In a remarkable accomplishment, Vickey de Villiers, a master's student from #MyNWU's Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, has brought honor and recognition to our local community.
She has clinched the prestigious 2022 Founder's Medal from the Economic Society of South Africa, an accolade that acknowledges the best master's research paper across all South African universities.
Sights on PHD
For Vickey, her journey towards completing her master's degree was undoubtedly a significant milestone. However, her recent achievement in winning the Founder's Medal has transcended her wildest dreams.
The recognition and accolades have not only filled her with gratitude but have also ignited a new sense of passion and determination. Vickey now stands even more resolute in her academic pursuits, with her sights set on an upcoming PhD proposal.
Diving Deep into Informal Street Traders' World
One of the standout aspects of Vickey's research during her master's journey was her deep exploration into the challenges and opportunities faced by informal street traders in the heart of Cape Town's Central Business District (CBD).
Her study, characterized by thorough investigation and meticulous analysis, cast a spotlight on the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns on the quest for sustainability among these traders.
Streetsmart Entrepreneurs
In a time when the pandemic brought unprecedented challenges and disruptions to economies and livelihoods, Vickey's research provided valuable insights into the resilience and adaptability of Cape Town's informal street traders. Her work sheds light on the strategies they employed to navigate through the tumultuous times, offering a glimpse into the ways these individuals strived to maintain their businesses and livelihoods amid adversity.
Vickey's research stands as a testament to her dedication and commitment to understanding the intricacies of economic challenges in our local context. Her findings are not only a source of pride for her university but also serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, economists, and anyone interested in the resilience of small-scale entrepreneurs in the face of adversity.
Promising Future
As Vickey de Villiers basks in the glory of her remarkable achievement, our local community can take pride in nurturing such talent and determination. Her success story is a testament to the potential that lies within our youth and the educational institutions that support them.
Vickey's aspirations do not end here; her victory has fueled her drive to contribute more to the field of economic research. As she embarks on her journey towards a PhD, we can expect more groundbreaking insights and contributions that will undoubtedly benefit our community and beyond.
Congratulations Vickey
Let us extend our heartiest congratulations to Vickey de Villiers for her incredible achievement in winning the 2022 Founder's Medal. Her dedication, hard work, and resilience are an inspiration to us all, and we eagerly await her future endeavors in the realm of economic research.
About The Founders’ Medals
The Founders’ Medals were instituted to commemorate the work of Professor HES Freemantle, Professor RA Lehfeldt and Mr CW Pearsall, through whose efforts the Economic Society of South Africa was founded in 1925.
The purpose of the awards is to encourage research in the field of economics in South Africa and to recognise economic research of outstanding quality conducted at a South African university. All areas of economics are eligible.
An adjudicator (or adjudicating panel) is appointed annually by the Council of the Society. The adjudicator’s reports and recommendations are submitted to the Council, who awards the medals.
Article Origin
This article was first reported by NWU Newsteam by Mafumane Tlhapi
Mafumane is a creative and a driven writer from the Department of Corporate Communications in the Mahikeng Campus with at least four years of experience in story writing. She holds a Bachelor of Art in Communication Degree. She’s seeking to leverage skills and more experience to contribute to high quality journalism in the North-West University.
She strives to go beyond the norm and contribute to the best of her ability in whatever activity challenge or routine workload encountered in order to develop and optimise her knowledge base, skills and experience acquired to help further primary objectives of her current and prospective employer. She enjoys writing entertainment and human-interest related stories. Developed interviewing and pitching story ideas.
Contact Mafumane: Mafumane.Tlhapi@nwu.ac.za
