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19 January 2021 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Unsplash
The second annual International Scholarship and Mobility Fair offered both UFS staff and students the opportunity to ask questions and get answers right away, with links to detailed information.

The Office for International Affairs hosted its annual International Scholarship and Mobility Fair on 3 and 4 November 2020. This is the second annual mobility fair and the first time that it was hosted in virtual format on Blackboard Collaborative. The event showcased study-abroad opportunities for all registered students and staff. 

Staff too can enrol for studies abroad

In the mobility and exchange programme session, the UFS international partner universities presented study, teaching, and training opportunities available to students and staff on their campuses. Staff have also learnt that they can enrol for exchange programmes at any of more than 60 international universities to teach, conduct research, or collaborate to enhance their professional development.

Another session promoted scholarship opportunities for postgraduate students who would like to study abroad full- or part-time. The last session promoted research-related study opportunities such as PhD, fellowships, and academically associated opportunities. Postgraduate students have learnt about joint degrees at master’s and doctoral level, which allows them to register at the UFS and another university abroad.

Student support through scholarships 

The sessions aimed to attract and also support talented students with a scholarship – despite the current pandemic.


Participants liked that it was easily accessible and that they could ask questions and get answers right away, with links to detailed information. 

To view these sessions, please visit the UFS international webpage on the following link:

News Archive

South Campus first in SA to introduce new online platform for educators
2016-05-25

Description: South Campus online platform for educators  Tags: South Campus online platform for educators

Dr Whitty Green (DHET), Phillip Dikgomo (NDBE), Ernst Stals (Free State Department of Education), Isaac Mogotsi (Nothern Cape Department of Education), Tsatsi Montso (Free State Department of Education), Prof Daniella Coetzee (Principal: South Campus), Steven Bailey (Academic Partnerships), and Prof Judy Zimny (Academic Partnerships)
Photo: Eugene Seegers

The South Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) has become the first in South Africa to introduce a completely online platform for educators to obtain the Advanced Certificate in Teaching (ACT) in either Foundation, Intermediate, or Senior Phase.

Beginning with the first start date of 4 July 2016, this platform will be offered in nine or ten 8-week sessions. It will provide educators the opportunity to complete these certificates in 18-20 months compared to the 24 months usually required by part-time university students.  Academic and technological support will also be provided.

Unique platform

Prof Daniella Coetzee, Principal of South Campus, said that she is thrilled, “as this opportunity for educators to earn a qualification 100% online - is a first for both the UFS and South Africa.”  This opportunity represents tremendous strides in providing options for South African educators.

According to Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, human connectivity is a key component of education: “We should never reduce education to a stranger at a distance without any human interaction. That is also why the UFS has been consistent in promoting not only its Academic Project, but the Human Project as well.” He said that it would not be possible to extend second-chance opportunities to students without partnerships with government, non-profit organisations, local and international academic partners, and other external stakeholders.

Specific challenges addressed

In her presentation, Prof Judy Zimny, who is affiliated with Academic Partnerships (a company that has supported more than 40 universities in providing high-quality online programmes for educators) aligned a number of the challenges described by South African leaders in supporting educators with opportunities now available through online education as a result of recent strides in learning technologies.

Various members of the national education sector were also present at the workshop to give their input: Isaac Mogotsi (Northern Cape Department of Education), Phillip Dikgomo (National Department of Basic Education - NDBE), Dr Whitty Green (Department of Higher Education and Training - DHET), Tsatsi Montso (Free State Department of Education), and Ernst Stals (Free State Department of Education).

For educators interested in pursuing an Advanced Teaching Certificate (ACT), the website will soon be populated with all admission and enrolment information for programmes starting on 4 July 2016, 29 August 2016, and 24 October 2016.

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