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03 March 2020

The Office for International Affairs (OIA) at the University of the Free State (UFS) implemented the second iteration of its Umoja Buddy Programme (UBP) in 2020. The UBP is a flagship internationalisation-at-home programme aimed at the smooth academic, social, and cultural integration of first-entering international students at the UFS by pairing them with senior UFS students. It offers local students an international experience on the home campus and develops their international and intercultural competence through direct interaction with international students. The UBP contributes to the achievement of the UFS vision, whereby every student will in future have an international experience during their studies at the UFS.


Internationalisation at home

On 13 February 2020, a welcome function themed Echoes of Sophiatown set the tone for this year’s edition. Chevon Slambee, Chief Officer in the OIA and UFS master’s student, welcomed the students and explained the theme of the day. She said that, “as students, we have a responsibility to be active citizens and contribute to change and social transformation”. Programme coordinator Bulelwa Moikwatlhai introduced the function and framework of the programme and highlighted the importance of internationalisation at home. Also in attendance was the Dean of Students, Pura Mgolombane, who encouraged students in his address to honour their heritage, “so that together, we can be able to appreciate one another”. He emphasised the importance of social justice for academic success. The SRC member for the International Student Council, Simba Matheba, expressed his support for the UBP. The UFS Arts, Culture, and Dialogue office provided entertainment at the event.

Umoja Buddy

International and local students mingling at the 2020 Umoja Buddy Programme Welcome Function.

News Archive

Free State takes all at the National Netball Championships for seniors
2010-06-04

 Anja Opperman
Netball at the University of the Free State (UFS) had a very successful season. The Cheetahs won gold for the first time since 2005 at the National Netball Championship for seniors that took place during the past weekend in the DF Malherbe Centre at the University of Stellenbosch. The Cheetah team consists only of Kovsies (eight Kovsies and four old Kovsies).

This year Free State won the national U.19, U.21 and senior Netball Championships.

According to Ms Burta de Kock from KovsieSport at the UFS, students from the Cheetah group work extremely hard. “The players practice every day between three to four hours. It was clear from the beginning that the players form a unit and will do everything in their power to make us proud. Their loyalty, perseverance and determination were unbelievable, she said.

The championship was a round robin and the Cheetahs easily beat the other eight provinces namely Ingwes (Mpumalanga), Crocodile (Limpopo), Unicorns (Northwest-South), Flamingos (Northern Cape), Mermaids (KZN), Tornados (Western Cape) and Thunderbirds (Gauteng).

In the semi-final the Cheetahs beat the Tornados 44-30 and they qualified for the finals. They played against the Thunderbirds, which included six Protea players, in the final. This only motivated the Cheetah players. With outstanding play and hard work they won the match 43-37 after they were behind in points.

Adéle Niemand was nominated as the best defence player, Maryka Holtzhausen the best goal player and Anja Opperman as best player of the championship.

 

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