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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 becomes Varsity Netball champions – again
2014-10-21



Photo: Catherine Kotze, SASPA
Kovsies has become the first team to successfully defend the Varstiy Netball title when they beat Tuks 49-42 in the 2014 final in Pretoria on Monday 20 October.

University of Pretoria (Tuks) might have been unbeaten for the entire 2014 tournament, but this did not hinder Kovsies in becoming the Varsity Netball champions for a second consecutive time.

From the outset, both these furiously focused teams fought hard and only after ample turnovers could Kovsies finally manage to open the score board.

The Mostert sisters, Karla and Tanya, won a couple of crucial balls, leaving the UFS dominating possession in the opening exchanges.

When Tuks eventually got to scoring, they could not stop the UFS from rushing to a 9-3 lead after the first ten minutes. The visitors had established a 13-5 advantage by the first break, keeping the Pretoria crowd quiet.

The home side came back shooting in the second quarter with great determination, fighting their way back into the game. Tuks ran hard, needing to work hard against Kovsies, who still managed to be in the lead with 22-16 at half-time.

Kovsies made good use of their power play early in the third quarter to stretch their lead further to 30-22. They made the most of their opportunities, going into the final quarter with a 39-31 upper hand.

Even though Tuks made a couple of changes during the final break, they could not avoid defeat in the end.

Kovsies’ Lauren-Lee Christians was also the player of the match, while the champion’s captain, Karla Mostert, was announced as the Player of the Tournament.

This hard-working defender made a number of crucial interventions alongside her sister Tanya in the final. Karla proved that she was the fans’ tournament favorite, claiming the most votes and winning a Samsung S4.

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