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25 April 2019 | Story Mamosa Makaya

Since 2016, the University of the Free State Center for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS) has received a grant from First National Bank worth R2 498 000, which supports tertiary bursaries for students with disabilities. Bursary holders are funded through CUADS, as the administrator of the bursaries.
  
These are students enrolled for various academic programmes who require academic assistance and/or assistive devices such as electronic handheld magnifiers, laptops, and hearing aids. The FNB grant also covers tuition, accommodation, study material and books, and meals.  The success of the grant is already evident, with one of the recipients having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in December 2018. A second student was capped at the April 2019 graduations with a BSc Honours in Quantity Surveying.
 
Supporting the principles of the ITP

The UFS received the grant from FNB in instalments, starting in the 2016 academic year to date, supporting the needs of 40 disabled students. This grant and the work of CUADS speaks to and supports the principles of the Integrated Transformation Plan (ITP), namely inclusivity, transformation, and diversity. The vision of the Universal Access work stream is to enable the UFS to create an environment where students with disabilities can experience all aspects of student life equal to their non-disabled peers. The ITP provides for the recognition of the rights of people with disabilities as an important lesson in social justice and an opportunity to reinforce university values.

The successful administration of the grant to benefit past and present students is a ‘feather in the cap’ of CUADS, and is a shining example of the impact of public private investment and the endless possibilities that open up when there is a commitment to developing future leaders in academic spaces, allowing them to thrive by creating a learning environment that is welcoming and empowering. 



News Archive

UFS supports its international students
2017-11-21

The executive management of the University of the Free State (UFS) is aware of the political situation in Zimbabwe and the ongoing developments that transpired since the past weekend.

“The current situation in Zimbabwe is impacting students from Zimbabwe within South Africa, on the African continent, and elsewhere in the world. It is understandable that students are experiencing uncertainty about their studies and their future; some may also experience challenges to return home after completion of their examinations and/or studies in South Africa,” says Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

According to Prof Petersen, the university fully supports its Zimbabwean community during this time, and is continually monitoring the situation. “We have reached out to our Zimbabwean students on campus, and will assist where necessary,” says Prof Petersen.

Students and staff are welcome to contact the Office for International Affairs at 051 401 9058 or hagenmeiercca@ufs.ac.za.

There are 381 students from Zimbabwe studying at the UFS.

 

Released by:
Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Telephone: +27 51 401 2584 | +27 83 645 2454
Email: news@ufs.ac.za | loaderl@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 51 444 6393

 

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