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23 January 2020 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa
Gateway
Ensure a vibrant Kovsie student life for yourself by actively participating in the exciting series of official Gateway activities and events.

Enrich your first University of the Free State (UFS) experiences with the annual Gateway first-year’s college. Form long-lasting friendships and memories with your fellow freshmen and gear up for a vibrant academic career at the UFS.

Gateway comprises an exciting series of student-life and learning experiences that are intended to introduce and acquaint students with their respective Kovsie campuses and overall UFS campus life. 

The 2020 Gateway programme inducts first-year students into academic faculty life in order to help them adjust and settle into the university environment. It also aims to instil effective skills in them to thrive academically, and to develop into well-rounded, globally competitive graduates.

Want to experience Gateway? Here’s how

The Gateway Orientation programme on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus is conducted according to student colleges. First-year students who do not belong to an on-campus or day residence on the Bfn Campus, are assigned to a college in Exam Room 3 during their registration. This enables them to follow and be part of the series of events according to the colleges they are assigned to.

Get to know your UFS campus

UFS Campus Tours no longer form part of the Gateway Programme; however, Gateway mentors assigned to specific colleges are available for students to get in touch with, in order to arrange tours of the Bloemfontein Campus. Day-residence students and students residing on campus are paired with P3 mentors, who have been placed in their respective residences to facilitate campus tours for them. 

KovsiesACTUP Performing Arts Competition

The UFS Arts, Culture and Dialogue office has partnered with the Kovsie ACT office for the 2020 Gateway programme, introducing the KovsiesACTUP Performing Arts Competition for all prospective and current students of the UFS. It is geared towards engaging students and enhancing the general social atmosphere on the Bloemfontein Campus during registration.

The competition comprises various categories, including dancing, singing, poetry, DJing, musical bands, and rap. The winner from each category will walk away with R1 500 in cash. The competition finale will be held at the RAG farm on 27 January 2020 at 14:00.
 
For more information on how to get involved with the Arts, Culture and Dialogue Office, students can visit the Callie Human Centre on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus. The office has set up a performance stage, where fellow Kovsies associated with the office are entertaining prospective students and parents who are waiting to register. 

For enquiries about Gateway on each campus, see the details below:

Bloemfontein Campus:  +27 51 401 9876 or email gateway@ufs.ac.za
Qwaqwa Campus: Dulcie Malimabe, +27 58 718 5041; malimabeDP@ufs.ac.za 
South Campus: Tshego Setilo, +27 51 505 1362; SetiloT@ufs.ac.za

Visit the UFS Gateway page for more information on the 2020 programme and how you can get involved.

News Archive

Vishuis secure fifth Varsity Cup title and seventh for UFS
2017-04-21

Description: Vishuis Varsity Cup Tags: Vishuis Varsity Cup

Wian van der Watt scored a try for Vishuis
during the Koshuis final of the Varsity Cup
against Patria. The centre was also crowned
Player of the Tournament in the residence
league.
Photo: Christiaan Kotze/SASPA


The right attitude, a special group of players, and pride to represent their residence. According to Stephen Botha, Vishuis rugby captain, these were the ingredients for his team’s Varsity Cup success as they claimed a fifth national title.

The residence on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) was crowned Koshuis Champions of the Varsity Cup for a second consecutive year. In a repeat of last year’s final, they beat Patria from Pukke (25-10) on 17 April 2017 in Pretoria.
    
University continues national supremacy
Abraham Fischer not only staked its claim again as the most successful residence rugby team in South Africa, but also continued the supremacy of the UFS. The university has been national champions seven out of the ten years of the tournament. Armentum and Legatum were also champions.

“I always say that whoever wins the final of the residence league here, will probably win the Varsity Cup,” Botha says.

Team prepared for finals rugby
He attributes the success to his team’s positive attitude. “Even when we were doing fitness, the guys never complained and never asked how much more we have to do. They just did it."

“I always say that whoever
wins the final of the residence
league here, will probably win
the Varsity Cup,” Botha says.

Vishuis never seemed under too much pressure in the final. Their forwards laid a solid foundation, having the upper hand in the scrums, line-outs, and driving mauls. Although Vishuis is renowned for running rugby, Botha says his team prepared for finals rugby. “We decided to stick to the basics and not to play too risky.”

However, they lost their last league match against Sonop from Tukkies (21-23). Botha agrees that it might have been the right thing before the final. “Like I always say: ‘Every setback is a set up for a great comeback’”.

•    Vishuis centre Wian van der Watt was chosen as the Koshuis Player of the Tournament, while two Shimla flankers, Daniel Maartens and Phumzile Maqondwana, were included in the Varsity Cup Dream Team.

 

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