Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
24 September 2020 | Story Bulelwa Moikwatlhai | Photo Supplied
The third edition of the UFS International Cultural Diversity Festival took place on 24 September 2020, organised annually by the UFS Office for International Affairs in Heritage Month. As part of the South African Heritage Day celebrations, the event honours the different heritages at the UFS. The entire day is dedicated to the expression of diverse cultural experiences from all over the world. “Even during this uncertain time, it is important to find time to celebrate our uniqueness and to appreciate one another’s heritage and culture in the spirit of our humanity”, says Bulelwa Moikwatlhai, Coordinator of the International Cultural Diversity Festival. 

Connecting cultures

This year’s theme was ‘Connecting the Cultures’. It focused on the digital ways of connecting the world while sharing different cultural experiences and celebrations, as well as embracing Heritage Day. The day consisted of a lot of virtual activities, messages being shared, a collaboration of songs that brought light and laughter during this time of a world pandemic. “Individuals from different cultures have been invited to share their favourite cultural cuisines, regalia, songs, and dances, and last words of encouragement and support during these times in their home language while providing translation,” says Prof Corli Witthuhn, Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation. 

The programme included artistic presentations by the UFS Arts, Culture, and Dialogue office in the Students Affairs Division, coordinated by Angelo Mockie. 

International Cultural Diversity

Director of the UFS Office for International Affairs, Cornelius Hagenmeier, explained that cultural diversity is central to the university’s internationalisation process. He emphasised that the university actively strives to increase its international diversity, which nurtures intellectual cross-fertilisation and the incubation of new ideas. Central is that everyone, irrespective of culture and origin, should feel welcome at the UFS, he says.
The virtual festival allowed students and staff to share and celebrate who they are while learning from each other. This enhances the international and intercultural competencies of the transforming UFS community.

News Archive

Future economic development lies in humankind’s ability to learn from nature
2015-09-30

We as humans have become more powerful than we are wise. We live in a world where there is an abundance of knowledge but less wisdom. ”These were the opening remarks of Edward Kieswetter, Group CEO at Alexander Forbes, and former Chairperson of the UFS Council, as guest speaker at the UFS Business School on 23 September 2015, on the subject of the future economic world order, and the vast amount of knowledge that humans possess. “The knowledge we possess has the potential either to develop us greatly, or put us at high risk of extinction,” he said.

Mr Kieswetter was accompanied by Dr Idriss Aberkane, a French thinker, entrepreneur, and academic, who is co-founder and CEO of Scanderia Ltd. Dr Aberkane spoke of three new concepts that the world is moving towards: Knowledge Economy, Biomimicry, and the Blue Economy.  He said “humankind’s second renaissance is based on the knowledge economy.”  He added that knowledge is infinite and prolific, with its global quantity doubling every 7 to 9 years. He added that “the combination of forms of knowledge grows exponentially and non-linearly.”

On the subject of Biomimicry, he said “nature is high-tech, we should read it rather than burn it.” High-tech companies, such as Samsung and Apple Inc are beginning to use Biomimicry to produce the most advanced technological gadgets, and even more companies are using the same, to advance the fields of medicine, agriculture, production of apparel, and sustainable development.

The session was attended by MBA students, student leaders, and members of the university community.

The guest speaker series forms part of the MBA programme held at the UFS Business School throughout the year.

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