The University of the Free State (UFS) recently took a significant step in expanding its student recruitment footprint by hosting its first Gauteng Open Day, bringing the UFS experience directly to prospective students, parents, educators, and guidance counsellors in the province.

The event attracted close to 1 000 visitors throughout the day, highlighting strong interest in the university from one of its key feeder regions.

Bringing the UFS experience closer to prospective students

According to Nomonde Mbadi, Director of Student Recruitment Services, Gauteng has consistently been one of the UFS' strongest feeder provinces for undergraduate enrolments, making it a strategic location for the university's first open day outside the Free State.

"Gauteng has consistently been one of the University of the Free State's strongest feeder provinces for undergraduate enrolments. As a regionally engaged university, we recognised the need to bring the UFS experience closer to prospective students, parents, and educators who may not always have the opportunity to attend our Open Day in Bloemfontein," said Mbadi.

Invitations were extended to schools across the region, representing a broad range of quintile categories, with the aim of ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for learners from diverse educational and socio-economic backgrounds.

Exceptional turnout and engagement

The Gauteng Open Day exceeded expectations, with approximately 500 to 600 visitors engaging with the university within the first two hours of the event. Attendance remained steady throughout the day, resulting in an estimated overall turnout of close to 1 000 visitors.

Mbadi described the level of engagement from prospective students and their families as exceptional. Due to the large number of attendees, the university adopted a presentation-based approach to undergraduate programme information sessions, allowing visitors to receive comprehensive information while still providing opportunities for questions and discussion.

"The turnout and level of engagement far exceeded our expectations. I was genuinely amazed by the enthusiasm shown by prospective students and their families, and it was incredibly encouraging to see such strong interest in the University of the Free State," she said.

Strengthening recruitment beyond the Free State

As a student-centred institution with a regional and international outlook, the UFS views initiatives such as the Gauteng Open Day as an important way of strengthening relationships with prospective students across South Africa.

The strong attendance and engagement levels confirmed the value of extending the university's recruitment efforts beyond the borders of the Free State. Feedback gathered during the event also provides valuable insight into learner interests, programme demand, and the information prospective students require when making higher education decisions.

According to Mbadi, the positive response demonstrates significant interest in the UFS within Gauteng and reinforces the university's commitment to making higher education information more accessible.

Looking ahead

Following the success of the Gauteng Open Day, the university intends to continue hosting similar initiatives in the future. In addition to its annual Open Day in Bloemfontein, the UFS also hosts a smaller Open Day in Durban and aims to expand that event in the coming years.

The university is furthermore exploring opportunities to extend its Grade 9 Subject Choice Initiative to Gauteng and selected areas of KwaZulu-Natal later this year, providing learners with guidance on subject selections that align with their future academic and career aspirations.

Reflecting on the significance of the event, Mbadi said: "The overwhelming response to our first Gauteng Open Day confirms that the University of the Free State continues to resonate with prospective students and their families across South Africa."