Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
24 February 2020 | Story Ilze Bakkes | Photo Supplied
UFS hosts Bloemfontein Schools principal

The relationship between the University of the Free State (UFS) and high schools in Bloemfontein and the region remains vital to the successful recruitment and enrolment of high-performing students at the university. 

To encourage and develop this cooperative bond, the office for Student Recruitment Services hosted a breakfast recently to honour school principals from Bloemfontein and surrounding towns for their continued support of UFS student recruitment programmes at their schools.

An educational nurturing ground for future Kovsies

At the event (hosted on 11 February 2020), the university presented school principals with awards for their contribution to student recruitment and enrolment. This year, the platinum award – which is the top award for more than 50 enrolments at the UFS in 2020 – was presented to Brebner High School, C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje, Eunice High School, Grey College Secondary School, Fichardt Park High School, Sentraal High School, and Jim Fouché High School. Other award categories were – gold for 20-49 enrolments, silver for 10-19 enrolments, and diamond for one to nine enrolments; these awards were presented to 22 schools from Bloemfontein, Thaba Nchu, Ficksburg, and Botshabelo.

Acknowledging their role as an educational nurturing ground for future Kovsies, Nomonde Mbadi, Director: Student Recruitment Services, says the value of the relationship with schools and principals is immeasurable, and will continue to be nurtured for years to come.

 “Principals, headmasters, teachers, and chairpersons of school governing bodies play an important role in advising and motivating learners to apply at institutions they regard as providers of quality tertiary education, and the UFS has been chosen, time and again, as the institution of choice.” 

School principals of Durban and Pretoria schools will be honoured by similar events during March and May 2020 respectively.

News Archive

UFS on energy-saving mode
2009-09-15

The University of the Free State (UFS) has undertaken several measures to reduce energy consumption on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein.

“Part of Eskom’s strategy is that all the main universities must reduce their electricity consumption. Because the university is the second biggest user of electricity in Bloemfontein we have to cut our consumption according to the new energy policy,” said Prof. Niel Viljoen, Chief Director of Operations at the UFS.

“Electricity is also expensive and if we look at global warming and everybody’s responsibility, I think we all have a moral obligation to save energy,” said Prof. Viljoen.

“The energy crisis of January 2008 and beyond, with its load-shedding limitations, was a major driver for the government to introduce the Power Conservation Scheme,” said Mr Anton Calitz, the UFS’s electrical engineer.

The measures put in place by the UFS include amongst others:

The introduction of a solar water-heating system in the residences, which is a first of its kind in Bloemfontein.
An investigation is also being launched into alternatives and the effective heating of rooms in the residences.

Feasibility studies are currently being conducted to determine whether energy saving can be achieved with radiation panels.

Energy-saving lights have been installed in the following buildings: the Architecture Building, Genmin Lectorium, Geology lecture halls, Winkie Direko Building, George du Toit Building, Sasol Library, Francois Retief Building, as well as in the residences. This measure has resulted in massive energy saving.

Energy meters for the Library, Computer Laboratory Building, François Retief Building and Steyn Substation are being planned as the first phase.

Real-time metering will result in every UFS computer user being aware of power consumption on the campus.

New lift motors and control systems that reduce energy consumption have been installed at the Agriculture and the George du Toit Buildings.

In the Computer Laboratory Building the temperature adjusting point for the venues is set at 22 °C and, in the case of new projects, green guidelines are applied.

It is expected that the government and local authorities will bring more pressure to bear on the UFS to save energy. Applications for increased capacity will possibly be linked to energy-saving targets.

This trend will continue until 2014 when additional power stations will be put into operation.

“Our aim is to save 10% on energy consumption,” said Prof. Viljoen.

“Heavy financial penalties will be imposed if a 10% saving is not achieved,” added Mr Calitz.

On average, our energy consumption per day this year is 128,964 kWh as compared to last year’s 119,752 kWh.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za  
14 September 2009

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