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Four postgraduate students from the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Qwaqwa Campus have been selected for an academic exchange programme in Germany, continuing a successful international partnership that is expanding global learning opportunities for students from the campus.

The students will participate in the programme from April to August 2026, as part of UFS’s broader internationalisation agenda led by the Directorate for International Partnerships and Relations. The exchange aims to strengthen research capacity, broaden academic exposure, and foster intercultural learning through collaboration with partner institutions in Germany.

According to Bulelwa Moikwatlhai, Assistant Director at Qwaqwa Campus, the exchange is significant not only for the students, but also for the campus and the communities it serves. “Sending four postgraduate students to Germany is a reflection and a milestone for our Qwaqwa Campus. It shows that talent nurtured in the Eastern Free State can hold its own on global platforms, and it reflects the value of the work our academics and support staff pour into these students every day. This opportunity increases the university’s visibility among international partners, opens doors for future research collaborations, and shows prospective students, especially those from rural and peri-urban communities, that globally competitive, outward-looking education is possible right here at Qwaqwa,” she said.

This year, Nnana Florence Mofokeng and Bongiwe Moloi will form the first cohort of UFS Qwaqwa students to attend Ludwigsburg University of Education, where they will be based from April to August 2026. The other two students, Senoge Galetlwaetlwe and Clementine S. Takob, will attend Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg (University of Education, Freiburg), where UFS students have participated in the programme annually since the start of the project.

The selected students represent diverse academic disciplines and research interests, including education, sustainability, environmental governance, and health systems. Their participation reflects UFS Qwaqwa’s commitment to developing graduates who are academically grounded, globally aware, and equipped to contribute meaningfully to both local and international contexts.

For many of the students, the exchange represents both an academic opportunity and a deeply personal milestone. Bongiwe Moloi, a master’s candidate in Mathematics Education, said the opportunity carries special significance as she will be the first in her family to travel abroad for academic purposes. “This opportunity means a lot to me because it opens doors I once thought were out of reach. It will not only strengthen my research, but also broaden my understanding of different education systems,” she said.

Clementine S. Takob, a PhD candidate in Sociology, described the exchange as both an honour and an affirmation of her academic journey as a young scholar. “Being selected for this opportunity is both an honour and an affirmation of my academic trajectory and potential as a young scholar. I am thankful to the University of the Free State and the Faculty of Humanities, Department of Sociology, whose meaningful partnerships have borne fruit, allowing many students like me to benefit from such valuable exchange opportunities,” she said.

Beyond the immediate academic benefits, the exchange demonstrates how UFS Qwaqwa Campus continues to create pathways for students to access life-changing international opportunities. As UFS strengthens its international footprint, initiatives such as this reinforce the role of sustained global partnerships in shaping graduates who are ready to lead, research, and contribute across borders.

The UFS Qwaqwa campus wishes the students great experience with their studies abroad

For more information on study abroad opportunities, contact Qwaqwa Campus oia.qwaqwa@ufs.ac.za  and Bloemfontein campus studyabroad@ufs.ac.za