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26 January 2018 Photo Oteng Mpete
Solar charging stations ready for use
Students and staff will be able to enjoy the new social space equipped for studying or leisure activities.
Solar charging stations were recently launched on the Bloemfontein Campus. These units can be used by students to charge their phones, tablets, and iPads. Solar charging units will be installed on the University of the Free State’s Bloemfontein, South, and Qwaqwa Campuses.

Social spaces make for happy faces

A new central social space where students can eat, socialise, study, and relax is one of several exciting developments that UFS students can look forward to on campus. The social space can be found in the open area between the Biology Building, Chemistry Building, and the West Block on the Bloemfontein Campus.*

“The space consists of concrete benches with roof coverings, paving, and electrical supply points fed by solar power for students to charge their cellphones or laptops,” says Maureen Khati, Assistant Director: Project Management, Facilities Planning.

Solar panels have already been installed on top of various buildings on all three campuses, for example, 1 280 solar panels on the roof of the Thakaneng Bridge on the Bloemfontein Campus. The computer laboratories and the projected Afromontane Research Centre on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses will be equipped with freestanding solar roof solutions.

The project was a collaborative effort between the UFS and FCE Consulting Engineers. Coenie van der Merwe, Prototype Design Engineer, played a vital role in designing the charging unit.

“A symbol of affordable
opportunities that will
both save the planet and
enhance financial sustainability.”
Prof Nicky Morgan
Former Vice-Rector: Operations


Project to enhance sustainability and address student needs

Prof Nicky Morgan, former Vice-Rector: Operations, says, “This should be a symbol of affordable opportunities that will both save the planet and enhance financial sustainability.” Nico van Rensburg, Senior Director of University Estates, says, “This renewable energy project is an innovative way of addressing student needs.”

However, students are advised not to charge other electrical appliances besides their phones and iPads at the charging stations, as this may cause the charging unit to trip.

The UFS was recently awarded for its contribution towards sustainability. This was in recognition of its amazing initiative to install and operate photovoltaic (PV) and greywater systems on all three of its campuses.

* Download the UFS Campus Navigator from the Google Play Store for your Android device or from the App Store for the Apple iPhone.

News Archive

Examination format at UFS to change
2011-04-22

A new examination format is to be followed from the coming examination in May 2011 at the University of the Free State (UFS). According to this, the additional examination opportunity is to follow on the heels of the main examination.

According to the new format, students who qualify to write examinations will be compelled to write their papers during the first opportunity, and will only be allowed to write an additional examination once their applications for this examination have been approved. Students who qualify for re-assessment and special examinations will automatically be admitted to the additional examination and will therefore be exempt from the application process.
 
According to Dr Saretha Brüssow, Head: Teaching and Learning at the UFS, the Examination Committee requested the investigation of the double examination which applied previously, due to the pressure it caused on the university systems.
 
She said that, besides this release of pressure on systems such as the registration process, the back-to-back semester-based examination system might also lead to a possible improvement of the academic success rate, due to the shorter time span between the first and the second examination opportunities.
 
Students attended classes poorly in the past due to the second examination opportunity, which took place during the following semester after classes had resumed. “In some cases it is specifically the student at risk, who cannot afford to miss classes, who makes use of the second examination opportunity.”
 
Dr. Brüssow said the registration process was also affected by the previous format due to students who wanted to receive their results first before they registered. Other delays which occurred as a result of the second examination opportunity, were the first annual graduation ceremony which took place late in the year, the awarding of bursaries, and the finalisation of residence accommodation. Adding on to this problematic nature is students who occupy residences in the following academic year without a formal application in order to write during the second examination opportunity in January.
 
The new format is applicable to all students, except those in the Faculty of Health. Main and South Campus students can direct enquiries to addexam@ufs.ac.za. Qwaqwa Campus students should email addexam@qwa.ufs.ac.za.  Information on the new examination format is also available on www.ufs.ac.za.
 
 
Media Release
21 April 2011
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za
 

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