The year 2020 was consumed by unfamiliarity and heightened uncertainty, as it was a year ago that the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in South Africa. This year will test our resilience but we have our eyes firmly set on the far horizon to ensure
that we bestow an institution on the next generation that is different from the past, equally impressive – a place whose very essence is found in perpetual renewal.
2021 is a year for re-imagining what is possible, and doing it.
This was the message on Friday 5 March from Prof Francis Petersen,
Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), to staff at the official opening of the university. The event was held virtually because of COVID-19 regulations.
A moment of pause to remember lost loved ones
Prof Petersen started by expressing his heartfelt condolences to those staff and students who have lost loved ones to COVID-19. “We have also lost staff members through the pandemic – it always has an impact if someone in our community or
extended community experiences such trauma – a moment of pause to remember them,” said Prof Petersen.
He continued: “The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that no institution or individual can take on the economic, environmental, social, and technological challenges of our world on their own. But the pandemic also provided an opportunity for us to rethink
and re-imagine higher education and the University of the Free State, in order to contribute to a more inclusive, cohesive, fairer, and sustainable future.”
Remote education a steep learning curve for many institutions
According to Prof Petersen there is always a moment of reflection at the beginning of the year – a reflection on the past year (2020) – although we know it was an immensely challenging year, it allows us to set the scene for the new year (2021).
“While higher education has increasingly embraced online education over the past decade, the sudden pivot to remote education has been a steep learning curve for many institutions and their faculty members.
“I believe as a university, with the able support of the
Centre for Teaching and Learning and
the commitment of our staff (academic and support), the University of the Free State has done very well. With our goal of completing the 2020 academic year and not leaving any student behind in doing so, we were mainly driven by the Teaching and Learning
portfolio.
Prof Petersen concluded by assuring staff members that the UFS will continue with engagement in a sphere of respect and tolerance for different views – focusing on fairness and social justice.
“We must always remember: the UFS exists through its staff and students, and we should never let one of them feel neglected or not being heard. Your safety and well-being remain our Number One priority,” said Prof Petersen.
WATCH: Recoding of the 2021 Official Opening here: