Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
14 June 2018
Photo Charl Devenish
Graduates will be celebrating their accomplishments at the June Graduation ceremonies.
June 2018 graduates from the University of the Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus are beginning to prepare for their upcoming graduations. The ceremonies are scheduled to take place at the Callie Human Centre from Wednesday 27 June until Friday 29 June 2018.
The UFS plans to document and highlight the special moments that graduates encounter at this time. A daily update accompanied by photos will be available on the UFS website.
Visit the UFS graduation ceremonies page for more information on the upcoming events. Graduates and students are free to familiarise themselves with the Graduation Guide Booklet which stipulates the necessary information for students to note during the graduation processions.
The Graduate Career Guide is also of vital importance as it equips graduates with fundamental knowledge and practical advice about preparing for the world of work.
A livestream link will be provided for the different graduation processions closer towards the time.
Graduation ceremonies for the different faculties take place on the following dates:
Wednesday 27 June 2018
09:00 School of Financial Planning Law
All qualifications.
Programme
14:30 School of Open and Distance Learning
Certificates
Programme
Thursday 28 June 2018
09:00 All faculties except for Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Master’s and doctoral degrees
Programme
14:30 Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Master’s and doctoral degrees
Programme
Friday 29 June 2018
09:00 NO SESSION
14:30 School of Open and Distance Learning
Diplomas
Programme
Renewable energy systems an economical investment for the UFS
2017-06-14
The Qwaqwa Campus Arena equipped with freestanding
roof solar panels.
Photo: iFlair Photography
Renewable energy systems are said to be very expensive to implement initially, but in the long run they provide high economic returns.
With their decision to install renewable energy, the University of the Free State Department of Facilities Planning has now also adopted this innovative technology. They have chosen less capital-intensive solar power-generating options to generate electricity in various buildings and parking areas on all three UFS campuses.
“As per the UFS Energy Management Policy, all designs incorporate efficient, renewable energy sources varying from LED lights to solar power,” says Anton Calitz, Electrical Engineer in University Estates’ Department of Facilities Management.
South Campus taking the lead in renewable energy usage
In December 2016, a total of 26 solar-driven LED street-light poles were installed at the recently built Legae Residence’s parking area and the perimeter security area on the South Campus. This low-maintenance system improves security after dark and is independent of the national power supply, which is an important advantage during power outages. With no requirements for major earthworks and cable setting, operational costs are reduced.
The recently built infrastructure also takes pride in being the first to have a greywater system installed. This system will also be installed at three other residences on the Bloemfontein Campus in 2017. Greywater is made up of bath, shower, and bathroom sink water. The water is reused for toilet flushing, as well as for irrigation purposes.
Various UFS electrical operations to depend on solar power
On the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses, the computer laboratories as well as the Thakaneng Bridge Student Centre and the projected Afromontane Research Centre will be equipped with freestanding roof solar solutions during 2017. These systems are designed to operate independently of the power grid (Eskom).
The systems only operate during sunlight hours when the PV solar panels are heated by the sun, making them suitable for operations such as ventilation fans, water pumps, and small circulation pumps for solar thermal water-heating systems.