Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

From destitute youngster to UFS graduate

15 December 2021 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Supplied

Michael_web read more — Former UFS 2020/2021 Student Representative Council (SRC) member, Michael Mnguni describes the journey he travelled towards obtaining his BA in Governance and Political Transformation in 2021.

“I have travelled a long journey, from receiving my acceptance letter back in February 2017 after applying late, to obtaining a BA in Governance and Political Transformation in 2021.

“I am the child of a single mother who worked as a domestic worker and resigned after I obtained my qualification. Her employer provided us with R10 000 to travel to Bloemfontein in 2017 – a day before registration was supposed to close – to pay for registration, which was about R6 000 at that time.”

This is how UFS and former Student Representative Council (SRC) member, Michael Mgnuni, describes his journey from destitute student to SRC member and eventually UFS graduate.

Mguni, who served on the 2020/2021 Bloemfontein Campus SRC responsible for the portfolio: Associations Student Council, said the hardships he faced instilled a desire for continuous improvement.

“I did not have any form of funding, and back home no one thought I would make it to university because I did not get admitted to other institutions. I am a first-generation student and the firstborn in my family. The past five years have not been easy; especially when you are living far from home, you have to be independent and aware of what is happening in your surroundings.”

On 10 December 2021, Mgnuni became one of the hundreds of graduates who received their qualifications during the UFS virtual graduation ceremonies, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Governance and Political Transformation.

“To obtain this qualification, I would go many days without food and study on an empty stomach. I was dealing with my own mental-health issues while attending to the well-being of others around me, because they became my brothers and sisters.”

“My graduation journey was not easy; for the first four months at varsity, I travelled from Phahameng to school – living in my aunt’s back room. I had no funding, but my mother would send me money from the little she had, to ensure that I didn’t go to bed on an empty stomach. Through it all, I have conquered. My experiences inspired me to become a student activist, because I didn’t want prospective and returning UFS students to experience the same struggles I went through.”

News Archive

UFS receives record number of applications

2011-12-31

The University of the Free State (UFS) is looking forward to the start of the new academic year in January 2012, when thousands of new students will be joining the Kovsie family.

The UFS received almost 13 000 applications for studies in 2012. This is an increase of about 80% compared to the total number of applications received in 2010 for studies in 2011.

This increase is partly attributed to the university’s new method in approaching prospective students and the marketing initiatives followed during 2011. These included visits to various schools in the country by the Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof. Jonathan Jansen.

“This shows that the UFS is becoming a preferred place of study. Unfortunately, we can only take in about 4 000 first-years from these applications. We will, of course, choose the best and most diverse class of students,” says Prof. Jansen.

The university’s marketing initiatives will be intensified next year where students will take part as ambassadors in the university’s student recruitment campaigns for 2013.

Mr.Rudi Buys, The Dean of Student Affairs at the UFS, says Prof. Jansen’s visit to various schools in the country was very successful. This will be continued in 2012 and student leaders from residences, associations as well as the Student Representative Council will accompany him on these visits during the course of the year.

“These learners, just like our students, are part of a new generation of new democratic South Africans. Our students are excellent examples of youth leadership in the country and we are very excited about all our initiatives,” Mr Buys said.

The UFS is aware of the fact that learners will only receive their final Grade 12 results in January 2012. Final admission will therefore only be granted upon the submission of a certified copy of the matriculation results. Fax these results to 086 586 8947 or e-mail to applications@ufs.ac.za as soon as it is available.

Important dates for Bloemfontein students

Friday and Saturday 13 & 14 January 2012: Welcoming of new first-years
Sunday 15 January: Gateway College life programme (Bloemfontein edition) begins)
Monday 16 January 2012: Registration starts

Important dates for Qwaqwa students

Thursday 12 January 2012: Arrival of first-years
Friday 13 January 2012: Gateway College Life programme (Qwaqwa edition) begins.
Monday 16 January 2012: Registration starts

For more information, Bloemfontein students can contact Student Affairs at 051 401 9102 or send an e-mail to Cornelia Faasen at faasenc@ufs.ac.za . Qwaqwa students can contact Dulcie Malimabe at 058 718 5018 or send an e-mail to malimabedp@qwa.ufs.ac.za

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Telephone: +27 (0) 51 401 2584
+27 (0) 83 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 (0) 51 444 6393
Web: www.ufs.ac.za

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

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