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04 October 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Barend Nagel
BCom degree
Prospective students are invited to apply for the new BCom Business and Financial Analytics 2020 intake.

A new qualification has recently been added to the University of the Free State (UFS) curriculum and 30 prospective students still have the opportunity to form part of the BCom with specialisation in Business and Financial Analytics intake for 2020. The deadline for applications has been extended to 31 October 2019. 

Committed to the 4th industrial revolution

This flagship degree has been designed for the 4th Industrial Revolution as it integrates quantitative analysis, computer science, statistics and business. This new qualification will equip graduates to become high-functioning executives in the modern global business world. 

“The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences identified the need for a BCom programme incorporating some of these skills in a more deliberate way, in order to prepare our graduates for a changing job market,” says Lizette Pretorius, Faculty Manager.

On par with global standards

International institutions such as Harvard Business School, Carnegie Mellon University, Duke University, and Columbia University have led the way by adopting this cohesive approach to business studies. These universities form part of a listing of the 25 top US schools offering Master’s in Business Analytics programmes. 

The UFS is following in these leading institutions as part of its Integrated Transformation Plan (ITP) to produce globally competitive graduates. According to the ITP: “The future state of engaged scholarship will be an important anchor in maintaining the relevance of the academic syllabus, and linking real local needs to the global knowledge project.”

 Click here to complete the application form. 

Please email the form and required documents to Lizette Pretorius at LPretorius@ufs.ac.za.

News Archive

Boyden observatory celebrates its achievements
2004-10-05

The red carpet will be rolled out and champagne glasses filled tonight when the Boyden Observatory outside Bloemfontein will launch the first phase of the new science centre.

This phase, which was completed earlier this year, consists of a new auditorium, reception area and paths which connect educational visiting points on the Boyden terrain.

“Over the past two years the Boyden Observatory has been re-sited as a research, educational and public facility. The new facilities are now being utilised for educational and public programmes. The 1,5m Boyden telescope has also recently been upgraded and is used for research purposes,” says Dr Matie Hoffman from the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Department of Physics, who is responsible for the management of the centre.

“The Boyden Observatory is a unique facility of the UFS - we are one of the few universities in the world who has its own observatory,” says Dr Hoffman.

“The main purpose of the science centre is to create enthusiasm for science amongst the public. The centre also has a great educational function and focuses specifically on the improvement of the quality of science education in the Free State,” says Dr Hoffman.

Fund-raising for the planned second phase of the science centre, which will consist of interactive in- and outside exhibition areas, will also start tonight. “After the completion of the second phase the Boyden Observatory will probably become the most accessible and public-friendly observatory in the country and a great asset for the Free State Province,” says Dr Hoffman.

A small robotic telescope, which will be controlled from the University College Dublin in Ireland, will also be installed at the Boyden Observatory this year.

“Just as this year is a significant one for the UFS with its centenary celebrations, so it is also a significant one for the Boyden Observatory. The Harvard University in the United States of America started with the construction of the original 1,5 m telescope in its original form 100 years ago, the telescope was put in place at Boyden 70 years ago and Mr Uriah Boyden – the person who donated the money with which the Boyden Observatory was constructed, was born 200 years ago,” says Dr Hoffman.

The first phase of the science centre was built with funds sponsored by the AngloGold Fund, the Shuttleworth Foundation, the Charl van der Merwe Trust and the Lila Theron Trust. Donations from the Friends of Boyden Observatory and other individuals also contributed to the success of the project.

Those who are interested in educational tours of the science centre can contact Dr Hoffman at (051) 401-2322.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
5 October 2004

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