Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
26 May 2020 | Story Marcus Maphile | Photo Supplied
Marcus Maphile

The African continent is known for endless wars, extreme poverty, under-development, and highly contested borders left by the legacy of colonialism. Low levels of literacy among young people and adults remain a concern in many African states. African universities are slowly beginning to play a significant role in contributing to national innovation systems that seek to change the socio-economic and other fortunes of many poor and marginalised Africans. 

The African continent celebrates the 57th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), and the relevance of the current African Union (AU) in the fight against socio-economic challenges caused by COVID-19 on the continent. The fear faced by most African countries emanates from inadequate healthcare systems and facilities. The debate on the opening of schools and institutions of higher learning is passed around like a soccer ball, as countries are aware that they lack the capacity to accommodate a surge of COVID-19 infections.

The African higher education and research sector is struggling to adapt. Will they be able to play a significant role towards finding a vaccine, producing new knowledge or research from African indigenous plants?  To be factual, in many ways this is not likely to happen, as most of the higher education institutions struggle with internet connectivity and high data costs. Many books and journals in libraries remain inaccessible, and most will only later record how developed countries moved to online teaching and learning with great success or failure.   All this will happen under the noses of illiterate Africans who rightly expect their higher education and research institutions to contribute towards finding immediate responses to the COVID-19 pandemic threat.

Most public and academic libraries remain closed and there is no word and contribution from highly decorated professionals towards sustaining reading habits and availing relevant materials for research towards finding a vaccine. There is no co-ordinated plan from library ministries and or library lobby groups. This is the context in which Africa Month 2020 is celebrated. It will be remembered as the year in which the promotion of reading and the opening of schools took a beating.

Marcus Maphile is Assistant Director: Library Marketing at the University of the Free State and he writes in his personal capacity.

News Archive

Prevention is better than cure – have yourself tested!
2012-04-18

 

At the testing in the George du Toit Administration building were from left: Frank Nkoana, Senior Director: Academic Student Services, Mickey Gordon, Head: Marketing, Institutional Promotion and Sport: Corporate Relations, Chris Liebenberg, Senior Director: Finance and Lourens Geyer, Senior Director: Human Resources.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

Health and Wellness will do medical screening tests from this Monday to Friday on the Bloemfontein Campus and on the South Campus on Monday 23 April 2012.

The tests include blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI (body mass index). In addition, free eye screening tests can be done. The results of the tests will be available directly afterwards.

Click here for the programme, which includes the place, date and time when the screening tests will take place on the Bloemfontein Campus and the South Campus.

The tests are free and all staff are invited to have themselves tested. There will be a lucky draw at each session with gift vouchers from Kloppers and the Loch Logan Waterfront.
 

 

 

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept