Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
01 December 2021 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath

The University of the Free State will present the December 2021 graduation ceremonies virtually from 8 to 13 December 2021. The recent changes in our environment due to the discovery of the Omicron variant, and the increase in COVID-19 infection rates in South Africa, have required us to re-assess our plans.  This was also addressed as a matter of concern by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the family meeting on 28 November 2021. 

After careful consideration of the risks of presenting face-to-face graduation ceremonies, the executive management of the University of the Free State (UFS) has decided to adjust all the ceremonies to virtual broadcasts. 

The university community acknowledges your hard work and achievements in the midst of the many challenges you have faced. Despite not being able to meet in person, we are grateful that technology makes it possible to proceed with this significant event. 

The graduation ceremonies will be broadcast as follows:

Faculty of Education, South Campus: Wednesday, 8 December 2021 at 09:00

Faculty of Education, South Campus graduands: Wednesday, 8 December 2021 at 11:00

Faculty of Education, Bloemfontein Campus and Qwaqwa Campus graduands: Thursday, 9 December 2021 at 09:00

Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: Thursday, 9 December at 11:00

Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences: Friday, 10 December at 09:00

Faculty of the Humanities: Friday, 10 December 2021 at 11:00

Faculties of Health Sciences, Law, and Theology and Religion: Monday, 13 December 2021 at 09:00

Congratulations to all our graduates; may you have continued success in all your endeavours! 

 


News Archive

Number of NRF-rated researchers increases in 2012
2012-10-29

29 October 2012

Three researchers at the University of the Free State received B-ratings for 2013 from the National Research Foundation (NRF). Prof. Johan Henning, Dean of Law, obtained the highest rating in his field of mercantile law in South Africa, a B1.

Prof. Jackie Naudé from Classical and Near Eastern Studies and Prof. Dingie Janse van Rensburg, Professor Extraordinary at the Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, also obtained B3-ratings. Prof. Naudé is the first B-rated researcher in the Faculty of Humanities.
Prof. Helene Strauss obtained the highest rating (Y1) for a UFS young scholar in the Humanities.
In total, the NRF rated researchers at the UFS grew from 95 in 2011 to 109 in 2012, a growth of almost 15 percent.
The NRF ratings committee consist of three reviewers from South Africa and three from abroad. A rating is valid for six years and researchers must reapply for rating before the end of that period.
For a B1-rating all reviewers must be firmly convinced that the applicant enjoys considerable international recognition for the high quality of the researcher’s recent output, with some indicating that the researcher is a leading international scholar in a field. For a B3-rating most of the reviewers must be convinced that the researcher enjoys international recognition for the high quality and impact of the research.
Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, said in the UFS Research Report “The UFS now has among the highest number of NRF-rated scientists per size of the academic faculty and we have seen the productivity graph bear witness to a record growth in our funded research outputs; we have won our first-ever NRF/DST Research Chairs. In each of these achievements, the excellence we seek comes with and through the diversity we celebrate.”
More ratings and renewals were expected by the time of Bult went to print.. More than 35 researchers applied for ratings or renewal of ratings.
  • Colleagues who were admitted to the prestigious Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) are Profs. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Driekie Hay, Heidi Hudson, Lodewyk Kock, Odireleng Ntwaeaborwa, Hugh Patterton, Ian Phimister and Melanie Walker. ASSAf was established in 1996 with the mission of using science for the benefit of society. New members are elected after nomination by four existing members (at least two of whom do so from personal knowledge of the candidate). ASSAf has some 350 members and represents South Africa in the international community of science academies.
  • Dr Marieka Gryzenhout of Plant Sciences became a member of South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS). SAYAS celebrated its first year in 2012. It was launched as a means to enable South Africa’s young scientists to fully participate in locally and internationally relevant research and development agendas. Prof. Aldo Stroebel, Director: Internationalisation, is also a member of SAYAS.

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