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National University of Lesotho and UFS strengthen ties

20 December 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Valentino Ndaba

Lesotho Read More — Staff members from the National University of Lesotho and the University of the Free State at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Cornelius Hagenmeier, Director of the Office for International Affairs, quoted from the 2018–2020 Internationalisation Strategy, which states, “Out of the existing partnerships and collaborations, a limited number of strategic partnerships will be identified and specifically supported. Furthermore, the development of a strategic partnership with the National University of Lesotho will be explored.”

This agenda became official on 17 October 2019 when the National University of Lesotho and the University of the Free State signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Building bridges to reach critical regional partners

This ongoing organic collaboration has been evident in different spheres of our university over the past few years. Joint activities are already taking place through the Directorate for Research Development that is driving the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the Faculty of Education, Pharmacology, Political Studies, Africa Studies, and the Afromontane Research Unit on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus.

Delegates who represented the National University of Lesotho at the signing ceremony were the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof Sunny Aiyuk; Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof Motlamelle Kapa; Dean of the Faculty of the Humanities, Prof Beatrice Ekanjume-Ilongo; and Senior Lecturer in Development Studies and Chair of the Gender Committee, Dr Mamoeketsi Ntho.

Internationalisation, Africanisation, and decolonisation

The conclusion of a formal Memorandum of Understanding, which contributes towards academic growth, reflects the vision of comprehensive internationalisation at both institutions.

According to the UFS Internationalisation Strategy, “Internationalisation, Africanisation and decolonisation are considered as contemporary processes. In line with the South African policy priorities, the internationalisation process at the UFS will in the future include a stronger focus on the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Africa, BRICS, and the Global South. Nevertheless, the university will continue to strengthen and expand its relations and partnerships in the Global North.”

News Archive

Launch of the Africa office of the IIDE

2006-05-25

Attending the launch of the Africa office of the IIDE were from the left Prof Sytse Strijbos (Chairperson of IIDE Europe), Rev Kiepie Jaftha (Chairperson of the IIDE in Africa’s Board of Directors and Chief Director: Community Service at the UFS) and Prof Frederick Fourie (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS).

Attending the launch were from the left Prof Lucius Botes (Director: Centre of Development Support at the UFS), Dr Samuel Kareithi (Head: Community Development at the Cornerstone Christian College, Cape Town), Rev Kiepie Jaftha (Chairperson of the IIDE in Africa’s Board of Directors and Chief Director: Community Service at the UFS), Prof Sytse Strijbos (Chairperson of IIDE Europe) and Dr Ezekiel Moraka (Vice-Rector: Student Affairs at the UFS).

Africa office of IIDE launched on UFS main campus

The Africa office of the International Institute for Development and Ethics (IIDE) was today (26 May 2006) launched on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein.

“The IIDE specialises in the studying and research of general questions of developmental theory and practices and provides services and support in education, strategic planning, policy formulation, advocacy and capacity building of development agencies,” said Rev Kiepie Jaftha, Chairperson of the IIDE in Africa’s Board of Directors and Chief Director: Community Service at the UFS.

According to Rev Jaftha the IIDE in Africa will focus on the conceptual and normative aspects of developmental processes in Sub-Saharan Africa. “We want to foster local and international partnerships with various relevant role-players in civil society, the private sector and public sector in the SACD region and later expand our operations to the rest of Africa,” said Rev Jaftha.

The IIDE in Africa cooperates with a similar foundation in Europe, functioning as the IIDE Europe. This institute was founded in 2003 and its head office is situated in the Netherlands. The UFS is a funder of the IIDE in Africa together with the Paul Foundation and private sponsors from the Netherlands.

“We have already started with various projects which are in various stages of implementation,” said Rev Jaftha. Some of these projects include, among others, the broadening of the master’s degree in Christian Studies of Science and Society (MACSSS) which is currently housed at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam to tertiary institutions in South Africa such as the UFS, the University of Stellenbosch and the Potchefstroom Campus of the Northwest University.

“Another project is an investigation into the possibility of initiating a broad development initiative in the poverty stricken Qwaqwa area. This initiative will attempt to concentrate on issues like the training and empowerment of prospective entrepreneurs in the region, the identification of prospective entrepreneurs for the rendering of development support and the monitoring of the impact of information and communication technology on local communities during the implementation of sustainable development initiatives,” said Rev Jaftha.

“The establishment of the Africa office of the IIDE on the UFS Main Campus is an indication of one of the aims of the UFS to play a role in South Africa and Africa. It also signifies our aim to contribute meaningfully to research and development and to establish links between the academe and practice,” said Rev Jaftha.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
26 May 2006

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