how to secure a top national finish and reach the continental stage in essay competitions

Vhahangwele Belemu, a first-year doctoral candidate in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Venda, has earned national recognition by securing third place in the 2025/2026 African Organisation for Standardisation Essay Competition, advancing to the continental stage. The South African Bureau of Standards hosted the event on 5 May 2026.

Introduction

Ms. Vhahangwele Belemu, a first-year doctoral candidate at UNIVEN, has been honoured as one of South Africa’s leading young intellectuals after achieving third place in the ARSO Essay Competition and moving forward to the continental round. The event was hosted by SABS on 5 May 2026.

Detailed list

• Place of event: South Africa, hosted by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).
• Name and role of participant: Vhahangwele Belemu, first-year doctoral candidate in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda (UNIVEN).
• Competition: African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) Essay Competition, 2025/2026 cycle.
• Recognition: Secured third place nationally, advancing to the continental stage.
• Source and coverage: Report provided by the University of Venda.
• Related links: UNIVEN news page and ARSO competition details linked below.

Simple well written article

Ms Belemu’s achievement marks a notable milestone for UNIVEN and its students, highlighting the university’s commitment to encouraging research, innovation and participation in continental fora. The ARSO Essay Competition gathers entries from young scholars across Africa who explore standards, quality, and the role of standardisation in development. Belemu’s success and progression to the continental stage demonstrate her strong grasp of economic and agribusiness issues within the African context, as well as her ability to articulate evidence-based arguments clearly and persuasively.

The community benefits from such recognition as it raises the profile of UNIVEN’s research culture and inspires fellow students to engage in scholarly activities beyond the campus. It also reinforces the importance of standardisation as a driver of quality and trade, topics that resonate with local farmers, small businesses, and regional industries seeking to compete on the global stage. Community participation can grow through outreach talks, student-led seminars, and collaborative projects that apply standardisation principles to local problems, such as agricultural supply chains, food safety, and product quality assurance.

To stay engaged with UNIVEN’s latest news and opportunities, readers can visit the university’s news pages and the specific ARSO competition feature. Stay updated with more UNIVEN News and other campus stories by following the provided links.

Source: https://www.univen.ac.za/news/vhahangwele-belemu-secures-3rd-position-in-national-arso-essay-competition-advances-to-continental-stage/

More UNIVEN News: https://www.univen.ac.za/news/