Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
11 September 2018
Congratulations UFS GradStar students
In 2018, the UFS boasts 20 students in the top 100 who were selected for the,GradStar programme, compared to last year’s five.
Every year 100 South African students are selected through a rigorous four-phase judging process to become part of the GradStar programme. The programme is designed to provide previously unrecognised students with opportunities for employment and allow them to contribute positively to South Africa’s future growth. 

UFS students improve dramatically 

The 100 students selected show the most potential as future leaders in their respective fields. Besides academic achievement, entrants are also evaluated in terms of various soft skills including motivation, discipline, altruism, and attitude. The combination of all the judgement criteria promises to deliver top candidates for future employers. In 2018, the University of the Free State (UFS) boasts 20 students in the top 100, compared to last year’s five. 

Ready to make a difference

Each student will be connected with a business mentor to further ready them for the workplace. The entire process not only prepares graduates for employment, but also provides them an opportunity for self-knowledge and recognising their own strengths and weaknesses. The top 100 will compete for a spot in the “Ten of the Finest” to be announced on 26 September 2018.

Our best wishes accompany the following UFS students in the top 100: 

Bongani Sithole: Bachelor of Science
Carlo Visser: Bachelor of Science
Christian Cookson: Bachelor of Commerce
Elsa Moitsemang: Bachelor of Commerce
Jon-Dylon Petersen: Bachelor of Science
Joseph Alappattu: Bachelor of Science
Joshua Owusu-Sekyere: Bachelor of Commerce
Josiah Meyer: Bachelor of Science
Kayurin Govender: Bachelor of Commerce
Keshalia Naidoo: Bachelor of Arts

Lise-Mari Otto: Bachelor of Education
Meredith Green: Bachelor of Laws 
Nduduzo Kubheka: Bachelor of Science
Onalenna Lephoro: Bachelor of Laws 
Razia Adriaanse: Master of Laws
Refiloe Maqelepo: Bachelor of Commerce
Sajel Singh: Bachelor of Commerce Law
Sivuyile Mpatheni: LLB
Tebello Ntene: Bachelor of Science
Tshireletso Bogatsu: Bachelor of Accounting

News Archive

UFS trains Kovsies to become great in world terms – Prof Jonathan Jansen
2016-01-19

Description: First-year welcoming 2016 Tags: First-years, UFS First-years

First-year students from the University of the Free State (UFS) recently attended the welcoming ceremony at the Red Square of the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Johan Roux

The University of the Free State (UFS) does not train Kovsies to become great in Bloemfontein or even South Africa. The UFS trains them to become great in the world.

With these words, Prof Jonathan Jansen welcomed the first-year class of 2016 to the “home of Wayde van Niekerk, Rolene Strauss, and the 2015 Varsity Cup rugby champions”.

Prof Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, welcomed the newcomers to the start of the “best time of their lives” on 15 January 2016 at the Red Square of the Bloemfontein Campus. First-years and their parents attended the annual welcoming ceremony.

Prof Jansen congratulated the students on choosing the UFS, and on being part of the elite group that was selected to study at the university.

The UFS received 25 142 applications from newcomers, he said, although there are only about 8 000 places. In 2015, there were roughly 17 500 applications.

He said it was also the most diverse group of applications the UFS had ever received.

Access to education

According to Prof Jansen, the UFS is committed to helping poor students gain access to education, no matter what their background or the colour of their skin.

Lindokuhle Ntuli, the UFS Student Representative Council (SRC) President, said higher education should be more accessible. He said South Africa has allowed education to become commercialised.

“The sooner we as a country realise education isn’t an expense, but rather an investment, the better,” he said.

UFS campaigns

Prof Jansen thanked the UFS SRC for the Right to Learn (R2L) campaign. Launched by the SRC on 30 October 2015, this campaign has already raised R1.2 million to help academically-deserving underprivileged students to study.

“I have launched a campaign myself to raise R100 million between now and September. About 50% of my time will go into this,” Prof Jansen said.

“I will work tirelessly with Lindokuhle and the SRC to raise money.”

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept