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26 November 2018 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Johan Roux
Graduation
End-of-year graduation ceremonies kicks-off today.

Livestream

Graduation is the highlight of the academic calendar, and the University of the Free State (UFS) stands by to awarding  its last batch of degrees for the year with the December Graduations which started yesterday.

Kovsie family and friends will be congratulating 173 masters and doctoral graduates in the upcoming ceremonies, and confer more than a thousand certificates, diplomas, undergraduate and honours degrees during the graduation processes.

Speaking at the upcoming processions will be Dr Anchen Laubscher: Group Medical Director of Netcare Ltd, and chair of the Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) subcommittee for Clinical Quality.

Graduates can further look forward to the likes of Dan Kriek: President of Agri SA, and Danie Meintjes: former Group Chief Executive Officer at Mediclinic International plc, and Non-Executive Director of the Mediclinic International Board.

Author and Chancellor’s Distinguished Young Alumnus of the year 2018, Ace Moloi will also address the audience and bestow words of praise and encouragement as their food for thought.

Graduates can likewise expect speeches from Dr Millard Arnold who belts careers in law, business, diplomacy, journalism, film, and photography to name a few.

Lesedi Makhurane: former Director of Organisational Development at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and University Executive Development (USB-ED) lecturer at the Stellenbosch University will through his speech, endorse the notion of resilience amongst graduates and propel them to live a purpose-driven life.

Visit the graduation home page, where future graduates can in addition access the graduation career guide.  Additional enquiries can be made by emailing graduations@ufs.ac.za

Graduation ceremonies for various faculties will be taking place on the following dates:

4 December 2018
09:00 Economic and Management Sciences, Education 
EMS and EDU Graduation Programme

14:30 South Campus: Open Distance Learning
South Campus Graduation Programme

5 December 2018
09:00 The Humanities, Theology and Religion
HUM and THEO Graduation Programme

14:30  Law, Natural and Agricultural Sciences
LAW and NAS Graduation Programme

6 December 2018
09:00: Health Sciences (including School of Nursing)
Health Sciences Graduation Programme

14:30: Master's and Doctorates (all faculties)
M and D Graduation Programme

News Archive

NSH breaking the cycle of poverty
2015-09-28

In was a joyous occasion for the Hlomuka family when their last-born walked across the stage to receive her degree. Spontaneous ululating sounded from the crowd as Nozipo Hlomuka knelt before the Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), Dr Khotso Mokhele, who conferred her degree.

“At that moment, I thought ‘this is really and finally happening’,” says the young teacher from Qwaqwa, who received a B Ed degree at the spring graduation.

At that moment time stood still for Nozipo, who once believed that, because of financial difficulties, this day would never come.

Across our three campuses, there are many students in similar positions to Nozipo. As many as 60% of students on our campuses are food-insecure, and suffer from hunger. The No Student Hungry Bursary Programme as established in 2011 to provide food-insecure students with a modest food bursary.

In 2014, just when Nozipo thought she could no longer continue studying, she became the recipient of an NSH-bursary.

Although receiving a degree is a huge achievement for Nozipo, her parents, too, were overcome with emotion, to see the first of their five daughters reach this academic milestone. Having only finished grade 8, Mrs Notula Hlomuka, Nozipo’s mother, says it was important for her to see her children finish school, at least. Mrs Hlomuka sold fruit and vegetables which provided the family’s only income.

“It was not always easy. It was never easy. Sometimes, there was no money and not enough to eat, and your children must go to school hungry. We could not afford new clothes for all the children, and the school uniforms were handed down to the younger sibling ending with Nozipo. Those were difficult days. It’s over now. God provided.”


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