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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.
Nat Nakasa the inspiration behind UFS academic’s PhD thesis
2017-01-09
Photo: Supplied
“I’m interested in alternative ways of approaching things, so I wanted to look at how journalism can be used in an unconventional way to contribute to a developing society.”
This is why Dr Willemien Marais, a lecturer in the Department of Communication Science at the University of the Free State (UFS), decided to title her thesis: Nat Nakasa as existential journalist, describing a form of journalism that places emphasis on the individual’s experiences.
“Existentialism is a philosophy that provides scope for an individual approach to life, and I like Nat Nakasa’s writing because of his excellent sense of humour despite his horrific circumstances as a black journalist during apartheid,” she says.
A practical approach to writing
Dr Marais analysed Nat Nakasa’s approach to journalism through articles he wrote in the early 1960s. She searched for relevant themes of existentialist philosophy in Nakasa’s work in order to prove that he could be read as an existential journalist.
She mentions that in terms of contemporary relevance, Nakasa’s approach to journalism suggests that existentialism could provide the journalist with a practical approach to writing, especially for those journalists working in developing societies.
“The relevance of this approach lies in the fact that any society is always between things – the old and the new – which might require the journalist to operate outside the boundaries of conventional journalism.”
This study was qualitative in nature because of the interpretation required. She mentions that it was basically one of many possible interpretations of Nakasa’s work; with this one using existentialism as a lens.
An intellectually stimulating thesis
Dr Marais quotes French existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre, who said that interpreting someone’s work, especially someone who was no longer alive, was open to “thousands of shimmering, iridescent, relevant meanings”, and her research represents one of these possible meanings of Nakasa’s work as a journalist.
When asked how long she had worked on her thesis, Dr Marais simply answered “too long!” She mentions that her thesis was initially more of an intellectual exercise. Whereas the actual act of writing took about four months, she spent many years thinking about the topic. “Now that all is said and done, I realise I had to grow into the topic. It took me a while to realise that true understanding does not come overnight!”
Dr Marais mentions that other than herself and the work of Nat Nakasa, there were no other roleplayers involved. “For many, many years it was just Nat Nakasa and I. It was frustrating and exhilarating all at the same time.”