Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
11 January 2021
|
Story André Damons
|
Photo Supplied
Dr Ralph Clark
The Afromontane Research Unit (ARU), the flagship research group of the University of the Free State (UFS) Qwaqwa Campus, has recently been granted R8,4 million to establish a Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre programme.
The Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) programme was established by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) as part of the Global Change Research Plan for South Africa and is funded by the DSI through the National Research Foundation (NRF). The RVSC will focus on the need to generate and disseminate knowledge about risk and vulnerability on global change challenges faced by local policy makers/ governance structures and communities in South Africa.
Invited to participate
Dr Ralph Clark, Director of the ARU, says the UFS, together with the University of Zululand and the Sol Plaatje University, has been invited to participate in Phase 2 of the RVSC programme. Dr Clark was approached by the DSI (on referral from the South African Environmental Observation Network – SAEON) in February 2020 regarding the potential for establishing a RVSC at the UFS Qwaqwa campus.
Subsequent interactions were held between the UFS and DSI, and in March 2020, the UFS formally accepted the DSI invitation. It has since been agreed that the RVSC: UFS will be hosted as a RVSC under the ARU umbrella, with dedicated personnel embedded at the UFS in this regard (internal processes and reporting) but reporting directly to the NRF regarding the RVSC.
Interest and support welcomed
Dr Clark welcomed this interest and support from the DSI-NRF, saying that the funds will further assist the UFS in growing its excellent and growing research portfolio and building more research capacity on this traditionally undergraduate-focused campus. “The RVSC will contribute to much-needed solutions in an area marked by major sustainability challenges and will assist in moving Phuthaditjhaba away from its negative apartheid history towards becoming a sustainable African mountain city,” says Dr Clark.
Construction work on new residences begins
2012-02-24
 |
|
From left are: Richard Chemaly, SRC President; Mr Quintin Koetaan; Prof. Nicky Morgan, Vice-Rector: Operations and Mr Pura Mgolombane, Assistant Dean: Student Affairs, at the sod turning ceremony.
Photo: Johan Roux
24 February 2012
|
Construction of two new residences on our Bloemfontein Campus will begin soon. Some 500 students will be accommodated in the residences, with the first students able to move in from January 2013.
The premises where the residences will be built were recently handed over to the contractors.
Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, says that the design of the residences follow global trends in student accommodation, but are adapted to local needs and student communities. The new residences will provide more study and tutoring spaces, also with more open space for diverse students to socialise. The residences will function together as a Student Life College.
Mr Quintin Koetaan, Director: Housing and Residence Affairs, says the new residences will house both junior and senior students. Residences will co-ed, with men and women housed in separate and secure passages.
The planned construction of student accommodation includes five new residences – four on the Bloemfontein Campus that will provide 1000 beds and one on the Qwaqwa Campus with 250 beds. This will provide for the increasing need for student accommodation. The project will be completed in two phases. Phase one commenced in Bloemfontein on 21 February 2012.