Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
28 June 2019 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa
UFS Thought Leader series
The 2019 UFS Thought-Leader Series explores techniques of renewal and solutions for economic growth and entrepreneurship as an instrument of development for South Africa.
The University of the Free State (UFS), in cooperation with Vrye Weekblad, will present the second consecutive Thought-Leader Series as part of the Vrystaat Arts Festival on Thursday 4 July in the Economic and Management Science Auditorium (EBW Auditorium) on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

As a higher-education institution, the UFS deems itself responsible for contributing to local and national public discourses by assembling industry experts to deliberate on imperative topics that affect students, the broader community, and the country in one way or another. 

Topic of discussion for 2019 Thought-leader series 

In 2019, the UFS Thought-Leader series unpacks Economic Growth and Entrepreneurship for a Growing South Africa in the form of two concentrated panel discussions which will address the questions, ‘How can we fix the South African economy and create jobs?’ and ‘How can we establish a pro-youth entrepreneurship strategy for South Africa?’ respectively.

Expert panellists to discuss economic growth and entrepreneurship

Editor of the Vrye Weekblad, Max du Preez, will be facilitating discussions between panellists. The following panellists will participate in the first panel: Executive Director at the Centre for Politics and Research and political commentator, Prince Mashele; Vice-Dean (Strategic Projects) of the UFS Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Prof Philippe Burger; Director and Chief Economist at the Efficient Group, Dawie Roodt; and Chief Economist at Investec, Annabel Bishop.  

Chief Executive Officer at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Maryana Iskander; Senior Banker at the Rand Merchant Bank, David Abbey; and Head of the UFS Department of Business Management, Prof Brownhilder Neneh, will form part of the second panel. 

Details about the event:

Date: 4 July 2019

Time: 10:00
Panel 1: How can we fix the South African economy and create jobs?’ 

Time: 12:00
How can we establish a pro-youth entrepreneurship strategy for South Africa?’ 

Venue: Economic and Management Sciences Auditorium (EMS Auditorium), UFS Bloemfontein Campus

More information: +27 51 401 3422 or news@ufs.ac.za
 

News Archive

Oprah warms up chilly Bloemfontein
2011-06-24

 
Mr John Samuel (left), interim Director of the International Institute for Studies in Race, Reconciliation and Social Justice; Dr Winfrey, and Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector.
Photo: Rian Horn 

Transcription of speech

Photo gallery

Video clip

Dr Oprah Winfrey brought Bloemfontein a warm day in the middle of a bitter cold winter. Outside the Callie Human Centre of our university, people were shivering in temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius.

Inside, however, the audience was engulfed in the excitement and warmth of a very special occasion: media icon and philanthropist Dr Winfrey received an honorary degree in Education from our university. 

The graduation was probably the biggest ceremony of its kind in South Africa. The Callie Human was packed with more than 4 500 people who had jumped for the opportunity to attend one of the great milestones in the existence of our university. They had to brave long queues to obtain tickets and to get seated. However, this just added to the excitement of seeing Dr Winfrey in real life. 

The ceremony was like a huge reunion or festival. Some people had called in designers to dress them for the occasion, while others fetched their very best clothes from their wardrobes. People tweeted, sent SMS messages, phoned or brought their families with them. Cell phones and cameras captured the occasion.

The graduation ceremony was also an emotional moment for Dr Winfrey, who shed silent tears.

Her motivational talk afterwards was very inspiring. Dr Winfrey said that everybody can be successful. They just need to apply their minds to what they want.

“Never give up. You are not defined by your circumstances. There is hope. Have a vision and let that vision be bigger than yourself. Allow yourself to live in that space of yourself,” Dr Winfrey said.

About 100 volunteers from the univeristy community helped by among others showing guests to their seats, providing guests assistance with parking and taking care of general enquiries from the audience.

The university received messages of congratulations from all over for the arrangements and the professional way in which the ceremony was presented.
 

Media Release
25 June 2011
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: +27 51 401 2584
Cell: +27 83 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za


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