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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

UFS Business School positioned as key partner in the fight against fraud
2016-11-21

A collaborative effort to curb the scourge of fraud in public and private companies has been identified as the most effective method at the launch of International Fraud Awareness week, 13-19 November.  The programme kicked off with a media briefing held in Bloemfontein, under the theme: “Curb Fraud and Accelerate Economic Transformation”.  At this occasion, the Free State Provincial Treasury and key partner institutions which are: UFS Business School, Standard Bank, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), and PricewaterhouseCoopers, made a pronouncement on their efforts to stop fraud in public and private institutions.

Strategic partnerships empower companies
The UFS Business School, in collaboration with Strategic Investigations and Seminars, formed a collaborative effort to present the Advanced Certificate in Fraud Examination, thus empowering individual companies to have within their ranks, certified fraud examiners.  The programme is a registered SAQA, NQF level 7 course comprising four modules; Law, Investigation, Fraud Prevention, Detection and Ethics, Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes. Students are assisted to continue to the ACFE Board examination in order to become internationally accredited. In 2016, a new e-learning model was introduced to decrease the time spent away from the workplace, thereby encouraging more professionals to enrol.

Commitment is key driving force
Speaking at the media briefing, Jo’Anni Deacon, Senior Officer at the UFS Business School, said “by presenting the programme, the university had positioned itself as a key partner with provincial government and other entities in the fight against fraud”.

Head of Department in the Free State Provincial Treasury, Godfrey Mahlatsi, reiterated the stance of zero tolerance against fraud, and that the department was committed to ensuring that this partnership continued to grow, enabling all to strengthen the message that fraud and corruption undermined the goals and objectives of the National Development Plan.

Gerhard Geldenhuys, Director of PwC Forensic Services said: “I believe we are making a difference and further believe that the time for dialogue on fraud is now better than ever.”

The week-long campaign encourages employees (both in the public and private sector), and business leaders, to proactively take action to minimise the impact of fraud in their environments.

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