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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

Best Sêr yet!
2012-09-04

Marjolein
Photo: Albert van Biljon
3 September 2012

The best Sêr yet. This was the opinion of those who attended the ATKV’s national Sêr competition on the Bloemfontein Campus on Saturday 1 September 2012.

The competition, an annual event between the universities of Stellenbosch, Pretoria, Johannesburg, the UFS and the North-West University, had the social network Twitter abuzz and was one of the trending topics on this network.

“Sêr is coming home,” presenters of the TV programme MK Kampus Sêr told the audience in the Callie Human Centre before male and female groups from the participating universities took to the stage. The competition was first presented at Kovsies in 1997, with university residences showcasing their singing and entertainment talents.

On Saturday evening the Stellenbosch University took top honours. The male and female groups from this university’s Hippokrates residence took the top spots.

The Kovsies name was held high by Marjolein (female) and Veritas (male) who obtained a second and third place respectively. Marjolein further impressed by winning the prize for the best own composition in the female category. 

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