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21 September 2020
MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR AND VICE-CHANCELLOR: UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENTS AT THE UFS

I hope you are well, healthy, and safe. I have experienced an overwhelming sense of commitment from staff and students across the university to make a success of the 2020 academic year. Thank you for working together towards this common goal.

Currently, we have a significant number of students back on the campuses in line with the university’s reintegration plan, and others are continuing with online learning. On 16 September 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the country will move to alert Level 1 as from midnight on Sunday 20 September 2020. During Level 1 of the national lockdown, we will continue to return staff and students in a structured and phased approach according to the university’s reintegration plan. However, we are still unable to return all our students to the campuses, as we have to adhere to physical distancing and hygiene measures and also have to take into account the capacity of the lecture venues on the campuses, but most specifically the residences.

Please note that you will be informed by your faculty if you are required to return to campus during Level 1. If you have NOT been contacted, you will be supported through remote multimodal teaching, learning, and assessment until you are informed by your faculty that you can return to campus.

Data shows that most of you have adapted well to the blended learning modes – I find it admirable and inspiring. Rest assured that your lecturers are continuing to work hard to deliver a quality teaching and learning experience. Please use the #LearnOn material as a guide to plan for the second semester and engage with your lecturers on academic problems or consult with your faculty structures to find suitable solutions.

The university is aware that international students who have been residing outside of the country during Levels 5 and 4, may return to campus during Level 1; we will communicate with these students in due course.

I am confident that you are focused and committed to completing the second semester. We have prepared a safe environment for students who are returning to campus during Level 1. Sufficient hygiene measures are in place, as well as re-configurations to ensure physical distancing. The wearing of masks, physical distancing, and hand sanitising remain compulsory on all the campuses.

During Level 1, campus access will remain restricted – only those with campus access permits will be allowed to enter. Space in our residences remains limited due to physical distancing and residence students must comply with the protocols in their respective residences. See the Return to campus of students_Level 1 of national lockdown document for more information.

Although our country will be on Level 1 of the national lockdown, it is still extremely important that you remain vigilant and take ownership of your health and look out for the health of those around you. Ultimately, your health is your responsibility. Please do not let your guard down and adhere to the protocols and regulations – for your own safety, and for the safety of others.

It is also important to keep your mental health in check – make use of the #WellbeingWarriors campaign from our Department of Student Counselling and Development, which is aimed at encouraging health and well-being among students. Visit the COVID-19 website for comprehensive information and updates.

Although the infection rate in our country is decreasing, remember that the COVID-19 pandemic is still testing every aspect of society; we must not underestimate the impact that the pandemic still has on local and global communities. Take care of yourselves and those around you and comply with the national guidelines and regulations.

I wish you all the best with your studies.

News Archive

Giraffe research broadcast on National Geographic channel
2016-03-09

Description: Giraffe research Tags: Giraffe research

A documentary focusing on the latest and most interesting research about giraffes was recently broadcasted on National Geographic. Dr Francois Deacon from the UFS Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences and the team of researchers working with him, were first in the world to equip giraffes with GPS collars, and to conduct research on them.

Research by Dr Francois Deacon, from the UFS Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, involving the equipping of giraffes with GPS collars, was broadcast this week as part of a documentary (4 March 2016 and subsequent weeks) on National Geographic (Channel 182). The documentary is the first of two on his team's research.

Dr Deacon and the team of researchers working with him were the first in the world to equip giraffes with GPS collars, and to conduct research on this initiative. The group of researchers can now follow the animals night and day by means of the GPS collars, while monitoring their movements from a distance on a computer screen and seeing the world from a giraffe's perspective.

“The documentary focuses on the latest and interesting information about our research in different countries,” Dr Deacon said. Besides their local research on giraffes, he and his team also assist in other projects and research in Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda.

“There is much to learn from the documentary,” Dr Deacon said. Interesting facts from their research include herd interactions by individuals towards each other, bulls versus bulls, and cows versus calves. In the documentary, the viewer can also learn how giraffes use thermoregulation, their tongues, and roaming areas and distances; peculiar behaviour such as feeding on bones and soil; bulls fighting; how and when giraffes drink water; and the conservation and management of giraffes.
 
Focus is also placed on the manner in which the latest research plays a role in the better understanding of the animals.
 
According to Dr Deacon, this is the first documentary to focus on giraffe research on such a large scale. Marco Polo Films from Terra Mater are contracted by National Geographic to produce nature films – this was the hundredth nature film produced by them.
 
“There has never before been such a production about giraffes. It also attracted huge interest and reaction overseas, which will provide great exposure for our research and for the UFS.
 
“We believe that the media involvement will provide much more exposure to giraffes, which is a good thing, since they are facing extinction in Africa. The exposure can, in itself, lead to new research and has already started attracting international students to the UFS,” Dr Deacon said.
 
The second documentary will follow later this year. Iniosante, a film team from Texas, USA, is producing this film, which focuses on the extinction of giraffes. It is the same team responsible for the production Last of the Longnecks.



Additional resources:

-    Last of the Longnecks (trailer)
-    Giraffe – Up high and personal (National Geographic video)
-    Giraffe: African Giant (National Geographic video)
-    Giraffe – Up high and personal (article)

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