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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

UFS meets church leaders
2011-09-14

Our university is fully committed to working with community structures whose vision and mission is to enhance and enrich the lives of those who are less fortunate.

These were the words of the Vice-Rector: External Relations, Dr Choice Makhetha, during a recent visit to the Bopanang Stimulation Centre where she met with the Qwaqwa Ministers Forum under the leadership of Elder Tumaka Tlooko and Rev. Paulos Mohatlane.

“We would not be doing justice to ourselves as the university if we are not responsive to the voices of the needy in our communities,” said Dr Makhetha to a hall packed with ministers of different churches from all corners of Qwaqwa.

This one-year-old structure has already seen numerous successes, one of which is the new working relationship with our university’s Qwaqwa Campus, which has committed itself to providing these ministers with short courses to empower them in full.

Bopanang Stimulation Centre was in a festive mood as the children sang songs of worship, thus forgetting their daily challenges caused by their various disabilities.

Dr Makhetha was accompanied by our Qwaqwa Campus Principal, Dr Elias Malete, and the Head of Administration, Teboho Manchu.

 

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