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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

Social Work students scoop the Service Learning grand prize
2016-03-09

Description: KL 2016 03 09 Social Work students  Tags: KL 2016 03 09 Social Work students  
From the left: Natalie van Wyk, Jané Erasmus, Cornél Odendaal, Anré la Grange, and Werner Botes on winning the Service Learning Prize in the Faculty of Humanities.

In 2015 five third-year Social Work students started a project, “Be Buddies, Not Bullies” at Joe Solomon Primary School in Heidedal. The project was specifically aimed at Grade 7 learners, to help them to improve their interpersonal skills and discipline at school and at home, as bullying behaviour among them was on the rise. A mentorship programme was also developed for this target group.

The students designed a manual addressing issues such as: self-esteem, relationships, peer pressure, conflict handling, emotional intelligence, effective communication, acceptance of diversity, responsibility and support.The students identified leaders in Grade 7 and then trained them to be mentors for their peers. The learners will form groups and meet on a weekly basis under the guidance of these trained leaders,to deal with issuessuch as those covered by the manual.

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