showcase their technical skills and business acumen in the rapidly evolving field of accounting.

Stay tuned for the impact and future growth of the RAiN Automate to Innovate Challenge, where we continue to push boundaries and prepare the next generation of accountants to excel in a digital world.

For more insight into the competition, check out the video recap [here](insert Vimeo link). Be sure to explore the image gallery, showcasing the incredible work and teamwork of our students.

Check out the video here for more details.

News Archive

Two OSM students selected for KZN Philharmonic Youth Concerto Festival
2016-06-13

Description: Ketumile Moleleki designs KovsieGear  Tags: Ketumile Moleleki designs KovsieGear
Kamu Magou has been an occasional
studies student in violin performance
for the last four years at the Odeion
School of Music.
Photo: Supplied
Two students from the Odeion School of Music (OSM) at the University of the Free State have been selected as soloists to be part of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra National Youth Concerto Festival.

The cellist Chris van Zyl and violinist Kamu Magou will be part of the festival taking place on 29 September 2016 in the Durban City Hall. The KZN Philharmonic presents the festival annually, with the aim of providing gifted young musicians an opportunity to rehearse and perform with a professional orchestra. The orchestra will be conducted by Lykele Temmingh.

Cricketer playing cello since age of six

Chris, who is under the tutelage of Prof Anmari van der Westhuizen from the Odeion String Quartet, is a first-year student at the OSM. He will perform Tchaikovsky’s Pezzo capriccioso, Op. 62, for cello and orchestra.

He started playing the cello at the age of six, under the tutelage of Michael Haller, a respected cello pedagogue and cellist of the then Odeion String Quartet.

Although a gifted musician, he also loves cricket, and, as a youngster, his mother had to bribe him by bowling plastic cricket balls in the lounge in exchange for five minutes of cello playing.

Violin student in residence in Amsterdam

Kamu has been studying violin under Sharon de Kock from the Odeion String Quartet, her violin lecturer at the OSM, since high school. She has been an occasional studies student in violin performance for the last four years.

Kamu, who is pursuing a BCom degree at Unisa, was in residence for a week recently at the acclaimed Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. She and the Bloemfontein double bassist, Siyolise Nyondo, were part of an initiative by the South African Youth Orchestra Foundation.

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept