---

For prospective students, choosing a university often begins with questions: Which programme is right for me? Do I qualify? Where will I live? What funding is available?

Prospective students and their families in Lesotho had the opportunity to ask those questions directly when the University of the Free State (UFS) hosted an Open Day in the country, bringing university representatives closer to the people considering the UFS as their next step.

The Open Day welcomed prospective undergraduate and postgraduate students, parents, teachers, and school leaders, with conversations ranging from admission requirements and academic programmes to accommodation, scholarships, financial assistance, and support for international students.

For Nomonde Mbadi, Director of Student Recruitment Services, being there in person mattered.

“Rather than expecting prospective students to come to us, we felt it was important to meet them where they are, engage directly with learners, parents, educators, and prospective postgraduate students,” she said.

Building on a long relationship with Lesotho

The Open Day did not mark the beginning of UFS engagement in Lesotho. For more than a decade, the university has been visiting schools and engaging prospective students in the country, and Basotho students have continued to choose the UFS for their studies.

The dedicated Open Day created more space for those conversations.

Instead of prospective students having to navigate programme choices, admission requirements, and university processes from a distance, they could speak directly to representatives from the Division of Student Relations and faculty marketers.

“Ultimately, we wanted to remove uncertainty from the university application process and demonstrate the opportunities available at the UFS,” Mbadi said.

The response showed the value of that direct contact. According to Mbadi, attendance exceeded expectations, not only in numbers but also in the level of engagement from prospective students, families, and educators.

“The high level of interaction reaffirmed the value of bringing the university directly to prospective students in Lesotho,” she said.

From an Open Day to a longer relationship

The real measure of the initiative will come after the event: in the applications that follow, students who eventually register, and relationships with schools that continue to grow.

The UFS plans to continue its engagement in Lesotho through future Open Days and recruitment initiatives.

“Our aim is to build long-term relationships rather than one-off engagements,” Mbadi said.

That longer view is significant. Access to higher education begins well before a student arrives on campus. It can start with having reliable information, knowing what questions to ask, and being able to speak to someone who can help make an unfamiliar process clearer.

By taking those conversations directly to prospective students in Lesotho, the UFS is building on a relationship that already crosses borders – and helping more students make informed decisions about what their future could look like.