The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Centre for Graduate Support hosted its annual postgraduate welcoming on 27 March 2025 at the Callie Human Centre on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus, marking the first time the event was held at this venue. With close to 400 students in attendance, it was the largest turnout in the event’s history.

Tshepiso Mokoena from the Centre noted the exceptional attendance, saying the team had been both excited and nervous about hosting at a new venue. “We honestly didn’t expect such a turnout. At first, we were a little scared, but we’re so glad everything went smoothly. It just shows how eager postgraduate students are for information and the support available to them,” she said, adding that the response suggests even greater numbers in the future.

The event introduced students to the various resources available through the Centre, including academic writing support, research capacity development, funding opportunities, and professional development workshops. Staff members from several university departments and support structures were also present, including the Departments of Library and Information Services, Student Counselling and Development, Career Services, and Institutional Advancement (Alumni Office); the Postgraduate Student Council; and the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS).

Knowing your ‘why’

Guest speaker Prof Brownhilder Neneh, UFS Vice-Dean for Research Engagement and Internationalisation at the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, urged students to reflect on the motivation behind their postgraduate studies.

“Your ‘why’ will push you forward when exhaustion tells you to stop. It will pull you out of discouragement when obstacles arise,” she said, adding that, for some, postgraduate study is about career advancement, while for others it is driven by family encouragement or the pursuit of personal fulfilment.

She also highlighted the importance of adaptability in a constantly evolving world. “Many of the jobs you will hold in the future haven’t even been invented yet. The skills that got someone promoted last year may be obsolete next year. You must constantly learn, unlearn, and relearn to stay ahead.” 

Stepping into a new chapter

Esona Sishuba, an honours student in marketing, said stepping into postgraduate studies represents a shift toward personal ambition. “My family encouraged me to do my [undergraduate degree], but pursuing my honours is a ‘me thing’,” she said. “I’m excited because I’m doing something I’m passionate about.”

She noted that the transition had not been as overwhelming as she had expected. “I knew things were going to be different, so it wasn’t a shock. I’ve realised that I now need to be a proactive student rather than a reactive one.”

Reba Teboho, a 31-year-old PhD student in sociology, described postgraduate study as an entirely different challenge. “PhD is on another level – another level of thinking, of writing, of even conducting yourself,” he said, before stressing the need for discipline and adaptability, noting that postgraduate studies often require students to adjust their social lives. “You have to communicate to the people around you that things are different now. You’re not going to be as available, because your focus is on your research.”