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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

UFS takes 70 first-year students to the USA
2010-08-20

 
Mr Rudi Buys (middle, with tie) with some of the students selected for the F1 Programme
Photo: Gerhard Louw

The University of the Free State (UFS) has announced the names of the first ever group of 70 first-year students that will travel to the United States of America (USA) as part of the university’s Student Leadership Development Programme.

This group of students will spend two weeks at universities in the USA to experience student life and learn about leadership and diversity at these universities.

“This is a first for not only the UFS, but also for South Africa and we are incredibly proud. The programme is unique to any other student leadership development programme in the country. We are leading the way and are taking students to live and learn amongst students at various universities across the USA,” said Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs at the UFS.

The programme was one of the goals of Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, which he aimed to realise when he was appointed by the UFS in 2009.

“With the programme we want to develop participants’ thinking and capacity to lead in the contexts of diversity and change and we hope to direct them to programmes leading change in student life in general upon their return,” Mr Buys said.

The 70 students will leave for the USA on 22 September 2010. After spending some time there and learning more about their American peers’ lives and culture, they will return to the UFS on 7 October 2010.

“We took great care in selecting the 70 participants. They are representative of all our students, as well as students from our Qwaqwa Campus,” said Mr Buys.

A rigorous selection process was followed, which focused on the students’ academic excellence, their participation in student- and residence-life programmes and their interest in growing in the areas of, amongst others, leadership, diversity and citizenship. Each candidate had to undergo a pre-selection process, followed by a panel interview consisting of staff from various faculties and divisions at the UFS.

The students will stay in groups of about ten at the various universities, which include universities such as Cornell University, New York University, the University of Massachusetts, the Appalachian State University and Virginia Polytechnic University. “These universities will provide our students with accommodation and will present various academic and cultural programmes which our students will participate in and learn from,” said Mr Buys.

“We have also put a programme in place to prepare our students thoroughly for the trip. Because some of them have never travelled on an aeroplane, let alone travelled to a foreign country, we have made arrangements with the Department of Home Affairs for assistance with travel documentation, as well as special arrangements with the USA Embassy for assistance with visas. They will also be attending workshops focusing on, amongst others, research, leadership and diversity before their departure on 22 September 2010.

“Upon their arrival in the USA the group of students will firstly be taken to Washington DC where they will be briefed about American customs, etc. From there they will be placed at the various universities,” said Mr Buys.

Upon their return the students must be involved in student-life programmes on campus, establish volunteer programmes and initiate and establish mentoring programmes for their fellow students. “We want them to give back what they have learnt and experienced,” said Mr Buys.

“We are planning on implementing the Student Leadership Development Programme as an annual programme and are looking forward to this incredible programme through which this group of first-year students will have the opportunity of a lifetime to be true ambassadors of South Africa and, in particular, the UFS, as they leave for the USA,” he said.

Media Release:
Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za 
20 August 2010

 

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