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UFS rolls out second iteration of the Umoja Buddy Programme

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

Qwaqwa Campus launches new degree in Community Development

2016-11-29

Photo (from the left): Morongoe Mohaleroe
(Department of Social Development), Albert Schoeman
(Assistant Dean: Faculty of the Humanities),
Dr Elsa Crause (Campus Vice-Principal:
Academic and Research), Grey Magaiza
(Programme Head: Community Development),
Dr Margie Maistry, and Prof Darren Lortan
(both from Durban University of Technology).

From 2017, the Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State will offer a new professional degree in Community Development. This was revealed during the launch that was recently held on the campus.

Speakers acknowledged the positive contribution the new degree was expected to make in the region, especially in mobilising the civil society to join hands with the government in improving the quality of life in South Africa.

“There has always been a dire need for such a degree in this part of the country,” said Morongoe Mohaleroe, the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Director in the Department of Social Development.

“Our department is working hard at both national and provincial levels to professionalise this sector, and the qualification will definitely help in that regard,” she said.

Mohaleroe also thanked the campus for supporting her department with community-based research and studies by students.

Speaking during the launch, the Campus Vice-Principal: Academic and Research, Dr Elsa Crause, said the campus was proud to be the first in the country to offer this professional qualification.

‘‘What has brought us all here today, is history in the making,’’ she said to an audience consisting of a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including government and civil society structures like Save the Children and World Vision.

“Our campus will be the first in South Africa to offer this type of degree and a maximum of only 35 students will be accepted,” she added.

For more details, prospective students may contact Grey Magaiza (Programme Head: Community Development) at magaizag@ufs.ac.za or +27 58 718 5419.

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