UFS E-Engaged Scholarship Podcasts: Recent Episodes
KovsieFM
The COVID-19 pandemic is attacking societies at their core, claiming lives and people’s livelihoods. The Directorate Community Engagement at the University of the Free State, as a caring institution, will assist communities to overcome the challenges brought about by the lockdown on their lives and families, through the application of E-Engaged Scholarship.
E-Community Engagement refers to an alternative online/virtual community engagement platform aimed at facilitating greater participation, dialogue and training by university staff as well as students in partnership with other role-players to encourage citizens to take active part in developing their own lives and their communities
The Directorate and their partners will in line with their new strategy share virtual training programmes with communities to address the effects of lockdown on their lives and businesses.
In this podcast, we introduce the power of loving-kindness meditation and gratitude reflections, aiming to foster positive emotional states and compassion towards oneself and others. Through simple yet impactful word repetition techniques, educators are encouraged to cultivate mindfulness, empathy, and self-care in their daily routines. Engaged Scholarship Website
This episode guides listeners through a body scan meditation, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and grounding through breath awareness. Designed to reduce stress and promote relaxation, these exercises are ideal for educators seeking to enhance their emotional well-being and focus during challenging times. Engaged Scholarship Website
This podcast highlights the significance of self-compassion and acts of kindness, particularly for educators working in stressful environments. It draws on Dr. Kristen Neff’s concepts of self-compassion and common humanity, encouraging listeners to treat themselves with the same kindness they offer others. By fostering empathy and mutual support, the episode encourages listeners to prioritize their well-being, creating a more compassionate and collaborative work culture. Engaged Scholarship Website
This podcast emphasises the importance of recognizing and utilising personal strengths to navigate challenges, especially in educational settings. The hosts explore how shifting focus from deficiencies to inherent strengths can enhance motivation, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. This episode aims to empower educators to overcome stress and maintain a positive work environment. Engaged Scholarship Website
If you can just think about it for a second, learning how to support each other through hard times is one of the most important things we can do as human beings. The role of university partnerships have been extremely crucial in South Africa for addressing issues such as social inequality, overcoming the past injustices, and promoting health & well-being for students, and communities at large. And as higher education has become more mainstream, so have the concerns about the increased need for mental health and well-being of students and questions about universities' ability to provide students with top-notch support. Ultimately, students' mental health may suffer, and this may affect all aspects of their well-being.
What are we saying here exactly? Let's find out. Mental Health Services Podcast Script[42].pdf — PDF (77.9 KB)
In the final episode, we wrap up the conversation by unpacking the journey to finding meaning in a career. We discuss our own journeys in pursuit of purpose and the importance of meaning in motivation and legacy creation. Episode 3 full transcript.pdf — PDF (104.2 KB)
Do you ever wonder who you are? What makes you and the person that you are? What moves? Excites? And inspires you. These questions are important when you have to choose a career choice. A career choice that fills your interests and ignites your imagination. While these answers, we could find them today or not. Please stay tuned. In today's episode we are going to talk about everything career choices. Well, we were supposed to be joined in studio today by a guru, a navigator and the career department of the University of the Free State. But unfortunately she couldn't make it today, but we have all the answers that you guys want. Episode 1- Introduction to career decision making.pdf — PDF (79.3 KB)
So are you on the verge of completing your degree, leaving university, or starting your career? If that is you, then here are some important things that you need to think about. Firstly, do you have a resume and why is it important to have a good resume? Firstly, it's your private it's your primary market tool, it speaks volumes about you and it will be the very first thing your future employer sees about you. There are numerous resume-creating platforms on the Internet available that you can use for free. Let's hear from one of our presenters. Has anyone of you used a CV-creating platform and how has that worked for you? Episode 2 Career preparation and management (1)[63].pdf — PDF (68.3 KB)
Working at a school is a stressful occupation, therefore it is important that the staff at schools practice self-care. How do you personally think you can practice caring for yourself?
Being kind to oneself could allow you to manage your stress as well as maintain a more relaxed state of mind. PSHC PODCAST TRANSCRIPT- Group 2.pdf — PDF (1.0 MB)
This podcast focuses on two strategies. The first one involves how to have effective communication skills for better communication between you and your colleagues and the second one focuses on how you can be mindful during conflict as well as how to show self-regulate skills during conflict. We hope this information will be useful and effective to you. Please lend your ears to us as we unpack these interventions.
Presented by Elam Maso, Eden-Lee Mohr, Maleshoane Mapane, Felicia Sibambo, Konaye Masiba and Rihani Lombard.
. Group 3 podcast with Karen Venter edits.pdf — PDF (757.0 KB)
We all have dreams, career goals and life goals, but sometimes it can be difficult to devise a plan to reach these goals and dreams. Academic advising helps students to clarify their goals and helps them to develop a clear educational plan to achieve these goals. But that is not all that there is to the service at the UFS. Academic advising also helps with learning strategies, time management, revision planning, exam preparation, university transitions, and goal setting! Academic Advising Podcast script.pdf — PDF (43.1 KB)
A recent survey that was conducted stated that most students worry about money. The majority of students are struggling to make ends meet or live on a tight month-to-month budget. It is even more unsettling to realise how financial stress impacts their day-to-day lives. As a direct consequence of this, some students have reported having mental health problems.
