01 July 2026
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Story Anthony Mthembu
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Photo Kaleidoscope Studios
Teaching and learning at the University of the Free State equips students with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to thrive in a changing world.
According to
Vukona Baloyi, Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC): Academics at the UFS, part of what makes the institution’s teaching and learning offering unique is its ability to prepare students for the socio-economic challenges they might encounter. Baloyi explained that this is done by cultivating a strong sense of consciousness and accountability. “Students are challenged to engage with issues such as inequality, access to education, and economic participation, while also being equipped with practical skills to address these challenges. This balance between intellectual development and social awareness ensures that graduates are both capable and responsive,” he said.
Prof Anthea Rhoda, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, and
Prof Francois Strydom, Senior Director of CTL, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the UFS has an evidence-based approach to the development and integration of graduate attributes into the curriculum; these attributes are aligned with the expectation of today’s employers.
A key area that distinguishes the UFS’ teaching and learning offering is its embedding of the responsible societal futures framework into said offering. According to Prof Strydom, in practice this includes “real-world examples being incorporated into the content of what is presented in modules, as well as access to practical and service-learning opportunities that allow students an opportunity to address challenges facing society”.
Therefore, Baloyi explained that this approach creates a learning environment where students are not only consumers of knowledge, but active participants in shaping solutions within their communities.
The Curriculum Renewal Programme (CRP) can also be attributed as one of the initiatives that allow for the successful implementation of the RSF. In fact, Prof Strydom highlighted that the programme empowers academics with a cutting-edge approach to teaching and learning and enables staff to address challenges such as student engagement – and to create significant learning experiences that integrate societal and future challenges. According to Baloyi, it is through this holistic approach that UFS graduates are not only academically competent, but also socially responsible.