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19 April 2018

The University of the Free State invites all Grade 12 learners and their parents to the UFS Open Days. On the Bloemfontein Campus, the Open Day will be held on 12 May 2018, and on the Qwaqwa Campus, Phuthaditjhaba on 26 May 2018.
 
The programme for both Open Days has been streamlined to allow for more time in the faculties in order to gather the necessary academic information. Therefore, there will not be a collective welcoming programme on either campus; however, the academic programme for the respective faculties can be visited DIRECTLY from 09:00. All exhibitions are open from 09:00 till 15:00.

BLOEMFONTEIN CAMPUS OPEN DAY – 12 MAY 2018:


Programme

1. Academic programme in the respective faculties: There will be two welcoming and information sessions by the Dean of each faculty. 

a. Session 1: 09:00–10:00
b. Session 2: 11:00–12:00
c. The venue for each faculty is:
i. Economic and Management Sciences: EMS Auditorium
ii. Education: New Education Auditorium
iii. Health Sciences: Francois Retief Building
iv. Natural and Agricultural Sciences: Callie Human Centre
v. Law: Equitas Building
vi. The Humanities: Odeion
vii. Theology and Religion: Theology Building, Room 21

2. Administrative services in the H van der Merwe Scholtz Hall: Bring your Grade 11 results and a copy of your ID should you wish to apply for 2019 undergraduate studies during the Open Day.
a. Online and hard-copy applications
b. Admissions 
c. General Enquiries
d. UFS Marketing
e. Centre for Teaching and Learning
f. Financial Aid
g. Tuition Fees
h. Housing and Residence Affairs
i. National Benchmark Tests
j. University Access Programmes
k. KovsieGear merchandise 
l. Library and Information Services

3. Student Life programme in front of the Main Building
a. Kovsie2B Social Media
b. Student Life Colleges and Residence Communities exhibitions
c. Arts and Culture
d. Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS)
e. Counselling and Development
f. Gender and Sexual Equity Office
g. KovsieSport
h. Student Media
i. Student Wellness and Social Support

4. Student Associations exhibitions at the Thakaneng Bridge
a. Academic associations
b. Charity-based student associations
c. Cultural-based student associations
d. Political associations
e. Religious associations

MEET AND GREET WITH THE RECTOR AND VICE-CHANCELLOR: 

Professor Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, invites teachers, principals, and parents to engage with him from 12:00 till 14:00, Bloemfontein Campus. If you would like to make use of this opportunity, RSVP by 9 May 2018 to greylinl@ufs.ac.za or bakkese@ufs.ac.za

 

QWAQWA CAMPUS OPEN DAY – 26 MAY 2018:

1. Academic programme in the respective faculties: There will be two welcoming and information sessions by the Assistant Dean of each faculty. 
a. Session 1: 09:00–10:00
b. Session 2: 11:00–12:00
2. Administrative services in the Rolihlahla Mandela Hall: Bring your Grade 11 results and a copy of your ID should you wish to apply for 2019 undergraduate studies during the Open Day.
3. Student Life programme and Student Associations exhibitions. 

MEET AND GREET WITH THE RECTOR AND VICE-CHANCELLOR: 
Professor Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, invites teachers, principals, and parents to engage with him from 12:00 till 14:00, Qwaqwa Campus. If you would like to make use of this opportunity, RSVP by 23 May 2018 to greylinl@ufs.ac.za or bakkese@ufs.ac.za

GENERAL
Unfortunately no food parcels will be provided to learners. Open Day programmes will be distributed at all entrances on both campuses.
If you require any further information about the Open Days you can contact 051 401 3384/9028. 

2019 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN
Keep in mind that there are limited spaces in each programme and to avoid disappointment, you are advised to apply as soon as possible. Application to study at the University of the Free State is free. If you want to apply now, click here

News Archive

Teacher professionalism and status under Commonwealth radar
2010-03-26

 
From the left are: Ms Simone De Cormarmond, Chairperson: Commonwealth Foundation; Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, University of the Free State (UFS); Mr Samuel Isaacs, CEO: SAQA; and Dr Carol Anne Spreen, Lecturer at the University of Maryland, USA).
Photo: Ian van Straaten


International delegates attending the 5th Annual Commonwealth Teacher Research Symposium held at the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein this week unanimously agreed that more research still had to be done on issues of recognition, registration and standards affecting teachers and teaching across Commonwealth countries.

This two-day gathering of researchers, officials and representatives of regional international organisations and higher education institutions agreed that issues of teacher migration, the professionalism of teachers, teacher preparation and the use of teaching standards, as well as the comparability and recognition of teacher qualifications should be further researched.

The delegates agreed on the following based on the research and data that were presented and shared with all the participants:

Teacher migration is recognised as an increasing global phenomenon that requires ongoing research in the Commonwealth.
Recognising that inequalities and differences within and across Commonwealth countries exist, and considering that fair and ethical treatment in the international recruitment of teachers is an important cornerstone of the Commonwealth Teacher Recruitment Protocol.

Teacher training, the recognition of teacher qualifications, the professional registration of teachers and the development of professional teacher standards should be actively encouraged through ongoing pan-Commonwealth research.

An increased acknowledgement of the role of the professionalisation of teachers through an improved understanding of teacher qualifications and standards.
There should be a specific research focus on teacher preparation and the use of teaching standards.

An increased comparability and recognition of teacher qualifications across Commonwealth countries should be actively encouraged.
Advocacy of teachers’ rights, effective protection of the vulnerable teacher, and appropriate strategies should be promoted to uplift the status of teachers and teaching as a profession.

The Commonwealth Teacher Recruitment Protocol, amongst other things, aims to balance the rights of teachers to migrate internationally against the need to protect the integrity of national education systems, and to prevent the exploitation of the scarce human resources of poor countries.

Delivering his keynote address at the symposium, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Prof. Jonathan Jansen, decried the quality of professional qualifications in South Africa.

“We have become very good at manufacturing outcomes. We actually have become very good at giving an impression of having achieved particular outcomes without having achieved them at all,” he said.
“So what does it mean to talk about outcomes in an unequal country with unequal resources? What does it mean to talk about qualifications when we do not trust the outcomes?”

He suggested that the teaching profession should be subjected to a peer review mechanism and that the practice of setting minimum standards should be dealt away with because it results in minimum outcomes.

Dr Carol Anne Spreen, lecturer at the University of Maryland in the USA, proposed that countries should improve the quality of their own teachers instead of importing teachers from other countries.

The research symposium was organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and hosted by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and the UFS.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za  
26 March 2010

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