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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.

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KovsieFit caters for all
2016-05-30


KovsieFit offers a new service to students and staff for keeping fit. Photo: Charl Devenish

Students on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) can now work in a gym session between classes, and staff can do the same before or after work.

This is due to KovsieFit, a commercial gymnasium, which will be taking in its first members on 30 May 2016. The gym is located in the Callie Human Centre and is a project which has been a long-time dream for the UFS.

UFS boasts three gymnasiums

For the last couple of months, a lot of hard work went on behind the scenes. Kobus Calldo, conditioning coach at KovsieSport, says everybody involved with the process is happy that KovsieFit is a reality. According to him KovsieFit “is looking good and everybody involved is very satisfied” with the final product.

KovsieFit will be open Mondays to Fridays from 05:30 to 19:30, and on Saturdays from 07:00 to 11:00. Prospective members will have to undergo health screenings before they may join. KovsieFit also has lockers available. The gym will be managed by a committee.

The High Performance Centre of the UFS, where athletes and sports teams are training, is located next to KovsieFit. At the beginning of the year, KovsieSport’s offices also moved to the Callie Human Centre. A third gymnasium, the Sports Science Centre – the former Biokinetics gymnasium – is located next to the Mabaleng Building. This will mainly be used as a rehabilitation centre.

Service to university community

According to Calldo KovsieFit caters for all and offers the same service to its members as any other commercial gymnasium. The target mark is primarily students and staff, and then the rest of the city.

“It is cheaper and conveniently close to the residences for students on campus. Staff members can have a gym session during lunch or before or after work.”

Wide variety of exercises

“We offer spinning, pilates, aerobic, zumba, and all those type of classes too. We will start with four classes a day until business picks up,” Calldo says.

KovsieFit also offers aerobic apparatus such as treadmills, rowers, and electric bicycles. A gymnasium circuit, two Olympic platforms, and different types of weights and machines are also available.

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