UFH Law student awarded prestigious Abe Bailey Travel Bursary

Luxolo Tomsana, a 22-year-old UFH final-year Law student has been selected for the prestigious Abe Bailey Travel Bursary.

Luxolo, along with a group of South African students and young academics selected for the bursary will travel to the United Kingdom in November where they will participate in a four-week educational tour hosted by the Goodenough College in London.

Established in terms of the will of Sir Abe Bailey who died in 1940, the travel bursaries funded by the Abe Bailey Trust is awarded annually to outstanding students and academics who are 25 years old or younger and have shown exceptional leadership qualities at their universities and within the community.

The bursary seeks to broaden the views of young South Africans and effect greater cooperation and understanding of different viewpoints and opinions among those with various language and cultural backgrounds and encourages leadership that demonstrates open debate and mutual respect for others.

It also seeks to enable outstanding South African students who show exceptional leadership and a strong service ethic to experience British culture and participate in an interactive programme, and examine its significance in the context of South African history.

The call for applicants was issued in May by the Deputy-Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Prof Renuka Vithal for eligible students and junior staff to apply.

Luxolo was among the eager students who responded to the call. Three applicants were shortlisted and after a rigorous interview and selection process, Luxolo was ranked first and was awarded the bursary in June.

Born and bred in Mpumalanga, Luxolo’s selection comes as no surprise as he has portrayed excellent leadership qualities as a student.

He currently serves as the Legal Researcher and Acting Chairperson of the UFH Moot Court Society.  He has participated in several international and national moot court competitions such as the Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot; the Jessup International Law Moot Court; the Nelson Mandela Human Rights Moot Court and the Kate O’ Regan Intervarsity Moot Court.

He also sits as a judge on the UFH Junior Moot Court for first and second-year Law students and facilitates moot court competitions for high school learners.

In addition, Luxolo is a Writing and Language Consultant at the UFH Teaching and Learning Centre. He was also awarded a certificate by the Student Council Unit’s mentorship programme.

He attributes his success to his Senior Lecturer, Dr Ntandokayise Ndlovu. “Dr Ndlovu is the reason I applied for this bursary. He always believed that I could go far and always reminded me that I have the right discipline and determination to go places.” 

Luxolo says he could not have chosen a better institution than UFH to pursue his law career. “UFH is a source of excellency. We are the present great minds here today and in the previous years, it were others who are now thriving in their careers. This University has produced Law graduates that are working at the Office of the Chief Justice and at several big law firms.”

He believes being awarded the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that holds the key to unlocking his full potential. “This opportunity will certainly broaden my horizons beyond imagination,” he said.

Congratulations Luxolo!