Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
17 February 2021 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Pixabay
Two final-year MBChB students show how it is done when they donated blood earlier this year.

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) staff and students in the Faculty of Health Sciences have challenged other departments in the faculty as well as other faculties and departments at the University of the Free State (UFS) to see whose staff and students will donate the most blood!

Mrs Angela Vorster, UFS Clinical Psychologist, says the South African National Blood Services (SANBS) has been appealing for increased blood donations since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. In order to provide support, the School of Clinical Medicine at the UFS held a virtual blood donation challenge in 2020, to encourage students to participate in altruistic behaviour and to enable the pre-clinical platform year groups to also feel like they are providing essential medical assistance.

“This was hugely successful and consequently we decided to include a blood donation challenge in our annual Mental Health Awareness programme. The benefits of donating blood are not only of a physiological nature (e.g. it assists in reducing iron levels and helps to control high blood pressure etc.) but means you are giving something of yourself. It will definitely save at least one life, perhaps more, and is incredibly beneficial in enhancing feelings of self-worth and personal meaning,” says Vorster.

The Faculty of Health Sciences invited the SANBS to UFS this week to provide all students and staff with the opportunity to donate blood at their place of work and study. So Have a Heart and take a few minutes to relax with a cookie and cool drink while your heart does the work of blood donation for you.

Details are as follows:

When: 18 and 19 February

Where: Francois Retief Foyer UFS

Time: 07:00-14:30

News Archive

“We require minds such as yours”
2013-04-19

 

Gareth Cliff addressed graduates during the UFS Autumn Graduation Ceremony.
Photo: Lelanie de Wet
18 April 2013

Well-known radio personality and Idols South Africa judge, Gareth Cliff addressed graduates on the third day of the University of the Free State (UFS) Autumn Graduation Ceremony.

“It’s a good time be alive, a good time to be a South African, a good time to be a qualified South African,” Gareth said during the graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

He emphasised the importance of skills in science in South Africa nowadays. “The only way we can advance is through an education of our minds, through technology, through science, through maths. It’s a time in our country’s development that we require minds such as yours to propel us forward.”

Gareth also underlined the freedom of speech in South Africa, especially in the light of media freedom. “It is something I feel strongly about, something this generation takes for granted.”

Dr Khotso Mokhele, Chancellor of the university, reinforced Gareth’s message and said that graduates need to be able to take standpoint against issues.

Learners from schools in Thaba Nchu and Botshabelo also had the opportunity to attend the ceremony.

The Autumn Graduation Ceremony takes place until Friday 19 April 2013. Attached is the programme for this ceremony.

Friday 19 April 2013

09:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: all diplomas and degrees in the Faculty, except BCom and BComHons.
14:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: only BCom and BComHons.

The Qwaqwa Campus’ graduation ceremony will take place on 8 June 2013. Diplomas / certificates up to and including doctorates will be awarded at this ceremony.

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