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08 October 2019 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Charl Devenish
Gradstar UFS
The 2019 GradStar programme is all about producing well-rounded students and providing them with opportunities in the world of work, explained Head of UFS Career Services, Belinda Janeke.
Congratulations to the Kovsies top-11 students who made it into the GradStar top-100 programme for 2019!

Each year, 100 South African students are selected through a rigorous four-phase judging process to become part of the GradStar programme. The programme is designed to offer opportunities for employment to previously unrecognised students.

What makes the top 11? 

According to the UFS Head of Career Services, Belinda Janeke, the GradStar programme is all about producing a well-rounded student. Approximately 6 000 applications were received from Kovsies, of which 500 were selected based on a personality test. Another test was given to the 500 students who passed the personality test, after which interviews were conducted to determine the top 100 from the UFS.  

The students who were selected to represent the UFS exhibited the most potential as future leaders in their respective fields. Apart from academic achievement, contestants were evaluated according to their individual soft skills such as motivation, discipline, altruism, and attitude. This combination promised to deliver top candidates for future employers. 

2019 GradStar programme experiences

Throughout the competition, Kovsie contestants were exposed to new people and opportunities to network with various companies in their preferred career fields, where they had the opportunity to share their CVs with potential employers. Contestants were also afforded the opportunity to develop critical problem-solving skills in the world of work. The GradStar top-100 students also have a WhatsApp group where jobs are advertised.

The programme was valuable for the Kovsies; not only did it prepare them for employment, but also provided them with an opportunity for learning and recognising their own strengths and weaknesses as individuals in the working world. 

Congratulations to the Kovsies who made it into the GradStar top 100: 

Mariné du Toit: Bachelor of Social Work
Nyiko Maluleka: Bachelor of Arts, Corporate and Marketing Communication
Bianca Malan: Bachelor of Accounting, Financial Accounting
Boitumelo Mancoe: Master of Business Administration
Kabelo Mashego: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB)
Kananelo Moletsane: Bachelor of Agriculture
Mudzunga Mukwevho: Bachelor of Accounting, Financial Accounting
Neo Roberts: Bachelor of Science, Information Technology 
Refilwe Maimane: Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting 
Themba Makhoba: Bachelor of Public Administration
Mpolokeng Mmutle: Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting

News Archive

Kovsie first-years get ready for great things
2011-01-16

Prof. Jonathan Jansen (Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS) with two of the first-year students.
- Photo: Lize-Mare Smit

“One thing I can assure you: here academic work comes first.” This was how Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State (UFS), set first-years parents’ minds at ease during the welcoming events of the first-years on the Main Campus the past weekend. 

The welcoming events, which took place over two days, were attended by a total of 7 000 first-years and their parents from across the country. 
 
Prof. Jansen also told the students and their parents that they were at the best place, by sharing his excitement about all the new students who decided to come and study at Kovsies. “You have overcome major obstacles in order to be here today,” he said at the welcoming.
 
With more than 90% new students who comply with admission requirements, this group of students promises to become true leaders of South Africa.
 
Prof. Jansen shared a few plans for the year with the audience. “As in 2010, we shall once again send a group of first-year students to universities later this year, not only in America, but amongst others also to Europe and Asian countries, amongst others, to learn more about different cultures and diversity. We aim to double the number of students who will be selected to 150 this year.” We can also look forward to, amongst others, a brand-new entrance and gymnasium for the Main Campus and four new hostels, two of which will be built on the Qwaqwa Campus.
 
Prof. Jansen emphasised the seriousness with which academic work had to be regarded, by referring to the compulsory class attendance that was implemented last year. “Since the inception of this arrangement in 2010, there was a 30% increase in students’ pass rate,” he said.
 
This year, for the first time, honorary awards were also given to young people who had rendered an exceptional service to the community. Anél Kleingeld, a 10-year-old learner from Trompsburg, and Mpho Phahlo from the UFS’s Unit for Students with Disabilities proudly received these awards. Anél made a remarkable contribution to George’s community when she encouraged learners from her` school to collect and deliver 700 litres of water for this community. Mpho made a point of assisting and motivating persons with disabilities at Kovsies to work hard on a daily basis.
 
 

 

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