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19 March 2019 | Story Dr Cinde Greyling
Dr Mutana and Prof Mukwada
Many people enjoy spending time in the mountainous Drakensberg region. Prof Geofrey Mukwada’s involvement with the UFS Afromontane Research Unit (ARU) sparked an interest in sustainable tourism in the area. Pictured here are Dr Sarudzai Mutana with Prof Mukwada.

Not only is the Qwaqwa Campus situated in a beautiful region – its researchers also contribute to keeping the area pristine. Recent research by Prof Geofrey Mukwada and his PhD student, Dr Sarudzai Mutana, focused on indicators monitoring sustainable tourism development in the Drakensberg region.

Dr Mukwada is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography on the University of the Free State (UFS) Qwaqwa Campus. 

Our majestic mountains are fragile

Many people enjoy spending time in the mountainous Drakensberg region – either as adventure seekers exploring the many trails, or just relaxing and reconnecting with nature. Prof Mukwada’s involvement with the UFS Afromontane Research Unit (ARU) sparked an interest in sustainable tourism in the area. “Mountains are fragile but attractive environments which continue to attract tourists,” he said. “Tourism is one of the major business sectors in the Drakensberg region, with promising growth opportunities and proving to be an anchor of green economy in the future – if practiced correctly.” Unfortunately, the issue of monitoring sustainable tourism has not been widely researched in African mountains. 

According to international standards

“We specifically looked at the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC), which is an international best-practice framework to help destinations monitor and ensure that tourism is developed in a responsible manner,” Prof Mukwada explained. “South Africa’s Manual for Responsible Tourism was designed according to some of the recommendations of the GSTC. But we found that, while the tourism and hospitality operators in the Drakensberg region appreciates the need to monitor and ensure sustainable tourism in the area, there is limited use of indicators as a tool for monitoring.” 

Forward together

There are competing demands between land-use and development practices and alternatives in the region – unless the focus shifts to sustainable practices, the short-term gains could be followed by dire consequences. “We suggest an integrated monitoring of tourism development, with a pro-poor focus that involves more local community leaders. Going forward, we would like to see the industry adopt the indicators proposed in our study.”

News Archive

Kovsies first with Clinical Skills Centre for the allied health professions
2011-10-27

 

First Clinical Skills Centre in South Africa on our Bloemfontein Campus
Photo: Rian Horn

The School for Allied Health Professions within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently opened the first Clinical Skills Centre for the allied health professions in South Africa.

The multifunctional centre will be used for the practical training of undergraduate students in the allied health professions, which include occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dietetics and optometry.

The concept for the Clinical Skills Centre was the brainchild of the Head of the School for Allied Health, Dr Santie van Vuuren. According to Dr Van Vuuren, the Clinical Skills Centre not only addresses specific needs within the South African context, but also fits in with the current curriculum of the programmes within the School for Allied Health. She says the Centre is a symbol of quality and excellence in the training of undergraduate students.

The Clinical Skills Centre was designed in such a way that it can be converted into one or more lecture halls. It boasts the latest technology such as interactive computer screens which can be used for lectures. Most of the equipment students will use during their practical training is on wheels and can be used between different classes. The centre also has a stair lift attached to a banister to transport disabled people from one floor to another in his/her wheelchair.
 

Media Release
27 October 2011
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

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