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25 April 2018


The #KovsieCyberSta Search finalists have been chosen. It is now up to the Kovsie community to decide who they would like to see as their next #KovsieCyberSta’s. Visit our voting page, watch the videos and choose your favourite candidate.

The finalists are:

1. Sakhile Miya

2. Bokang Deogratiaus Kole

3. Karabo Katlego Lekomanyane

4. Zonke Nogwaba Zoe
 
5. Kagiso Jantjies 
 
6. Samukelisiwe Msimang
  
7. Lindiwe Moeletsi
  
8. El Nino Matthew
 
9. Bhoodoo Sisters
 
10. Georgina 

Voting closes on Tuesday 1 May at 17:00, and the winners will be announced on Wednesday 2 May 2018 at 13:30 across all the UFS social media pages.

Vote for your favourite 2018/2019 #KovsieCyberSta Finalists from University of the Free State on Vimeo.

News Archive

Universities now public spaces to exercise citizenship
2016-08-30

Description: Prof Lis Lange critical conversation Tags: Prof Lis Lange critical conversation

Prof Lis Lange believes universities have a critical
role to play in advancing democracy.
Photo: Thabo Kessah

In an attempt to promote common understanding on governance, leadership, and management processes at the University of the Free State (UFS), the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ) recently hosted a critical conversation on the Qwaqwa Campus that was facilitated by Vice-Rector: Academic, Prof Lis Lange.

Prof Lange’s presentation firstly focused on the role that universities play, and the expectations thereof.

“From ancient history, universities have always had a critical role to play in the broader society,” she said. “They have always been characterised by the circulation of knowledge and ideas at a global level. They have always ensured that students’ skills and knowledge are properly certified.”

According to her, universities have changed quite a bit over the centuries.

“Historically, universities used to cater for the chosen few, but they now allow multitudes to have access as well. In the early 20th century, women and foreigners, for example, were excluded. How they relate to the society has also changed. They also used to create certain types of knowledge – at one stage this knowledge was influenced by the church. Research is now produced across a large spectrum of human and scientific knowledge,” she said.

Prof Lange also added that universities now even have a responsibility to advance democracy and to respond to societal needs.

“Despite the various tensions and contradictions between management and academic staff, between management and students, and between academic staff and students, universities are now public spaces to exercise citizenship. They provide space for all to have the right to speak and to be heard. They provide space for all to have similar rights and responsibilities,’ she said, while breaking down all the governance, leadership and management structures of the UFS.

The conversation was concluded with a question and answer session, with students mainly asking about internal UFS processes.

The session was well received by students.

“I really loved the conversation, which to me, was about breaking the walls between the management and students so as to achieve the goal of an effective university. We need more of these dialogues,” said Noxola Tshabalala, a BA Psychology student.

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