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23 May 2018 Photo Thabo Kessah
Choose excellence and moral uprightness graduates told
Dr Mantwa Lephoto graduated with a PhD in Physics. With her is Dr Kamohelo Tshabalala, her supervisor
It was joy all over at the Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) on Thursday 10 May 2018 when over 650 degrees, diplomas, and certificates were conferred on deserving academic achievers. Among the degrees conferred were seven PhDs and seven master’s degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and one doctorate in English in the Faculty of the Humanities.

Speaking to the proud graduates was the Honourable Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Tati Makgoka, and the Chancellor of the UFS, Dr Khotso Mokhele, who both congratulated the graduates on their success.

Immeasurable joy and pride
“In African culture, a child is a vessel of the community. And today you have not only brought immeasurable joy to your families, but also pride to your communities. You have also opened a window of opportunities and inspiration to the school learners in attendance here today,” said Justice Makgoka, referring to hundreds of invited school learners from as far as Rekgotsofetse Secondary School in Paul Roux.

“You have now assumed the roles of pathfinders among your people. You should therefore continue to share your talents, as well as moral and spiritual gifts, with your communities. Your qualifications today set you on a journey of lifelong learning and scholarship. It is so because your chosen fields of study are dynamic terrains constantly evolving and demanding a lifelong scholarship. We must also pay special tribute to those who contributed towards your success,” he said.

Support system is important
Dr Mokhele also encouraged graduates to thank their support systems that kept them going through the hard times of studying.

 “There are many other people who deserve to be thanked for your success and you must thank them accordingly,” he said, and asked graduates to stand up as a gesture of appreciation for their families and friends who filled up the Rolihlahla Mandela Hall.
He further edged all graduates to ‘choose excellence and moral uprightness’.

“Honest and excellent hard workers in our government are more likely to be constructively dismissed, as they prevent the stealing of state resources. It’s your responsibility to choose the kind of South Africa you want to live in and make it happen,” he said.
 
This year’s graduations also saw the first cohort of Bachelor of Administration students from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences graduating.

UFS Qwaqwa Campus May Graduation highlights from University of the Free State on Vimeo.

News Archive

The management teams of the University of the Free State and the Vista University Bloemfontein campus set the wheels rolling for the incorporation of
2003-05-22

The management teams of the University of the Free State and the Vista University Bloemfontein campus set the wheels rolling for the incorporation of the Vista Bloemfontein campus into the UFS.

The incorporation process will be dealt with in two phases. The first phase would be preparing for a possible incorporation on 1 January 2004, including possible streamlining and review of programmes. The second phase would be part of developing the long term vision or optimal reconfiguration of the Vista facility (within the UFS as a multi-campus institution) in the interests of higher education in the Free State and the communities surrounding the two campuses in Bloemfontein.

At a meeting at the UFS both parties reached consensus about the process and set about establishing task teams to deal with critical issues, such as governance and management, financial management, human resources, information systems, library services, student support and administration, academic planning and academic programmes.

Prof Talvin Schultz, Head of the Vista Bloemfontein campus, committed this campus to making the process of incorporation into the UFS an exemplary process. UFS Rector Prof Frederick Fourie said the Free State should continue its tradition as a province where things happen and where higher education transformation has proceeded faster than elsewhere in the country.

Both emphasised the need for an inclusive process of consultation with staff, students and the community on key aspects of the incorporation.

They indicated that all planning should take into account a possible date of incorporation of 1 January 2004, pending finalisation by the respective Councils. The Councils of both institutions need to give feedback to the Minister of Education on the date of incorporation by the end of June, and the task teams must deliver an initial report on progress before then.


Prof Talvin Schultz (Vista Bloemfontein campus) and Prof Frederick Fourie (UFS)

 

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