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17 September 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Valentino Ndaba
Diversity festival
Staff and students come together in celebration at the International Cultural Diversity Festival.


There are 195 countries in the world and the University of the Free State (UFS) officially has a personal relationship with 24 of them. Be it through exchange inbound or outbound programmes or research collaboration, Kovsies is growing its global footprint.

The 2019 International Cultural Diversity Festival brought a mix of music, dance, and poetry to the Bloemfontein Campus on Friday 13 September 2019. The aim of the festival was to recognise, appreciate and celebrate the diverse cultures represented on all our campuses.

Reeling in and rolling out the best talent pool

As stated in the 2018 Internationalisation Report, “Kovsies currently has about 50 international collaboration agreements, and collaboration with 1 584 institutions,” in terms of research. The plan is to widen researchers’ international networks, with a special focus on the African continent.

Finding strength in diversity

“Diversity within groups at the UFS necessitates that we foster a culture of tolerance and a spirit of mutual acceptance and appreciation at our university,” says Chevon Slambee, Chief Officer at the Office for International Affairs (OIA).

Slambee spoke on behalf of the Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation, Prof Corli Witthuhn, and the Director of the OIA, Cornelius Hagenmeier, commending the diversity reflected in our international students and staff community.

She mirrored the views of the Kovsie community at large in calling for an end to division and violence based on “othering”. Referring to the upsurge in violence directed against women and people from other countries that we saw in South Africa last month, Slambee remarked: “We are shocked and speechless in light of these events, which are contrary to the spirit of embracing one another’s humanity, which we believe in and want to promote.”

Content photo International
The International Cultural Diversity was filled with entertainment.

A coming together

The festival theme this year was the Boma which is a traditional space created back in the day where a community would sit around the fire, drumming, singing, dancing and listening to tales told by the elders. The UFS strives to be a similar space – growing the current number of international relationships and immersing the institution in the global village – the African way.

News Archive

Nkanyezi Talk @UFS looks at gender in the 21st century
2013-08-28

 
Lively debates and conversations as students discuss the topic of gender in the 21st century.
28 August 2013
Photo: Linda Fekisi

Students gathered at the CR Swart Senate Hall for the second Nkanyezi Talk @UFS dialogue session. Nkanyezi Talk @UFS is a student initiative that gives students a platform to voice their thoughts and ideas about issues affecting them during and after their university life.

The August-inspired topic, Gender in the 21st century, focused mainly on women. The talk looked at women in the workplace, the role that the media plays in redefining women and how South Africans can integrate the works of theorists on gender into their everyday lives.

A panel of guest speakers included Ace Moloi, former news editor of the Irawa student newspaper at the University of the Free State and News24 contributor, Leah Molatseli, an associate attorney at Phatshoane Henney Attorneys, and Bongi Tsoleli, who is the chairperson of a portfolio in the Free State Legislature.

“We need to take own initiative as students. We need to understand what they want, as well as the issues they are confronted with,” says Bongani Zwane, founder member of Nkanyezi Talk.

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