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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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Golden strains: Hansgeorg Schmeiser (flute) and Albie van Schalkwyk (piano)
2008-04-15

Hansgeorg Schmeiser – an Austrian flautist and Albie van Schalkwyk – a lecturer in piano at the UFS, captivated concert-goers on Thursday evening with a virtuoso performance. This was the second time that Hansgeorg has given a performance in Bloemfontein accompanied by Albie. Despite the Easter weekend and the holiday period, the concert was well supported by the public.

With his solid gold Muramatsu flute and a celebrated pianist before the keys plus a varied programme, the two artists had the audience poised on the edge of their seats – beginning with the Sonata in G minor by J.S. Bach and followed by Franz Schubert's Theme and Variations on Trock'ne Blumen for flute and piano. After the interval they performed the Sonata for flute and piano by Martinù – a composition that is seen as one of the most important 20th century works in the flute repertoire. Schmeiser's performance of the solo piece for flute by the Japanese composer Fukushima where modern playing techniques require the achievement on various tone colours and fluctuation intensity was especially impressive.

The demanding programme was concluded with the Hungarian Fantasy for flute and piano by Albert Franz Doppler. It was no surprise that the audience demanded the two back onto the stage for an encore for which they played the second movement (Siciliano) of J.S. Bach's Flute Sonant No. 2 in E minor.

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