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
18 September 2018 Photo Charl Devenish
Students urged to help combat crime
What to do in case of an attack? The UFS taekwondo team taught students a trick or two.
Speaking at the official opening of Safety Week, newly elected Student Representative Council (SRC) president of the Bloemfontein Campus called for students to come to the party in the fight against crime. “We encourage students to participate because it cannot just be the SRC, university management, and the police. Students need to join the Community Police Forum because these platforms are there for us to engage in. You must not die in silence, if there is a problem, raise it,” said Sonwabile Dwaba.

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Protection Services in collaboration with the university’s BSafe campaign hosted the Safety Week from 3-6 September 2018 on the Bloemfontein and South campuses with the objective of keeping students and staff members informed on the measures in place, addressing pressing safety-related concerns, brainstorm ideas on how to beef up security, and distributing safety souvenirs.

Collaborative efforts encouraged

Brigadier Maehlo Lento, reporting on behalf of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Provincial Commissioner, said: “Robbery incidents have subsided but we still need to make sure that we continue and collaborate with students and all other roleplayers to make sure that we sustain the safety.”

The collective participation sentiment was also reflected by Prof Prakash Naidoo, Vice-Rector: Operations. “We are hoping through our annual Safety Week to reiterate our commitment to the safety of students, as well as bringing all roleplayers together to reflect on areas of cooperation and collaboration in an effort to improve the safety of student.”

Not just physical safety

Issues of mental health were discussed by the Next Chapter student organisation, while Embrace a Sister student organisation spoke about femicide and the safety of women. The scourge of gender-based violence formed the focal point of the Gender and Sexual Equity office’s address. In addition the Student Counselling and Development division offered invaluable advice on where those who exhibit symptoms of depression can seek help.

Other stakeholders who contributed to the success of this year’s Safety Week were the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Department of Police, Roads and Transport, as well as Sector 3 Community Police Forum. 

Photo gallery

News Archive

Prof Jonathan Jansen recipient of the prestigious Excellence in Education Award
2015-10-19

Prof Jonathan Jansen

Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State (UFS), has been chosen from an exceptionally impressive pool of alumni as one of three inaugural recipients of the Stanford Graduate School of Education’s Excellence in Education Award. 

Not only did Prof Jansen obtain a doctorate degree in 1991 from Stanford University (USA), but also continued his studies there as a Fulbright Scholar from 2007 to 2008. His work as an advocate for intellectual freedom, and in leading the UFS toward racial integration, is widely recognised as a model for higher education. “Prof Jansen’s scholarship on these topics has an international audience and impact, and we are honoured to count him as one of our own,” said Dr Deborah Stipek, Dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Education and Professor of Education at Stanford University.

According to Dr Stipek, the Excellence in Education Award signals a critical step in the School’s drive to recognise, and raise the profile of, the transformative work of the alumni. The other two recipients are Helen Kim, Vice-Principal, Eastside College Preparatory School in East Palo Alto, California and Carla Pugh, Vice-Chair, Education and Patient Safety, Clinical Director, University of Wisconsin Clinical Simulation Programme.
 
"I think they made a mistake; after all, there have been so many illustrious alumni over the decades. I am, nonetheless, humbled and grateful for this wonderful act of recognition."

Prof Jansen will receive the award on 23 October 2015 at Stanford University in Palo Alto during the Graduate School of Education’s Alumni Award reception.

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