Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
06 December 2018 Photo Johan Roux
December 2018 Graduation
Tears of joy as the graduates made their way to the Callie Human Centre for their graduation ceremonies.


Former Group CEO of Mediclinic, Danie Meintjes, gave a riveting guest speech at the opening ceremony of this year’s final graduations on 4 December 2018. “I know no-one who is both extremely successful and lazy. Hard work does not necessarily refer to long hours but to what you achieve within those hours.”

Candidates from the faculties of Economic and Management Sciences and Education were told that there are no shortcuts to success; however, hard work can speed up the process of progress.

“This day marks a sense of achievement and an atmosphere of celebration,” said Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen. Indeed, the air was heavy with excitement punctuated by applause and ululations.

December graduations reach an ecstatic high

Sounds of joy reverberated through the Callie Human Hall yesterday as delighted graduates, accompanied by their parents and relatives, celebrated an important milestone in their lives after years of turbulence and hard work.

These were the graduates from the Faculty of Health Sciences, who will be joining the ranks of the private and public health system which is plagued by a myriad of service-delivery challenges.


Graduates urged to prioritise mental health


Academia is extremely stressful. The degree and level of intensity that accompanies academic success often has a debilitating impact on one’s psyche,” said Dr Millard Arnold, our guest speaker at the final graduation ceremony on 6 December 2018.

The editor of Steve Biko: Black Consciousness in South Africa, and University of the Free State Council member, advised the 173 master’s and doctoral candidates across all faculties to look after their mental health. 

Moments before graduates were bestowed the highest honour that any university can offer, our Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, shared his sentiments on the value of goal-getting. “There is nothing more fulfilling than walking across the stage and being capped, conscious of the fact that you have achieved what you set out to do in your academic career.”

Closing the 2018 graduations on a high note, Dr Khotso Mokhele,  UFS Chancellor, assured graduates that they have done a good job, by saying, “This is the pinnacle of education, it doesn’t get any better than this”.

Graduate professionals who can impact society

The procession of graduates, academics, and UFS management, led by flag bearers and drummers, announced the last graduation ceremony for graduates in the Faculties of Law and Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Two hundred and twenty-six graduates walked over the stage of the Callie Human Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus, with the words of Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Petersen, fresh in their minds. “Three values I leave with you: critical inquiry, social responsiveness, and integrity. Take these values with you as you enter your professional lives.”  

Guest speaker Dan Kriek, who is a member of the UFS Council and President of Agri SA, motivated graduates to become leaders who will inspire South Africa. “You can all play a role to provide us with a better future,” he said.

Storytelling is important for Human Science graduates

 It has been described as the culmination of your university career, the day you receive the degree you have been pursuing for three to four years. The 141 graduates in the Faculties of The Humanities and Theology and Religion were at this culminating moment yesterday when they received their degrees during the third ceremony of the December graduations.

Guest speaker for the ceremony, Ace Moloi – UFS Young Alumnus of the Year and author, impressed the audience with his ‘Wows of Storytelling’ speech; it was indeed a ‘wow’. He shared his three wows of storytelling, namely that storytelling is a weapon of diversity, that storytelling is story taking, storytelling is a liberating experience. “I challenge you to go tell the story behind your scars at the end of this session. No, do not tell your story. Scream it. Broadcast it on every platform,” he said.

South Campus graduands exhorted to “continue the journey of learning”

A total of 529 students from the South Campus received certificates and diplomas during the second session of the graduation ceremonies on the afternoon of 4 December 2018. The guest speaker was Lesedi Makhurane, from the Stellenbosch University Business School. Relating the lessons from World War I to modern challenges, Makhurane urged graduands to face changing ideas in the digital age with courage, to celebrate and enjoy graduating, while still remembering what it means to become a graduate and honouring those who have supported them thus far.

He exhorted the assembly to stand apart from the masses, making their unique voice count and developing their signature presence. Makhurane said, “Once you become a graduate, the flame of continuous education is ignited. Therefore, you must continue the journey of learning, becoming a specialist in your field.”


4 December 2018
WATCH: 4 December 2018 (Morning Session)

Graduation readmore 1
09:00 Economic and Management Sciences, Education 
EMS and EDU Graduation Programme

“You now form part of the 58% of South African citizens who hold a degree,"-Danie Meintjies

Watch: 4 December 2018 (Afternoon Session)

4 December afternoon
14:30 South Campus: Open Distance Learning
South Campus Graduation Programme

‘Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.’ And the fact that you are all sitting here, is testimony to the hard work and effort, the energy, and the dedication you have put into the process of continuously becoming.” - Lesedi Makhurane

5 December 2018
WATCH: 5 December (Morning Session)

Small grad photo 3
09:00
Humanities and Theology and Religion
HUM and THEO Graduation Programme

" ...your qualification is a vital addition to society. You are the only graduates who are trained in human science-a science that is tricky, unpredictable and contradictory," - Ace Moloi

WATCH: 5 December (Afternoon Session)

Graduation 5 December Afternoon small
14:30  Law, Natural and Agricultural Sciences
LAW and NAS Graduation Programme

“You as graduates inspired me, your parents, yourself, your friends; and you will go on to inspire South Africa. We need young leaders who can inspire all of us," - Dan Kriek 


6 December 2018
WATCH: 6 December 2018 ( Morning Session)

Health Sciences Graduation

09:00: Health Sciences (including School of Nursing)
Health Sciences Graduation Programme

You should not worry about the past – what has happened has happened – but look to the future, as we have been given the gift of time.” Dr Anchen Laubscher.

WATCH: 6 December 2018 ( Afternoon Session)

Postgraduate graduation ceremony
14:30: Master's and Doctorates (all faculties)
M and D Graduation Programme

“Your success today does not mean that you are immune to the diabolical effects of depression and anxiety or schizophrenia.”- Dr Millard Arnold


News Archive

Autumn Graduation Ceremony a thrilling showcase
2013-04-19

 

Yolanda du Toit from the Department Student Academic Services is the proud mother of three daughters who all received qualifications at the Autumn Graduation. Maryke (left) received her certificate in Certified Financial Planning. She already has degrees in B.Com. Law and LLB. Amandi (centre) received her B.Ed and twin sister received her degree in consumer science.
Photo: Renè-Jean van der Berg
19 April 2013

Gareth Cliff video clip
Vicus and Vincent Visser video clip
Joshua Johnson video clip
Graduation YouTube video clip

Photo Gallery

The university’s Autumn Graduation Ceremony infused the Bloemfontein Campus with exhilaration last week.

Beaming with pride, graduates received 526 diplomas/certificates and 2 796 bachelor’s and honours degrees in total.

Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, lead each procession of graduates from the Red Square down the path to the Callie Human Centre while the beat of drums filled the air. “To break the cycle of poverty, get an education, get a degree,” Prof Jansen urged graduates during their respective ceremonies. He underscored the fact that, as graduates, they are ten times more likely to get a job, with the odds rising as they continue their postgraduate studies.

Dr Khotso Mohele, Chancellor of the university, advised graduates not to allow life’s obstacles to discourage them. “Take what you have learned over the last three or four years and use that knowledge to reach your goal,” he said. He also emphasised that graduates need to be able to take standpoint against issues.

Graduates’ ceremonies were made even more memorable by various local and international speakers and performers.

American student and tap-dancer, Joshua Johnson, inspired the audience with his story of hope and perseverance. As a student from Penn State University, he travels five hours by bus to New York every weekend where he dances on the subway train to earn money for his tuition fees. Joshua told graduates that, in order to achieve their goals, they have to make the best use of the 24 hours they get to live daily. “Don’t follow in the footsteps of someone else. Take the beat of life, but add your rhythm to it," his wise words resonated with the exhilarated graduates. The audience could not help but clap to the rhythmic beat of his tap-dancing performance.

Vicus Visser, dubbed Bloemfontein’s Justin Bieber was also on the list of performers. Vicus – a South African YouTube singing sensation – performed with his brother, Vincent, to the delight of the crowd.

Radio personality and Idols South Africa judge, Gareth Cliff, was also among the speakers who addressed the graduates during the week. “It’s a good time be alive, a good time to be a South African, a good time to be a qualified South African,” he said. “It’s a time in our country’s development that we require minds such as yours to propel us forward,” was part of his message. Gareth also stressed the freedom of speech in South Africa, especially the freedom of the media.

The Autumn Graduation Ceremony of 2013 was an immense success and filled the hearts of Kovsie graduates, students, staff, parents, family and friends with overwhelming pride.

The Qwaqwa Campus’ graduation ceremony will take place on 8 June 2013. Diplomas / certificates up to and including doctorates will be awarded at this ceremony.

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept