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08 December 2021 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
UFS loveLife Computer Graduations
The group of 90 members of the Botshabelo community who successfully completed the 12-week ICT Services short-learning course through a collaboration between the UFS Directorate Community Engagement, the Department of Computer Science and Informatics, and the youth leadership organisation, loveLife.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, many people will look back at 2020 and 2021 with emotions of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. But for a group of close to 200 community members in Botshabelo, the past two years have not only signified one of their biggest achievements in life; for them, the day that they graduated is also holding the promise of a new beginning.

Both this year’s group and the group of 100 community members who enrolled for the two ICT short learning courses in 2020, successfully completed the programme.

“After 12 weeks of training, the community members were very happy to receive their certificates,” says Alfi Moolman of the Directorate Community Engagement at the University of the Free State (UFS).

According to Moolman, this Information Technology service-learning project is a wonderful example of how the UFS responds to the needs of the community and addresses the digital divide through its Service-Learning programme.

Aiming for 100% digital literacy

Rouxan Fouché, Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Informatics who is also doing his PhD in Computer Information Systems, is focusing on the digital divide in his research study, titled: An exploration of service-learning strategies to address the South African digital divide: A Critical Utopian Action Research Approach. He quotes Molawa, who defines the digital divide as the separation of those who have access to digital information and communications technology and those who do not. “Molawa has confirmed that some of the challenges to information and communication technology (ICT) access in Africa have been caused by poverty due to high levels of unemployment, illiteracy, and skills shortage.”

In his study, Fouché states that South Africa is aiming for 100% digital literacy and skills to leverage the power of modern ICT for economic appropriation and to address inequity.

In his investigation, Fouché found that increasing the level of digital skills is the responsibility of many different stakeholders, from governments to universities. “Universities may play a vital role in helping to bridge the digital divide by providing free or affordable access to digital skills training and qualifications focused on groups from marginalised areas.”

He is currently concluding the last phase of his PhD study, which included the implementation of the service-learning action plan with the Botshabelo community – engaging them to strengthen the response to digital literacy.

Equipped with 21st century computer literacy skills

Moolman says they had to think of innovative ways to ensure that students continue to achieve their learning outcomes during lockdown. “A blended learning approach was decided on, where we introduced videos of the sessions that would have been facilitated face to face in the past.”

“As a collective change facilitator in the process, I connected Fouché and loveLife, a youth leadership organisation that has a Cyber Y lab at their youth centre in Botshabelo.”

“The match was a win. loveLife was equipping their target audience with 21st century computer literacy skills, Fouché could continue with his PhD, and his students have achieved their learning outcomes.”

Felix Morobe, the provincial manager of loveLife, believes the skills development opportunities provided by the UFS through their service-learning programmes are benefiting and growing young people in the community.

He says this programme has meant a great deal to the community, as it adds to their CVs. “Moreover, it also carries the logo of one of the best and most well-recognised universities. This course was a big motivation for the members of the community who attended; saying to them, ‘yes you can do it, despite the challenges that the country is facing in terms of youth unemployment’.”

Feedback from some of the attendees of the course, include, “I wish this course could continue and benefit others”; "I am one step ahead of those who did not attend the course"; and "I am going to apply for work now that I have this additional certificate".

“This is a brilliant example of engaged scholarship,” concludes Moolman.

News Archive

Letter to students from Prof Jonathan Jansen about student protest action at the UFS
2015-10-21

Dear Students

Student protest action at the University of the Free State

I wish to make clear that the senior leadership of the University of the Free State understands and supports the demands from students and their leaders that higher education be accessible to all students, especially the poor. For the past six years we have done everything in our power to meet that commitment to students who are academically talented, but simply cannot afford to pay; that is why our tuition fees remain among the lowest in the country. Our efforts to raise private funding have enabled thousands more students to study at the UFS than would have been possible on the government subsidy only. Whether it is the Staff Fund contributions (yes, our staff empty their pockets to support student fees) or the No Student Hungry (NSH) bursary programme (yes, we raise funds for food bursaries), we will continue our drive to fund students who cannot afford higher education. Let me repeat, no student with a solid academic record will be denied access to studies simply because they cannot pay.

Now, to the matter at hand. There is a national demand from students for a 0% fee increment for 2016. The Minister’s response, after consultation with stakeholders, was that universities should cap their 2016 fee increases at 6%. Despite this initiative from government, the protests continue on virtually all campuses across South Africa for the ‘no fee’ increase.

Our response, as the UFS leadership, is to continue engaging the SRC as the chosen leadership of our students in trying to negotiate a settlement on the matter. We have worked around the clock to be available to student leaders to find some resolution on 2016 fees. While we understand the demands of students, as university leaders, we can only work with the government subsidy we receive. Any agreement reached, cannot and must not place the university at academic and financial risk in its ability to deliver public higher education to the country - if that happens, everybody loses. Still, no matter what happens in terms of the response from government, the leadership door at the UFS remains open to finding a mutually acceptable solution to all parties in these deliberations.

Students, we are deeply concerned by the violence, intimidation and threats from the small group of protesting students. These dangerous and demeaning behaviours, like disrupting classes and verbally abusing students and staff, undermine the legitimate quest of students for relief concerning tuition fees. Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and the university will take action where required. We must also remember that we have an obligation to all 30 000 students whose right to learn without fear of violence and intimidation must be respected.

In conclusion, over the past few years we have worked hard to build a culture of mutual respect and embrace as we worked through some very difficult challenges on campus. You would have noticed that the university leadership responded quickly and sympathetically to reason and respect in difficult situations of rage and demonstration. A minority of students, with some outsiders, have come onto the campus to break down that culture in which, while we might disagree, we continue to work on the basis of mutual respect. I urge all students that, as we engage of this important problem of enabling greater access to higher education, we continue to remain true to the core values of our Human Project.

Best Regards

Prof Jonathan Jansen
Vice-Chancellor and Rector
University of the Free State


Letter to students from Prof Jonathan Jansen about student protest actions at the UFS (Pdf format)

 

 

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