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18 April 2019
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Story Ilze Bakkes
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Photo Charl Devenish
The University of the Free State invites all Grade 12 learners and their parents to the UFS Open Days. The Bloemfontein Campus open day will be on 11 May 2019.
BLOEMFONTEIN CAMPUS OPEN DAY – 11 MAY 2019
The programme for the Bloemfontein Open Day has been streamlined to allow for more time in the faculties in order to gather the necessary academic information. Therefore, there will not be a collective welcoming programme; however, the academic programme for the respective faculties can be visited DIRECTLY from 09:00. All exhibitions are open from 09:00 till 15:00.
1. Academic programme in the respective faculties: There will be two welcoming and information sessions by the Dean of each faculty.
a. Session 1: 09:00–10:00
b. Session 2: 11:00–12:00
c. The venue for each faculty is:
i. Economic and Management Sciences: EMS Auditorium
ii. Education: New Education Auditorium
iii. Health Sciences: Francois Retief Building
iv. Natural and Agricultural Sciences: Callie Human Centre
v. Law: Equitas Building
vi. The Humanities Odeion
vii. Theology and Religion: Theology Building, Room 21
2. Administrative services in the H van der Merwe Scholtz Hall: Bring your Grade 11 results and a copy of your ID should you wish to apply for 2020 undergraduate studies during the Open Day.
a. Online and hard-copy applications
b. Admissions
c. General Enquiries
d. UFS Student Recruitment Services
e. Centre for Teaching and Learning
f. Financial Aid
g. Tuition Fees
h. Housing and Residence Affairs
i. National Benchmark Tests
j. University Access Programmes
k. KovsieGear merchandise
l. Library and Information Services
3. Student Life programme in front of the Main Building
a. Career
b. Student Life Colleges and Residence Communities exhibitions
c. Arts and Culture
d. Center for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS)
e. Counselling and Development
f. Gender and Sexual Equity Office
g. Student Media
h. Student Wellness and Social Support
4. Residence Colleges: Visit the exhibitions of the on-campus residences on the lawn in front of the Main Building.
5. Student Associations exhibitions at the Thakaneng Bridge
a. Academic associations
b. Charity-based student associations
c. Cultural-based student associations
d. Political associations
e. Religious associations
6. Visit KovsieSport and the KovsieFit Gym at their offices in the basement of the Callie Human Centre.
GENERAL
Unfortunately, no food parcels will be provided to learners. Open Day programmes will be distributed at all entrances on both campuses.
If you require any further information about the Open Days, please contact +27 51 401 3384/9028.
2020 APPLICATIONS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES ARE NOW OPEN
Keep in mind that there is limited space in each programme and to avoid disappointment, your learners are advised to apply for 2020 undergraduate studies as soon as possible. Application to study at the University of the Free State is FREE. To apply now, click here.
There’s more to media freedom than the Secrecy Bill
2012-05-04
4 May 2012
“Media freedom is a universal human right. It cannot be abolished, but it should be managed.” The freedom of the media is protected by numerous formal documents, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the South African Constitution, and is commemorated annually with the celebration of World Press Freedom Day.
“As long as those in power have something to hide, media freedom will be under threat. This is a war that takes place on many fronts,” says Ms Willemien Marais, a journalism lecturer at the Department of Communication Science at the University of the Free State (UFS).
“On the one hand we have to take a stand against institutional threats such as the proposed Protection of State Information Bill. This is diametrically opposed to everything that media freedom and freedom of expression encapsulates.
“But on the other hand we also need to educate and transform our society. It is not only up to journalists to defend media freedom. Newspaper reports on the public hearings on this Bill earlier this year proved that ignorance concerning media freedom is a big threat. The lack of resistance against the Secrecy Bill from the general population clearly illustrates that people aren’t aware of what they are about to lose.”
Ms Marais says the rise of social media and the accompanying awareness of individual freedom of expression have paved the way for more people to exercise this right. “The role of social media in the Arab Spring has been highlighted numerous times. The power of social media is undeniable – but alas, so is the lack of access to especially social media. We can only increase media literacy if we increase people’s access to the media – new and traditional.”
A high level of media literacy is also vital following last month’s recommendation by the Press Freedom Commission of a system of independent co-regulation for South Africa’s print media. This system proposes replacing government regulation with a panel consisting of representatives from the print industry as well as members of the general public. “It is abundantly clear that this system can only work if those members of the general public are media literate and understand the role of media freedom in protecting democracy.”
“The media is not a sentient being – it consists of and is run by people, and human beings are fallible. Protecting media freedom does not only mean fighting institutional threats. It also means increasing media literacy by educating people. And it means owning up to your mistakes, and correcting it.”