Nestled in the scenic Maloti-Drakensberg mountains, the Centre for Global Change (CGC) on the Qwaqwa Campus has grown in just a few years into one of South Africa’s leading global change centres, addressing pressing environmental and social challenges while training the next generation of researchers.
Today, 43 students, including honours, master’s, PhD candidates, and two postdoctoral fellows, are actively involved in CGC-linked projects. This makes the UFS CGC the largest student cohort across all five centres for global change in South Africa. Coming mostly from The Humanities, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, and the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, CGC-students are found on the Qwaqwa and Bloemfontein Campuses, giving life to the university’s multi-campus model.
According to Prof Patricks Otomo, Director of the CGC, staff has also expanded significantly. What began with only two employees has grown to a team of seven.
Research linked to community needs
Prof Otomo explains that it was a deliberate choice to make community engagement central to every student project supported by the centre. The idea is to ensure that research is actionable and impactful. Likewise, all centre-led or community-led projects must include a strong research component, since the CGC is first and foremost a research hub.
Mycofiltration for clean water, led by Dr Sanele Mnkandla, is one such project. It uses thatching straw and the common oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, to filter harmful chemicals from contaminated water in both laboratory and field trials. In time, an upscaled version of the mycofilter will be applied to rainwater harvesting in local communities. The research has already been published in leading journals and presented at conferences across South Africa, Europe, and Africa.
The interplay between transport and student success is another key focus area. This project, led by Dr Sello Sele in partnership with Prof Jiwnath Ghimire from Iowa State University (USA), investigates the transport challenges faced by non-resident students on the Qwaqwa Campus. Using the transport-related social exclusion framework, it shows how access to safe, reliable, and affordable transport affects academic performance and well-being. Insights drawn from students’ lived experiences will be used to design more inclusive and supportive solutions.
In another project with Prof Ghimire, Dr Katlego Mashiane is guiding research that uses satellite imagery and GIS tools to assess water quality in mountainous river systems. By comparing image-based analysis with physical samples, the project aims to refine remote sensing technologies to create sustainable and cost-effective water monitoring methods, reducing the need for traditional field testing.
The Green Steps Initiative adds an energy focus to the CGC’s portfolio. In partnership with Green X Engineering (a Stellenbosch University business research hub company), smart meters were recently installed in three local schools to track the schools’ energy use in real time. The data enables schools to cut electricity costs, boost efficiency, and reduce their carbon footprint through sustainable interventions. Some high schoolers joined the Green X Engineering team during the smart meter installation process, making the project both educational and practical.
Projects making a difference
The project, Brushstrokes of the Eastern Free State, examines how rural visual artists in the Thabo Mofutsanyana district use art to interpret and respond to social challenges. This initiative will culminate in an exhibition at the Nelson Mandela Hall on the Qwaqwa Campus in October, offering a platform to showcase local creativity and resilience.
From water filtration and transport to art and energy efficiency, the Centre for Global Change demonstrates how research rooted in community needs can be both innovative and impactful, leading to lasting change.