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UFS celebrates rise of student to African Union Student Parliament

12 March 2025 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Supplied

The University of the Free State (UFS) Qwaqwa Campus is radiating with pride as Sociology master's student, Sanelisiwe Khumalo, has been elected to the prestigious African Union Student Parliament (AUSP). This achievement highlights the exceptional calibre of students nurtured within the institution, demonstrating their potential to effect significant change on a continental scale.

African Union Student Parliament welcomes UFS representative

Khumalo's election is testament to her academic excellence, unwavering leadership, and profound dedication to student representation. As a student in the Department of Sociology, she has consistently displayed a keen understanding of complex social issues and a fervent passion for driving positive change.

The AUSP serves as a vital platform for student voices across Africa, providing a space for young leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue, advocate for student rights, and contribute to shaping higher education policies. Khumalo's presence in this esteemed body will undoubtedly bring invaluable perspectives, representing the interests of UFS students with distinction.

"Congratulations, Sanelisiwe Khumalo, on your remarkable achievement," remarked Divane Nzima, Senior Lecturer and Subject Head of the Department of Sociology in the Faculty of The Humanities. "Being elected to the African Union Student Parliament is an indication of your dedication to contributing towards positive social change. As a Sociology master’s student at the University of the Free State, you have made us immensely proud. We wish you strength and wisdom to inspire change across the continent."

UFS sociology student inspires change on continental stage

Khumalo’s journey is a shining example of the transformative power of education and the boundless opportunities available to students on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus. Her success story embodies the university’s commitment to fostering a supportive and empowering environment where students can thrive and reach their full potential, aligning with the UFS’ Vision 130 as a student-centred institution focused on excellence and impact.

Adding to her impressive journey, Khumalo participated in an enriching exchange programme at the University of Education Freiburg in Germany last year. This collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), has opened doors for students, staff, and faculty members to engage in valuable academic and cultural exchanges.

Khumalo was an early beneficiary of this partnership and spent four months in Freiburg, immersing herself in the vibrant academic and cultural landscape. "The opportunity to study at the University of Education Freiburg was a dream come true," Khumalo shared. "The university's reputation for innovative teaching methods and its commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment were incredibly appealing."

This experience, coupled with her dedication and leadership, has prepared her for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the AUSP. Her journey serves as an inspiration to fellow students, demonstrating that with dedication, passion, and a commitment to excellence, they can achieve their dreams and contribute to shaping a better future.

News Archive

Nobel Prize-winner presents first lecture at Vice-Chancellor’s prestige lecture series

2017-11-17

At the first lecture in the UFS Vice Chancellor’s Prestige Lecture series,
were from the left: Prof Jeanette Conradie, UFS Department of Chemistry;
Prof Michael Levitt, Nobel Prize-winner in Chemistry, biophysicist and
professor in structural biology at Stanford University; Prof Francis Petersen,
UFS Vice-Chancellor and Rector; and Prof Corli Witthuhn,
UFS Vice-Rector: Research.
Photo: Johan Roux

South African born biophysicist and Nobel Prize-winner in Chemistry, Prof Michael Levitt, paid a visit to the University of the Free Sate (UFS) as part of the Academy of Science of South Africa’s (ASSAf) Distinguished Visiting Scholars’ Programme.

Early this week the professor in structural biology at Stanford University in the US presented a captivating lecture on the Bloemfontein Campus on his lifetime’s work that earned him the Nobel Prize in 2013. His lecture launched the UFS Vice-Chancellor’s Prestige Lecture series, aimed at knowledge sharing within, and beyond our university boundaries.

Prof Levitt was one of the first researchers to conduct molecular dynamics simulations of DNA and proteins and developed the first software for this purpose. He received the prize for Chemistry, together with Martin Karplus and Arieh Warshel, “for the development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems”.

Attending the lecture were members of UFS management, academic staff from a range of faculties and other universities as well as young researchers. “Multiscale modelling is very much based on something that makes common sense,” Prof Levitt explained. “And that is to makes things as simple as possible, but not simpler. Everything needs to have the right level of simplicity, that is not too simple, but not too complicated.”

An incredible mind
Prof Levitt enrolled for applied mathematics at the University of Pretoria at the age of 15. He visited his uncle and aunt in London after his first-year exams, and decided to stay on because they had a television, he claims. A series on molecular biology broadcast on BBC, sparked an interest that would lead Prof Levitt via Israel, and Cambridge, to the Nobel Prize stage – all of which turned out to be vital building blocks for his research career.

Technology to the rescue
The first small protein model that Prof Levitt built was the size of a room. But that exercise led to the birth of multiscale modelling of macromolecules. For the man on the street, that translates to computerised models used to simulate protein action, and reaction. With some adaptations, the effect of medication can be simulated on human protein in a virtual world.

“I was lucky to stand on the shoulder of giants,” he says about his accomplishments, and urges the young to be good and kind. “Be passionate about what you do, be persistent, and be original,” he advised.

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