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15 June 2021 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath | Photo Supplied
Prof Philippe Burger (Vice-Dean in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, UFS) and Mr Busani Ncgaweni (Principal, NSG) at the NSG signing ceremony in Pretoria, 3 June 2021.
Prof Philippe Burger (Vice-Dean in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, UFS) and Mr Busani Ncgaweni (Principal, NSG) at the NSG signing ceremony in Pretoria, 3 June 2021.

The University of the Free State Business School has been appointed as a service provider of the National School of Government (NSG) to provide education, training, and development programmes to the public sector for a period of five years.  The UFS was one of ten South African higher education institutions (HEIs) selected to perform the functions, the objective being to expand the skills base of the public sector in line with government’s commitment to create   a capable, ethical, and developmental public service.

 

Prof Philippe Burger, Vice-Dean (Strategic Projects) in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, joined Mr Busani Ncgaweni, Principal of the National School of Government, and senior executives of ten HEIs at the signing ceremony in Pretoria on 3 June 2021 to seal the partnership with the UFS and the NSG.  “The University of the Free State, and in particular the UFS Business School, takes pride in establishing a partnership with the National School of Government (NSG),” says Prof Burger. The aim of this partnership is the professionalisation of the civil service through a number of activities. These include the UFS offering short learning programmes that will assist the NSG in its aim to create a capable state in line with the objectives of the National Development Plan.

 

A call for partnerships with higher education institutions (HEIs) was issued by the NSG in 2020 through an open bid process, followed by the successful selection of ten institutions that met the criteria to perform the education, training, and development functions. The institutions will be appointed from time to time for specific projects.

 

The UFS joins the University of Fort Hare, Nelson Mandela University, University of Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Johannesburg, Rhodes Business School, Durban University of Technology, Stellenbosch University, and North-West University to partner with the NSG.

 

The partnership will make public servants and employees of all organs of state eligible to enrol for programmes on a cost recovery basis. The partnership will allow for the expansion of the scope of professional development for public sector employees and leaders, and in some cases help participants with the recognition of prior learning, while also opening opportunities for further study in relevant fields.

 

Some of the key deliverables of the partnership will be the development and review of curricula in various areas related to public sector performance and development, quality assurance, and joint certification of programmes. The partnership will also entail the co-development and delivery of NSG programmes, undertaking research projects with the NSG, as well as the provision of coaching and mentoring services to various levels of public sector officials.

News Archive

Human Rights Desk takes up anti-xenophobia initiative
2015-05-06

In light of the recent violent attacks on foreigners in South Africa, the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Human Rights Desk hosted a symposium on the issue of xenophobia on Wednesday 29 April 2015 on the Bloemfontein Campus. In collaboration with volunteers from the Institute of Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ), students had the opportunity to discuss the underlying issues of the problem.

Joe Besigye, Numpumelelo Ngcobo, Phiwe Mathe, and Dr Christian Williams lead the symposium. The panel aimed at providing guidance, answers, and explanations to the different narratives offered in the wake of the conflict. The underlying reasons for the conflict were investigated, which included socio-economic factors as well as the afrocentric tone of the events. Possible aggravating factors – such as the misplacement of blame and a South African culture of entitlement – also came under scrutiny. In addition, the discussion looked at the need to take into account the perspectives of non-South Africans on African conflicts.

After the symposium, Kovsie students gathered at the Thakaneng Bridge where Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof Jonathan Jansen, addressed the group. Carrying posters with ‘No to Xenophobia’ messages, the students then marched across the campus to show their support for anti-xenophobia.

The IRSJ – which the Human Rights Desk forms part of – has spearheaded the No-to-Racism/Yes-to-Equality Campaign launched in March 2015 across all three campuses. Under the guidance of the IRSJ, the Kovsie community has regularly been publicly showing their solidarity against all forms of discrimination.

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