Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
25 February 2019 | Story Mamosa Makaya | Photo Charl Devenish
Principles Functions
From left: Mrs Zinette de Wet, Headmistress Eunice High School, Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, and Stefan van Schalkwyk from Eunice High School.

The relationship between the University of the Free State (UFS) and high schools in Bloemfontein and the region remains vital to the successful recruitment and enrolment of high-performing students at the university. 

The office of Student Recruitment Services hosted a breakfast on 20 February 2019 to honour school principals in Bloemfontein and surrounding towns for their continued support of UFS student recruitment programmes at their schools.

Principals, headmasters, teachers and chairpersons of school governing bodies, play an important role in advising and motivating learners to apply at institutions they regard as providers of quality tertiary education, and the UFS has been chosen, time and again, as the institution of choice. 

The UFS Student Recruitment Services office engages in recruitment drives using a three-tiered recruitment model throughout the academic year in the Free State and around the country, working closely with the leadership of high schools schools.

University and schools working together

In his welcoming remarks, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, said the relationship between local high schools and the university was vital in the process of developing the region. By producing high-performing students, schools and the university as partners, drive innovation, transformation and academic excellence. “In order to be innovative, we have to be forward looking, and want to work with you on that. I plan to engage with you one-on-one to strengthen our partnerships further,” Prof Petersen said.

Engaging the leaders

Each year, the university presents school principals with awards for their contribution to student recruitment and enrolment. This year, the platinum award, which is the top award for more than 50 enrolments at UFS, was presented to Brebner High School, C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje, Eunice High School, Grey College Secondary School, and Jim Fouché Hoërskool. Other award categories were; gold for 20-49 enrolments, silver for 10-19 enrolments, and diamond for one to nine enrolments, these were presented to 29 schools in Bloemfontein and Excelsior.

The Director: Student Recruitment Services, Nomonde Mbadi, said the value of the relationship with schools and principals was immeasurable, and would continue to be nurtured for years to come. The event is held annually at the UFS, and is a rich platform for renewed engagement into the future.


News Archive

UFS staff and students clean campus together
2011-09-02

 

Kovsies are not black or white, we are green, says Prof. Jonathan Jansen, our Vice-Chancellor and Rector. Here are some of the students and staff who helped to pick up garbage on our Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

A group consisting of students, staff and members of the management team of the University of the Free State (UFS) proved that they are not only talking about sustainability and the importance of keeping the campus clean, but they actually put their words to action by taking up a garbage bag and helping to pick up garbage.

According to Ms Martie Bitzer, Head of the Sustainability Committee of the UFS, the UFS followed the lead of higher education throughout the world by joining the movement for sustainability and took the plunge in addressing sustainability issues with both short- and long-term planning. One of the short-term plans is to make staff and students aware of the importance of a “green” lifestyle. This week’s activities, including the picking up of garbage and planting a tree on the Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS, is the result thereof.

Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, who also helped to pick up garbage, told the group of staff and students that many universities around the world are implementing sustainability initiatives and are keeping their campuses clean, because they care for the environment. He thanked the group for their contribution to this process.

“By cleaning up around us, we show respect towards ourselves and towards our campus,” said Prof. Jansen.

To encourage students to keep the campus clean, Student Affairs at the UFS will launch a competition to see which residence can pick up the most garbage on 8 September 2011. A Clean Thakaneng Bridge Campaign will also be launched later on.
 

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