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In today’s episode I am going to share with you 7 useful tips and tricks on how you can break bad spending habits so that you can use your money wisely!
I came across a quote by the late James W. Frick. who was known for giving great financial advice, and it says, “Don’t tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money and I’ll tell you what they are.” Spending patterns and compiling a budget.pdf — PDF (137.2 KB)
Everyone invests in some way, shape or form. From the savvy stockbroker to the person who is forced to skip a meal here and there because they run out of money before their next paycheck, everyone invests their time, effort and attention into the things they find important. The individuals who spend hours upon hours training for their next marathon are investing in their health. You attending classes in the hopes that your university degree will assist you in getting a better job is you investing in your career. Numerous other examples can be made of the different forms of investing for different goals, but all of them share a common purpose: to provide for the future Investing and retirement (1).pdf — PDF (84.2 KB)
Smoking is one of the risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Over 8 million deaths result from tobacco use every year, and it is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths worldwide. In 2020, a South African study found that the highest onset of smoking was between the ages of 15 and 22, however, there were some who began as early as 9 years old. Since their introduction in 2007, E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, have continuously become popular over the years, leading some to debate whether vaping is the safer option compared to smoking tobacco. However, both the use of tobacco and e-cigarettes is associated with an increased risk for heart attack, stroke and coronary heart disease.
Ashleigh Nothando Mwendauya, a Physiology Honours student at the University of the Free State, is here to talk about smoking and vaping, and also raise awareness to the increased risk of developing cardiovascular challenges. KovsieFM podcast (1) (1)[72].pdf — PDF (30.2 KB)
October is breast cancer awareness month, and this podcast episode will help raise awareness and break the stigma around breast cancer by educating the general public on the signs and symptoms, risk factors, and treatment of this disease. This episode will shed some light on important information regarding the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst South-African women, and ways in which we can combat this deadly but treatable disease.
Welcome to KovsieCAST, podcasts that are designed to make you achieve academic success. This is brought to you by KovsieFM, a division of the University of The Free State student affairs in partnership with the center of teaching and learning. Today we are talking to Jessica van Onselen about breast cancer. Jessica is currently a student at the University of The Free State, Bloemfontein campus, where she is completing her Honours degree in Medical Physiology at the Department of Basic Medical Sciences. October is breast cancer awareness month and what better way to raise awareness than to actively discuss breast cancer, as well as answer some common questions the public might have. KovsieFM Breast cancer.pdf — PDF (105.3 KB)
High alcohol consumption is a problem in South Africa, as recently highlighted by the pandemic and related violence. Over the past 18 months of the nationwide lockdown, the sale and distribution of alcohol were prohibited in levels 4 and 5. As a result, many South Africans responded erratically, as looting of alcohol outlets took place, and others even resorted to brewing home-made beer and other alcohol by-products in the comfort of their homes. This response highlighted the strong dependence on alcohol in the South African population. In fact, online alcohol sales increased during this pandemic-induced lockdown, even if it meant that the purchased alcohol would only be released in levels 1-3. For more information about how to deal with FADS · For support with alcohol problems · The harmful effects of excessive alcohol consumption ( alcohol abuse) amongst South Africans Podcast [47].pdf — PDF (137.8 KB)
Izelle van Tonder, a Masters' student at the University of the Free State Department of Psychology talks about procrastination and explains how you can combat it.
In this podcast, three Masters' students from the University of the Free State Department of Psychology talks about strategies students can use to cope with the new normal.
We live in a fast-paced, performance-driven society that is characterized by working long hours and enduring constant stress. Do you feel like you are constantly on the go? Without time to just stop, take a breath and rest? Like you’ve become too tired to properly enjoy the things that used to make you feel happy? It sounds like you’ve been running on an empty tank lately, and it might be time for you to refuel.
But the Covid-19 pandemic hasn’t really made life any easier for you, has it? On the contrary, as a teacher, it seems your stressors have increased threefold. Because it’s not just about you – it’s about your kids that you teach too. They rely on you, and you love them – you do – but this job, coupled with the pandemic’s restrictions, is draining you.
Reinhardt Rall, a Psychology Honours student at the University of the Free State talks about mindfulness and burnout. The podcast will be focusing on how to prevent burnout. We believe that the most valuable gift you can give yourself is being present in the moment. This entails allowing yourself to take a breath and regain the positive energy needed to function on a healthy psychological- and physical level. You might even notice the positive atmosphere it creates for those around you. The aim of this podcast is to encourage incorporating mindfulness, which is focusing your awareness on the present moment while calmly acknowledging and accepting your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations in your everyday life. Becoming mindful will assist you with previously existing and added strains because of the Covid-19 pandemic. And the place to start your journey towards mindfulness is right here.
