The Directorate Research Development (DRD) at the University of the Free State (UFS) hosted another successful International postdoctoral day, celebrating the diversity of the institution’s cohort of postdoctoral fellows.
The significance of this annual event, now in its second year, is a celebration of cultural diversity and academic excellence that postdoctoral fellows add to the institution. The event took place on Friday (1 November 2024) in the Centenary Complex. The fellows introduced their cultural heritage to guests at the event through their culinary heritage, including music and dance.
According to Prof Vasu Reddy, UFS Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, the day is about celebrating the UFS’ postdoctoral fellows and their cultures. “Today is about getting to know each other, eating, and to say thank you to everyone. We want to say welcome to UFS to those of you have joined us recently and for those of you who joined is earlier, we hope you are enjoying your stay.
Valuable presence
“We have 190 postdoctoral fellows at the UFS. Your presence is really valuable and you contribute, not just importantly, to your own discipline, but to the ideas and diversity of the UFS. We have about 15 disciplines represented here today, from physics, medical physics, chemistry, linguistics, human rights, early childhood education, pharmacology and much more,” said Prof Reddy.
Mandy Jampies, postdoctoral fellow co-ordinator at DRD and event organiser, said the UFS boasts a global community of postdoctoral fellows and is proud to host these international students. The event is just one way in which the university wants to celebrate its postdoctoral fellows.
“Though we only hosted the International postdoctoral day last year for the first time, the event is already getting bigger with more fellows, hosts and other attendees wanting to participate. It is already a highlight on our calendar and we are looking forward to the next one,” she said.
One item that is special of the current cohort of postdoctoral fellows at the UFS, Prof Reddy said, is that they represent a diverse cohort of peoples, disciplines, cultures and identities and that is what enriches the UFS.
The postdoctoral fellows that took part in the day, represented countries such as Zambia, India, Nigeria, China, Iran, Zimbabwe, and Cameroon.
Dr Matin Naghizadeh, a postdoctoral fellow from Iran, as well as Seithati Ramonaheng from the UFS Office for International Affairs, commended the planning and coordination of the event.