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08 March 2018 Photo Zenzele Mdletshe
Pilot Wingman programme launched
Social and cultural integration are at the heart of the newly launched internationalisation programme.
The University of the Free State (UFS) launched its pilot Wingman programme on 16 February 2018 at the Bloemfontein Campus. The programme, which is jointly coordinated by the Office for International Affairs and the Student Representative Council (SRC): International Student Council, aims to advance the social integration of local and international students. 

Bulelwa Moikwatlhai, coordinator and UFS international student adviser, explained that the programme assisted international students with their transition into student life and culture. “Students need to remember the three key pillars of the programme   meaningful and lifelong friendships, academic excellence, and social and cultural integration.” 

The Vice-Rector: Research, Prof Corli Witthuhn, assured the students the university was committed to their emotional and physical wellbeing. She further expressed her enthusiasm at seeing the programme expanded to include all first-year international students. 

Cornelius Hagenmeier, the UFS Director: Internationalisation said: “The University is committed to internationalisation at home. This is the purposeful integration of international and intercultural dimensions into the formal and informal curriculum for all students within domestic learning environments.” 

The International Affairs SRC representative, Andrei-Tendai Kwenda, emphasised the value the programme added to international student life and complimented the students for pioneering the programme.

News Archive

SRC elections continue despite illegal protests on UFS Main Campus
2011-08-17

After today’s (17 August 2011) illegal protest by about 150 demonstrators from outside the university in front of the Main Building on our Bloemfontein Campus, Mr Rudi Buys, Dean: Student Affairs, said the elections for a Representative Student Council still continues. “Student Council candidates will continue with their campaign and, as agreed, no external politics will be allowed in the elections.”

Student leaders have expressed their frustration with the outside groups who interfere with processes on campus.

The UFS was the target of a group of people from outside the university who protested in front of the Main Building. The group, armed with sticks and bricks, had no clear demands other than that the UFS Council should be dissolved and management fired. It appears that some of the outsiders – from places such as Welkom and Kroonstad – did not know what they came to do at the university.

No students were involved in the protest action.

During the demonstration, the police and campus security were deployed and some of the demonstrators were arrested.

Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector said: “The UFS is worried about the thuggish behaviour by outside groups invading the university campus. An urgent interdict has been obtained and any further invasions by outside groups will lead to arrest.”

The illegal process had no impact on the academic programme at the university. Everything continues as normal.

 
Media Release
17 August 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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