The University of the Free State (UFS) officially unveiled the name of its new learning management system – UFS Learn – during a launch hosted by the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) on 12 May 2026 at its Bloemfontein Campus, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s digital transformation journey.

UFS Learn will replace Blackboard and serve as the University’s new digital learning environment to support innovative, accessible, and student-centred teaching and learning experiences. It is built on the D2L Brightspace platform, with implementation support provided by higher education technology partner Visions.

Speaking at the launch, Prof Anthea Rhoda, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, described the platform as a critical enabler of the institution’s strategic priorities and its vision of producing equitable, future-ready graduates. “UFS Learn is more than a name. It is our digital learning environment reimagined. It represents a shared vision for teaching and learning at the University of the Free State – one that is innovative, accessible, and designed for student success,” she said.

Enhancing the student learning experience

The platform is built to support what the University refers to as digitally enhanced, engaged, personalised learning, also known as deep learning. Through the new system, students and lecturers will benefit from more responsive and inclusive learning experiences, while also gaining access to enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities and new ways of delivering content and engaging in the classroom environment.

The transition from Blackboard to UFS Learn forms part of a broader institutional effort to rethink how teaching and learning take place at the University. Prof Rhoda emphasised that learning at the UFS extends beyond the transfer of knowledge and focuses on equipping students with critical graduate attributes that prepare them to become responsible leaders capable of shaping society.

Tiana van der Merwe, CTL Director, added, “With this project, the UFS is positioning itself within the international higher education arena by partnering with D2L Brightspace. We believe that the UFS Learn platform will create a space where academic staff can be innovative in the use of technology in their teaching to impact the learning and success of our students. We are also excited about how this platform will allow for evidence-based decision-making around learning and teaching – not only on a modular level, but also on a faculty and institutional level. The implementation of the platform will not be a once-off event, but a continuous process of development, support, improvement, and growth by all involved. We are looking forward to this exciting future and journey for UFS with D2L Brightspace and Visions as our partners.”

Pilot phase begins across all campuses

The launch also marked the beginning of the pilot phase of the project. More than 40 modules across all faculties and the University’s three campuses have been selected to go live on the platform at the start of the second semester.

Lecturers participating in the pilot phase were acknowledged for their role in shaping the future of digital learning at the institution. Their experiences and feedback will inform the full institutional rollout planned for 2027.

Prof Rhoda acknowledged that a transition of this magnitude would require collaboration, adjustment, and ongoing support from staff and students alike. Through the Centre for Teaching and Learning, ICT Services, faculty learning designers, and other support structures, the University committed to providing continuous training and assistance throughout the process.

Staff members were encouraged to make use of training opportunities, engage with learning designers, and explore the platform’s new features and capabilities.

Celebrating collaboration and innovation

The launch event also celebrated the collaborative naming process behind UFS Learn. Staff and students were invited to submit suggestions for both the platform name and slogan, resulting in more than 600 entries.

The winning slogan, ‘Learn today and lead tomorrow’, was submitted by Yolandi Botha from ICT Services and was officially recognised during the event.

As the University embarks on this new chapter, its leadership expressed confidence that UFS Learn will help create a meaningful, relevant, and impactful teaching and learning environment aligned with the strategic aspirations of the institution.