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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

Matters approved by the UFS Council at its meeting on Friday 5 June 2015
2015-06-11

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) approved the following matters during its quarterly meeting on Friday 5 June 2015, which took place on the Bloemfontein Campus:

1.    The 2015 - 2020 UFS Strategic Plan.
2.    The extension of the term appointment of Prof Gert van Zyl, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, for a further five years.
3.    The renaming of JBM Hertzog residence to Beyers Naudé House/Huis Beyers Naudé.
4.    The naming of the new women’s residence on the Bloemfontein Campus as Harmony Residence.
5.    The name of the new hotel on the Bloemfontein Campus as ‘Kovsie-Inn’.

The Council also mandated the UFS management to lead a formal review of the Language Policy through a comprehensive process of consultation with all university stakeholders. The process will include the creation of multiple opportunities and forums for participation, as well as the formation of a university Language Committee which will receive and assess all views on the policy before making recommendations to Management and Council. The review is an open-ended process and three broad outcomes are possible - that the parallel-medium policy remains in place; that minor adjustments are made to the policy; that major changes are made to the existing policy. The Language Committee’s recommendations will be presented to Council at its November 2015 meeting.

Released by:
Lacea Loader
Director: Communication and Brand Management
news@ufs.ac.za
+27(0)51 401 2584

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