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UFS to present December 2021 graduation ceremonies virtually

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

Pres Steyn turns pink in anticipation of Vryfees

2014-06-06

Video clip
Live streaming

Australian artist Cigdem Aydemir vacuum packed the Pres Steyn monument on the Bloemfontein Campus’s Red Plain – in pink. Aydemir’s project, ‘Plastic Histories’, forms part of a public art project that encourages us to evaluate public monuments in their historical context.

By vacuum packing monuments, Aydemir alludes to their significance and preservation. At the same time, though, it reveals the nature of their contentious and gendered historical function. This is because most monuments in post-colonial countries typically celebrate men’s achievements in serving their nations.

In response, this project acknowledges the contribution of women from all races, communities and sexual orientations to the grand narrative of a post-apartheid South Africa.

Aydemir is also developing an app in collaboration with Australian artist Warren Armstrong. This will be used for augmented reality viewing of three city monuments – those of President Brand, General De Wet and General Hertzog. This means that visitors will be able to hold a smart phone or iPad in front of the monuments and view the monuments as if vacuum packed in pink plastic.

In conjunction with the public art project there will be an exhibition of digitally manipulated photographs of nineteen-century and contemporary male monuments in Bloemfontein. These photos will be exhibited at the Johannes Stegmann Gallery at the UFS Sasol Library from 15 July – 1 August 2014.

Public tours on the Bloemfontein Campus and into the city will take place on:

• Tuesday 15 July at 11:00,
• Wednesday 16 July at 14:00, and
• Saturday 19 July at 11:00.

Aydemir’s ‘Plastic Histories’ public art project is part of the UFS Programme for Innovation in Artform Development (PIAD) and the Vryfees arts festival’s partnership with the Australian-based SituateArt in Festivals initiative. This partnership is managed by the Salamanca Arts Centre in Tasmania.