The University of the Free State (UFS) will confer a number of qualifications upon graduates at the upcoming graduation ceremonies on the Bloemfontein Campus from 9 to 11 December 2019. Four prominent guest speakers have been delegated the task of equipping them with esteemed advice to conquer the world of work.
South Campus (Open Distance Learning) graduates have the privilege of being addressed by Chief Director for Teaching and Learning Development in the Department of Higher Education in Science and Technology,
Dr Whitfield Green. Dr Green’s extensive experience in education, which includes teaching at a teacher training college and as university academic, led to his current position where he leads various aspects aimed at improving education at all levels of society.
World record holder in the T11 5 000 m,
Louzanne Coetzee, will be speaking to the audience at the graduation ceremonies for the faculties of the Humanities; Law; Theology and Religion; and Education. The 2018/2019 Sports Star of the Year was the first blind woman to run the T11 5 000 m in under 20 minutes and has since improved her time to 18 minutes.
David Noko, former Managing Director at De Beers Consolidated Mines and member of the UFS Council, has been reserved to address graduates from the faculties of Economic and Management Sciences, and Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Noko is an internationally renowned business leader who is presently the Non-Executive Director of African Rainbow Minerals and the Lead Adviser of his consultancy company, ESG Advisory Ltd.
Noko has earned numerous promotions in his career, culminating in his appointment as Managing Director and CEO of De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited (DBCM) in 2006. He also served as the Executive Vice-President of AngloGold Ashanti and was recently elected as a member of the UFS Council.
All master’s and PhD graduates, as well as graduates in the Faculty of Health Sciences, will be encouraged with words of wisdom from Judge in the Supreme Court of Appeal and Chancellor of the Central University of Technology (CUT), Justice Mahube Molemela.
Judge Molemela’s professional career peaked during her appointment as the first female Judge President of the Free State division of the High Court – the second female ever to be appointed in this capacity in South Africa.
For more information about the upcoming celebrations, visit the UFS graduation ceremonies page.
Graduates can read through the Bloemfontein Graduations: Preparing for Graduations ֪– Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), which contains the necessary information for graduates to note during the graduation processions.
Family and friends who are unable to attend your graduation ceremony can still watch you graduate through our
livestream link, which becomes active at
08:45 and
14:15 on the day of the ceremony.
Graduation Ceremonies Details:
9 Dec 2019
14:30: South Campus: Open Distance Learning
Certificates and diplomas
Graduations Programme: South Campus: Open Distance Learning
10 Dec 2019
09:00: Faculties of Education, the Humanities, Law and Theology and Religion
All certificates, diplomas, Bachelor’s degrees, and Honours degrees
Graduations Programme: Faculties of Education, The Humanities, Law, Theology and Religion
14:30: Faculties of Economic and Management Sciences and Natural and Agricultural Sciences
All certificates, diplomas, Bachelor’s degrees, and Honours degrees
Graduations Programme: Faculties of Economic and Management Sciences and Natural and Agricultural Sciences
11 Dec 2019
09:00: Faculty of Health Sciences
All certificates, diplomas, Bachelor’s degrees, and Honours degrees
Graduations Programme: Faculty of Health Sciences
14:30: All Faculties
Master's and doctoral qualifications
Graduations Programme: Master's and Doctoral Candidates in All Faculties