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Career Services
Front row from left to right: Magdalena Matthys (intern), Lavhelesani Mpofu (intern). Back row from left to right: Carmenita Redcliffe (Chief Officer: Company Relations), Nthabiseng Khota (intern), Belinda Janeke (Head of Career Services and Student Relations).
The Career Services office opened its facilities in 2007 as a help desk on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus at the Sasol Library, due to the increasing number of students looking for employment opportunities. The team has grown over the years and now consists of two chief officers, Belinda Janeke and Carmenita Redcliffe, two research assistants, 15 volunteers and seven career ambassadors.  The portfolio of company relations is the latest addition to the team that runs a number of new initiatives and events that aim to enhance overall marketing and services offered by the department.

In January this year, Career Services hosted a corporate breakfast in Johannesburg.  Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, led a delegation consisting of Vice Rector: Institutional Change, Student Affairs, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Dean of Student Affairs, Pura Mgolombane, Director of Institutional Advancement, and Director of Communication and Marketing, Annamia van den Heever, and Lacea Loader respectively . The event was an initiative that sought to motivating companies, donors and funders to employ and fund top UFS graduates.

According to Belinda Janeke, keeping UFS students informed about career opportunities and equipping them with the skills and grit to make them employable, finding employment or starting their own business is the department’s ultimate goal.



News Archive

Brazil: Wayde’s dream destination since childhood
2015-12-15


Wayde van Niekerk knows he has to work even harder in 2016 if he wants to achieve success at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Charl Devenish

When he was still in primary school, Wayde’s dream destination was Brazil. Even his dog’s name is Rio.

So it almost seems written in the stars for Wayde van Niekerk to take part in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janerio.

According to the 400m athlete of the University of the Free State (UFS), the Olympics has been something he has been dreaming about for years.

Van Niekerk, who studies BA Marketing at the UFS, has had a phenomenal 2015 season, and the whole of South Africa hopes he can repeat his outstanding form in Rio. The Olympics will be held from 5-21 August 2016.

Funny story

“It actually is a funny story. You know when you are in primary school, and the teacher says you have to write down your dream destination. Mine was Brazil,” Van Niekerk revealed.

“In 2012 at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics, I saw they introduced Rio as the next hosting country, and I thought Wow! That is where I want to be, and what I want to do.

“That opened my eyes and I knew God has a plan for me. I have to put in the hard work and achieve something with my life. Luckily from there on, there was pure growth in my life and I am grateful for that.”

His dream is also carried by his dog, Rio, a husky he got about two years ago.

Preparation in 2016

Van Niekerk will follow a specific programme leading up to Rio 2016.

In February next year, he will still be taking things easy, but will probably compete for the UFS in the Varsity Sports athletics.

“You have to build up slowly to peak at the right time,” he said.

In June 2016, he will start competing internationally in Jamaica, then New York, the All-Africa Games in Durban, and then,  some Diamond League events before the Olympics in August.

In the archive:

KovsieSport star

NBC tells waydes story

Wayde nominated as SAs best

Wayde Adidas face

Wayde’s hat trick of awards

Congratulate wayde and other achievers

Wayde wins gold

Kovsie trailblazing track runner

Kovsie gold medalist

Kovsie Campion sprinter

Wayde sets African record

Kovsies keep winning, this time in athletics

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