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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

Discussion on reconciliation and social cohesion
2013-03-15

15 March 2013

South Africa has been pursuing the journey of reconciliation between races since 1994. One of the key variables in this is the de-racialising of the economic legacy of apartheid.

The results of Census 2011 show that racial income inequality, that was introduced and maintained by apartheid, still persists. What are the implications of this for the reconciliation project?

The UFS and the National Research Foundation (NRF) is hosting a dialogue on reconciliation and social cohesion in the context of racial inequality at the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

This dialogue is part if the Science for Society Lecture Series by the NRF, which seeks to bridge the divide between science and community issues. The objective is to help society relate to how science, research and technology positively impact our day-to-day lives and on future generations.

Speakers: Prof Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Senior Research Professor on Trauma, Forgiveness and Reconciliation at UFS and Prof Andre Keet, Director of the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice at UFS.

Come and join the discussion.

  • Date: Tuesday 19 March 2013
  • Time: 18:30
  • Place: Albert Wessels Auditorium

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