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International partners visit the UFS to advance agricultural business and sustainability

30 January 2025 | Story Martinette Brits | Photo Barend Nagel

The University of the Free State (UFS) recently hosted a group of distinguished international partners as part of the MASSTER project (Managing (South) Africa and Senegal Sustainability Targets through Economic-diversification of Rural-areas). Funded by the European Union Erasmus programme (Project ID 101129023), the project aims to support the agricultural sector in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Senegal by addressing pressing issues such as rural migration, food security, and sustainable development.

What is the MASSTER Project?

Launched in early 2024, the MASSTER project is an ambitious initiative designed to enhance agricultural development and economic diversification in rural areas across SSA, with a particular focus on Senegal and South Africa. According to Prof Corli Witthuhn from the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development at UFS, who serves as the project’s coordinator, researcher and trainer, MASSTER seeks to make a lasting impact on the sector.

“Agriculture plays a vital role in these regions, contributing up to 40% of GDP and providing livelihoods for over 70% of the population. However, challenges such as rural-urban migration and underutilised agricultural potential hinder the growth of this crucial sector,” explains Prof Witthuhn.

By offering innovative training and educational tools to farmers and agricultural students, the project aims to bridge these gaps. It involves higher education institutions (HEIs) in community development and focuses on the intersection of agriculture and migration. In doing so, MASSTER contributes to key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including zero hunger, quality education, decent work, and economic growth.

Key objectives of the MASSTER Project

MASSTER collaborates with six partner HEIs in Senegal and South Africa to tackle pressing agricultural and migration challenges. The project focuses on:

Assisting local farmers in implementing income-generating activities.
Supporting extension services in delivering relevant training programmes that emphasise economic sustainability.
Helping municipalities manage economic migration, particularly from rural areas.

To achieve these objectives, MASSTER analyses the risk factors that drive migration and those that prevent it, designing training programmes that empower current and future farmers to generate income. It also provides Training of Trainers (TOT) to HEIs and extension services, equipping them with skills to deliver impactful training sessions. Additionally, the project helps HEIs develop comprehensive migration management strategies that foster a whole-of-society approach linking agriculture and migration policies.

A global collaborative effort

The MASSTER project brings together a diverse consortium of partners from Senegal, South Africa and Europe, including:

Senegal: Université Du Sine Saloum El-Hâdj Ibrahima Niass Kaolack (USSEIN), Université Gaston Berger Saint- Louis (UGB), Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor (UASZ), Interprofessional Center for Training in Agriculture (CIFA)
South Africa: University of the Free State (UFS), Stellenbosch University (SU), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE)
Germany: Hochschule Weihenstephan-Triesdorf (HSWT)
France: Universite D’Aix-Marseille (AMU)
Italy: University of Naples Federico II (UNINA)
Serbia: Academy of Professional Studies South Serbia and Western Balkans Institute

Benefits for the University of the Free State

The MASSTER project presents significant opportunities for the UFS. It enables researchers to collaborate with international partners on groundbreaking research that addresses urgent agricultural challenges. Prof Witthuhn highlights that the project also provides valuable third-stream funding for the UFS research initiatives, strengthening the university’s broader academic and community development efforts.

Additionally, UFS researchers gain hands-on experience in European Union grant administration, potentially paving the way for future EU-funded projects. The project fosters direct engagement with local farming communities by offering training that empowers farmers and promotes rural development. Moreover, it enhances the university’s expertise in agricultural sustainability and migration management.

Partners’ visit to UFS

The recent visit by MASSTER project partners to the UFS marked a key milestone in this collaboration. During their stay, the group participated in various activities, including farm visits and discussions aimed at advancing the project’s objectives.

News Archive

UFS congratulates Free State on matric results

2017-01-05

With projects like the Internet Broadcast Project and the
Schools Partnership Projects the UFS helps to improve
education at schools in the Free State.
Photo: iStock

The University of the Free State (UFS) congratulates the Free State and its learners on their outstanding performance in the 2016 matric results. The university, who also plays a role in promoting excellence at school level, is proud of the Free State’s achievement as the best-performing province in the country with a 93,2% pass rate, excluding progressed learners.

“On behalf of the university community I would like to congratulate the Free State MEC of Education, Tate Makgoe, who is also a member of the UFS Council, and the Department of Education in the province on this fine achievement. The UFS is proud to be involved in projects that contribute to the success of the province’s learners. These include the Internet Broadcast Project (IBP) and the Schools Partnership Projects (SPP). The projects help to improve the quality of teaching and help learners to overcome severe domestic conditions in rural areas,” says Prof Nicky Morgan, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS.

Internet Broadcast Project

The UFS IDEAS Lab in the Department of Open and Distance Learning on the UFS South Campus supports learners in 83 schools through the IBP with the help of academic videos. The project is a collaboration between the university and the Department of Education in the province. It includes support for subjects such as Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Science, Economics, Accounting, and Geography.

A purpose-built school appliance, comprising a projector, speakers, and a PC, is set up at each school, where learners receive video lectures from highly-qualified teachers.

During a function held in Bloemfontein on 5 January 2017 to congratulate performing schools in the province, Mr Makgoe made special mention of the IBP and said that part of the success of the province can be attributed to the project. Many of the top performing schools had learners who participated in the project. One of the districts that forms part of the project, the Xhariep District, was announced as the top performing district in the province, and is second in the country.

Schools Partnership Projects

The SPP focuses on teachers in order to have a more sustainable impact, with 69 schools in the Free State and Eastern Cape being part of it.

It makes use of mentors (30) who assist teachers and headmasters with school management, Mathematics, Physical Science, Accounting, and English as language of learning. The project has an annual budget of more than R15 million – all the funds come from sponsors outside the UFS.

Mentors visit schools and share knowledge, extra material, and technology to improve the standard of teaching. The change has been significant. Matric results and Bachelors pass rates have improved dramatically in these schools.

Another aspect is the identification of learners with potential (so-called first-generation students) to go to university. They are assisted through extra classes and in applying for tertiary education and bursaries.

Many of them currently study at the UFS, and also receive mentorship at university.

Dr Peet Venter, SPP Project Manager, said his team is proud to be part of the process of helping the Free State to become the number one province in the country again.

Both the IBP and SPP was started in 2011 and are managed from the university’s South Campus in Bloemfontein.

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