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15 June 2021 | Story Nonsindiso Qwabe | Photo Supplied
Closeup of a student

The downside of digital learning has not gone unnoticed; however, the Department of Communication Science has shown that it has its benefits too, when it hosted its first-ever career webinar for first-year students across all UFS campuses. The webinar, which took place on 3 and 4 June on Blackboard Collaborate, was a cross-campus initiative that saw first-years from the Bloemfontein, Qwaqwa, and South campuses, along with students from remote campuses around the Free State, come together to learn from UFS alumni who now work in various industries in media, marketing, and journalism. The line-up included Zinhlezonke Zikalala, Nthabiseng Mokoena, Keneilwe Chologi, Lesle-Ann George, Nonsindiso Qwabe, Nthabiseng Thiba, and Rea Mabine, all of whom pursued undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of the Free State.

 

Insights gained at UFS paved career success for alumni

The all-female panel spoke about their personal experience in their relevant industries, indicating the knowledge gained at the UFS as the element that paved their way to career success. Zikalala, Mabine, and George focused on digital marketing, while Qwabe and Thiba focused on communication and journalism. Mokoena, an all-rounder, focused on the relevance of Communication Science in any industry. Students could also satisfy their curiosity by asking the guest speakers questions about their respective industries.

Communication Science coordinator and lecturer on the Qwaqwa Campus, Rentia Engelbrecht, described the webinar as simply ‘magical’.

“As a first-year lecturer, I often don’t know where my students end up, but seeing and hearing how our module now actually helps them in their jobs has made me so happy and proud. I hope students realise that Communication Science can open so many doors for you. I also want our students on different campuses to know that they are all equally important and that we actually learn so much from each other, especially in the online space where we are now ‘closer’ than ever. I also think it was extremely empowering to see our all-female speakers do their thing out there in the real world.”

Communication Science Units lecturer, Avela Ntsongelwa, who was the brains behind the webinar, said online learning presented an opportunity for students to gain a realistic understanding of what the field of communication entails. “We felt that students always get the theoretical side of what one can do in communications. A lot of students also got into the degree, not really sure if this is what they wanted; so, the webinar brought about a deeper understanding and love for their studies.”

These sentiments were shared by one such student, Thembeka Malo, a first-year student pursuing a BA degree in Communication Studies and Anthropology. Malo said: “I enjoyed the talk so much. I was at a point where I started to doubt the path I have chosen. I’ve really drawn inspiration.”

 


Lesle-Ann George is a marketing specialist at Vodacom Central Region. She completed her undergraduate degree in Corporate and Marketing Communications in 2016, then went on to complete her honours in BCom Marketing in 2017. Nthabiseng Thiba Zinhlezonke Zikalala
     
Lesle-Ann George is a marketing specialist at Vodacom Central Region. She completed her undergraduate degree in Corporate and Marketing Communications in 2016, then went on to complete her honours in BCom Marketing in 2017. 

Nthabiseng Thiba obtained her BA Communication Science degree, specialising in Media Studies and Journalism, and her postgraduate degree in Leadership Communication at the University of the Free State. She is currently a communication officer at the global mining company, Anglo American Platinum, based in Rustenburg.

 Zinhlezonke Zikalala obtained her BA Communication Science degree, specialising in Media Studies and Journalism, in 2016. She is a journalist and digital marketing specialist, and co-founder of Sibizi Media.

 

News Archive

Open Day engulfs Bloemfontein Campus with colour, crowds and cheer
2013-05-04

 

08 May 2013
Photo: Lelanie de Wet


   Open Day YouTube video

The procession – comprising of Prof Jonathan Jansen and the Deans of all the UFS faculties – stately entered a packed Callie Human Centre on Saturday morning 4 May 2013. As everyone took their seats, all the lights were abruptly cut, leaving the hall in a stunned silence. Suddenly brilliant beams of green, blue and red lights cut through the dark, exploding into a spectacular laser show.

Open Day 2013 on the Bloemfontein Campus was officially under way.

The audience of parents and prospective students were awe-struck by a transfixing electric guitar performance, dancers lit up by LED suits, pulsing music and finally Corneil Muller singing to the accompaniment of Prof Jansen behind the piano.

Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof Jansen immediately made attendees from across all nine provinces, Namibia, Lesotho and several other countries feel at home and embraced by the university. During his welcoming address, Prof Jansen referred to the fact that Kovsies places the bar high when it comes to achievement. “We expect more of our students,” he said. “Passing is not important, passing wéll is important.” He stressed that at the university we teach students to be decent, to be exceptional people. “We place a high premium on being an outstanding human being.” He went on to say that our students are better than the previous generation – they do not carry the baggage of the old.

Prof Jansen also communicated the university’s commitment to developing leaders with an understanding of the world. This is why the university afford students the opportunity, amongst other things, to study abroad. Students have access to a wide variety of organisations and the privilege to have access to leaders who they can converse with. Kovsies strives to produce leaders, not only in the community, but on a global platform.

To demonstrate this last point, top Kovsie achievers joined Prof Jansen on stage to relay their stories of perseverance, courage and success. Included among these stars, were athlete Danél Prinsloo; Varsity Cup Player that Rocks 2013 Oupa Mohoje; DW Bester, a Rhodes Scholar currently studying at Oxford University in the United Kingdom; and Jurie Swart, who ranked under the top five in the 2012 International Graduate Architecture Student Design competition.

The residences pulled out all stops when it came to the presentation of their individual stalls. The gardens in front of the Main Building burst with colour, sound, dancing and laughter as the residences competed to draw the most visitors. The faculties also opened their doors for a glimpse at the exciting opportunities awaiting prospective students.

A record amount of visitors went home with the words of Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, inscribed in their minds summing up what the UFS is all about: “Where a sense of community matters more than the colour of your skin.”

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