When I joined the University in 2017, I took time, with intentionality, to get to know the people who make up this great University. Through this engagement, I’ve learnt that UFS is full of dynamic and interesting individuals - colleagues, academics, students, partners, and alumni.
I am proud to be part of UFS and humbled by the privilege of leading it.
Our country is a melting pot filled with complexities; some especially evident in higher education. UFS expresses these complexities as a society-focused institution. We play a transformative role in students’ lives, through engaged scholarship, and research. We are adamant that our research must improve lives in surrounding communities and beyond. Innovation, sustainability, and the conservation of natural resources are key tenets of how we do the work of our University. We protect and advocate for human rights inside and outside the halls of learning. It is my strong belief that without this perspective, higher education in South Africa becomes unfocused and even irrelevant. My vision as Vice-Chancellor is to lead the cause of relevance and betterment from higher learning for all in society.
Access to quality education is thus a critical issue, and UFS has gained an enviable reputation as one of the best-value institutions based on cost, academic quality, and graduation rates. We will build on that strength. UFS’s Vision 130 is a strategic intent charting a course to 2034 as a repositioned University with vitality and relevance. It lays a bold foundation for responding to the global and national poly-crisis – unemployment, inequality, poverty, climate change, food insecurity and political instability.
Vision 130 strives for:
• academic excellence, quality, and impact;
• maximum societal impact with sustainable relationships; and,
• diversity and inclusivity for an equitable University.
Quality education needs investment. Quality education and research need investment beyond what state funding can offer. To fulfil Vision 130, UFS seeks funding partnerships to expand higher education innovation, making us more globally competitive. Despite a punishing economic environment, we continue to invest in the University’s facilities, students, and staff, and in teaching, research, and innovative community projects to remain a university of choice for the brightest and the best.
We call on you to join us in making Vision 130 a practice, taking the University to a new level of brilliance. With you - alumni, donors, friends, and partners - we can invest in impactful initiatives that drive that vision. We are proud to present current and new initiatives as a showcase of our excellence. These projects represent the fullness of what we believe in as an institution of higher learning. It’s an expression of Vision 130 made real for people and places, sustainably. I pledge my commitment to lead UFS, and through Vision 130, to a bolder future. And I appeal to you to join us in that mission.
#KovsiesForever
Yours in education advancement,
Prof Francis Petersen.