15 November 2022
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Story Nonsindiso Qwabe
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Photo iflair photography
The new partnership between the department of Sociology on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus and Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg will benefit students, staff of the two institutions through virtual teaching exchanges.
The
UFS Department of Sociology on the Qwaqwa Campus has partnered with the
Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg (PHF) to take transcontinental learning experiences to the maximum impact level. Through a collaboration between the two institutions, students and staff members stand to benefit from a wide range of opportunities, including but not limited to teaching and learning exchanges in virtual classrooms for under- and postgraduate students, online seminars and colloquiums, and even staff and student exchanges.
On 31 October 2022, the department signed a memorandum of understanding with the German-based university and marked the occasion with an online ceremony.
Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS,
Prof Francis Petersen, and PHF Rector,
Prof Dr Hans-Georg Kotthoff, were both part of the ceremony and said that they were looking forward to seeing the collaboration come to fruition for the benefit of both campuses.
The collaboration an enabling environment for both institutions to shine
Prof Petersen said the UFS is geared towards increasing and improving internationalisation at different levels. Strengthening the newly formed relationship would maximise the probability of its success, Prof Petersen said. “MOUs are driven by academics, our role as the leadership is simply to provide an enabling environment for them to do their work. We are focused on increasing and improving internationalisation at different levels.”
Dr Divane Nzima, Subject Head: Sociology on the Qwaqwa Campus, Dr Khangelani Moyo, Senior Lecturer: Sociology, and Prof Albert Scherr, Professor of Sociology at PHF, played an instrumental role in initiating and solidifying the partnership between the two institutions. Prior to the signing, Prof Scherr was hosted by the Department of Sociology, where he gave guest lectures and was a critical reader in the Faculty of the Humanities writing retreat.