Last year was a difficult year, especially for teachers such as yourselves. The pressure to continue to perform and to do your jobs to the best of your abilities was severely impacted by the corona virus. The effects can still be felt across South Africa to this day. Teachers are some of the most important people in South Africa. You are responsible for teaching our next generation and the neurologically impaired children at Lettie Fouche School are some of the most vulnerable members of our society, especially given the COVID 19 context. It is stressful under normal circumstances, but we can only imagine what you have been through the last year and a half. We would like to offer some helpful insight into the stress you have experienced and suggest some simple, fun strategies to help you cope with stress better in the future. You may not always be aware of the amount of stress you experience but we realise how difficult your situation as teachers of vulnerable children has been during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is for this reason that we have put care and love into developing this podcast to provide you with a little bit of extra support.
Diego Rex, a psychology masters’ student at the UFS Department of Psychology talks about how students can cope academically during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When life gives you lemons, make some lemonade! Shoki, together with her fellow colleagues Francois and Mpho, psychology masters’ students at the UFS Department of Psychology talks about how students can adjust during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lerato Kokome a fourth year nursing student of the University of Free State talks about post-partum bleeding.
Nyalleng Mollo from the University of Free State at the School of Nursing doing fourth year. She talks about the importance of immunisations.
Mofumahadi Tsoene talks about the care of the perineum after birth. It is a topic that nurses never focus too much on and women ends up complicating due to lack of information. So my group and I found it so important to educate women more on it to prevent more complications in future.
Today we are speaking with Ms Melani T, a student Specialist Midwife from school of nursing at the UFS about the care of the c-section wound.
In this podcast we will focus on the treatment of a baby’s bum. A baby’s bum needs to be protected from becoming red and sore. This happens when your baby spends too much time a wet or dirty nappy. The red rash can become much worse and cause open sores on your baby’s bum. A happy baby bum will lead to a happy baby.
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a new born is the characteristic smell of a baby and their soft skin. Their skin goes through a lot of change after birth and to keep their soft and flawless skin may cause a great deal of stress on mothers or caregivers of babies. It is not uncommon for babies to develop some form of rash or skin irritation during this time of change. The skin is the largest organ of the body and takes 24 months to fully develop (Dove, 2019: Online). During this radio talk we hope to answer all questions that mothers or caregivers of infants might have with regards to: What that white layer is my baby is born with and why I should leave it on; how a babies’ skin differs from an adult’s skin & problems that may arise such as nappy rash, the signs and symptoms thereof and how to manage it.
A baby is blessing, gift from heaven above, a precious little angel to cherish and to love, but it does not always feel like a blessing to everyone due to different challenges that the mothers can have in their lives. Post-partum depression is real and it does not chose whether you are a new mother or a mother of 3, it can happen at any stage. In the discussion we will be focusing on the signs, causes, risks and among others the treatment.
We are going to address danger/warning signs during and post pregnancy that woman who are pregnant or have given birth already should be in the lookout for. And the community at large to be able to give each other informed advice and woman to be able to seek medical help as early as possible to avoid complications. Presented by: Hlakotsa Seipati, A Specialist midwife student from the school of Nursing at UFS/kovsie. Am with 4th years nursing stundents from kovsie also who are Nthati Moshe, Lucy Kujoana, Meghan Langley and Gretha Olivier
The aim of this podcast is to inform people about a very common sign found in newborns, called jaundice. Jaundice is the medical term for a baby that appears yellow. The following will be discussed: what jaundice is, what to look out for, how it is treated and how it can be prevented. Sesotho Script group 1.pdf — PDF (18.0 KB)
Three student psychologists will look at a few concepts including helplessness, meaning-making and context. This will then be made more practical by applying them to the COVID-19 pandemic. After this, they address how meaning can be found in these uncertain times using Viktor Frankl’s three sources of meaning. These ideas are just a few examples of how you can bring more meaning into your own life.
Ndifelani Murida on behalf of her group Siyanda Mhlom, Sinegugu Zungu and Monique Basson, student psychologists from UFS Department of Psychology, shares some thoughts on grief and self-compassion during COVID-19. (Transcription attached) Grief and self-compassion Transcription.pdf — PDF (47.4 KB)
Three student psychologists from UFS compiled and will be speaking about Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the Covid-19 pandemic. This podcast will be specifically zooming in on the psychological impacts of GBV on women and girls, the underlying factors that are believed to lead men to abuse women and young girls by looking at these factors from an individual, family, community, societal, and chronosystem perspective. It also addresses some of the practical strategies to mitigate GBV and finally, tips for men on how to deal with frustration and conflict during lockdown and future that may serve to prevent GBV even further and promote women’s wellbeing. (Transcription included). GBV Podcast Transcription.pdf — PDF (189.9 KB)
Three student psychologists from the UFS Department of Psychology delve into dealing with stress during COVID-19. The podcast will look at how stress affects us, why it is worse during COVID-19 and how we can deal with it and help others deal with stress.