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UFS to host inaugural ‘Sanlam and Santam Economist of the Year’ gala event

16 October 2024 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Supplied

The Department of Economics and Finance, within the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at the University of the Free State (UFS), in collaboration with Sanlam and Santam, will host the inaugural ‘Sanlam & Santam Economist of the Year’ competition gala event on 18 October 2024. The event, to be held on the UFS Bloemfontein campus, marks the exciting conclusion of this prestigious competition.

About the competition

Prof Johan Coetzee, Chairperson of the Department of Economics and Finance at UFS, explained that the competition, launched in July 2024, is an initiative of the department, sponsored by Sanlam and Santam. ‘’The competition aims to equip our graduates with the essential skills required for the modern workplace, including presentation, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills,” said Prof Coetzee. He also highlighted plans to extend the competition to schools, saying, “We are looking forward to broadening the platform to include school-level participants.”

In addition, Prof Coetzee noted that the competition is designed to train students to become highly skilled economists capable of navigating the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

The competition sees students - ranging from first-year undergraduates to those pursuing master's qualifications within the department - competing against each other by making predictions on key macroeconomic indicators. A schedule of these indicators is provided, and students must predict their values on an online platform before the official release of each indicator. Points are awarded based on the accuracy of their predictions, with the top 10 competitors progressing to the final stage.

Gala event highlights

Representatives from Sanlam and Santam, the Department of Economics and Finance, the top 10 finalists, and the department’s top academic performers from each year group will attend the gala event. “Besides recognising the competition winners, we will also honour our top academic achievers. As a department, we acknowledge the importance of recognition, and we are proud to be the academic home of these outstanding students,” Prof Coetzee added.

The top 10 finalists will each deliver a six-minute presentation to a panel of four economists from the department, after which the top three finalists will be announced. These finalists will then answer an additional question, and the final judging will determine the winner of the ‘Sanlam and Santam Economist of the Year’ title. The winner will also receive the largest cash prize.

In addition to the awards, Sivuyile Nzimeni, a data analyst within the EMS faculty and the developer of the competition platform, will address the audience. Nzimene will discuss the development of the platform and plans for its expansion.

News Archive

Inaugural lecture celebrates Qwaqwa founder, Morena Mopeli Mokhachane

2014-09-12

Photo: RooistoelTV

Every historical era presents its own challenges and creates its own leaders who take up the call to address those challenges.

This was expressed by Dr Nyefolo Malete who presented the Inaugural Memorial Lecture on 6 September 2014 at the Qwaqwa Campus. The lecture honoured the live of the Qwaqwa founder, Morena Paulus Mopeli Mokhachane.

Dr Malete said that Morena Mopeli played his part in history as a skilled negotiator, formidable team player and a liberator who held good human relations in high regard.

“Morena Mopeli lived at the time when Southern Africa was experiencing a moment of frustration and despair. It was faced with conflicts, battles, starvation and turmoil in preparation for a transformation that was to serve as the mirror of the political and social stage which existed until 1994,” Dr Malete said.

“He was a hopeful leader and thinker who played a critical role in assisting his brother Moshoeshoe to build and protect Lesotho where it was humanly possible. He participated in most of the negotiations with all the groups to create peace and protect the borders of Lesotho. He was a good, intelligent and formidable diplomat who was aware of his role as a leader. He was aware that he could influence the future through dialogue.”

Dr Malete said that Africa needs leaders like Mopeli. Leaders who can expand the capacity to remain open to possibilities and “envision a positive future in the face of uncertainty and to creatively construct pathways that can be embraced by all people who collectively seek to turn possibilities into reality.”

In attendance at the lecture were dignitaries from the Lesotho Royal House, the Free State Provincial Government and the Free State House of Traditional Leaders.

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