Laying the foundations for postgraduate success
Dr Herkulaas Combrink, Subject Head for Business and Financial Analytics and Co-director of the ICDF, explained that quantitative skills form a central part of both teaching and research within the Department of Economics and Finance. The summer school was aimed at providing students with the basic programming skills required for honours and master’s studies. “The department is very quantitative, particularly in economics, business analytics, and finance,” Dr Combrink said, adding that the programme helps students develop the skills they need to work more effectively at postgraduate level.
Programming was a key focus of the summer school, with an emphasis on giving students a framework they could build on independently. Dr Combrink noted that while the programme is intensive, it is designed to encourage students to continue practising and learning beyond the two weeks. The interdisciplinary nature of the programme also brought together students from different academic backgrounds, supporting collaboration across disciplines and contributing to the University’s broader Vision 130 goals of strengthening postgraduate research.
For participating students, the experience highlighted both the demands and value of computational training. Alexander Leak, a BCom Honours student specialising in Business and Financial Analytics, described the programme as fast-paced and requiring a high level of self-directed learning. “You’re given a framework of the skills you’ll need, but you have to practise and fill in the gaps yourself,” he said, adding that while the mathematical and machine-learning components were challenging, they were also motivating.
Reatile Seekoei, also a BCom Honours student specialising in Business and Financial Analytics, said the summer school was particularly valuable from the perspective of someone with limited prior coding experience. He noted that the programme highlighted the difference between learning coding theoretically and applying it in practice, emphasising the importance of hands-on engagement in developing real competence.
The department’s involvement in the summer school also underscored the UFS’ commitment to equipping postgraduate students with skills relevant to a rapidly evolving workplace. Prof Johan Coetzee, Head of the Department of Economics and Finance, said the venue provided state-of-the-art technology, including high-performance computing power essential for AI-related learning. He added that the department’s focus on Business Analytics degrees ensures students have access to the tools they need. He also emphasised the growing importance of data science and machine-learning skills across disciplines. “The world of work has changed and will continue to change, given the proliferation of AI,” he said. “Empowering our students with these skills while they study is essential – it is simply not an option anymore.”
Through its participation in the CHPC–NITHeCS Coding Summer School, the UFS continues to support the development of foundational computational skills that are increasingly essential for postgraduate study and interdisciplinary research.