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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

Extension of registration process to 15 February 2013
2013-02-08

08 February 2013

In response to the representations made by the Students Representative Council (SRC) on behalf of students who are struggling to find the financial means to enable them to register, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor has reluctantly agreed to permit registration to continue until Friday 15 February 2013. This concession is limited to the students who are attempting to register as current pipeline applicants or returning students. No new late applications will be permitted during this extension.

The process of registration will not take place in the Callie Human Centre. Students will register by visiting each of the offices involved.

This reluctant decision is based on the fact that compassion needs to be shown to families that are struggling in these difficult financial times. It is also taken reluctantly because of the knowledge that this places pressure on our academic colleagues, who have already advanced well into the first quarter of the programmes of study.

There shall be no further concession. The absolute deadline for registration is now 15 February 2013 as any further extension will significantly undermine the academic project.

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