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03 March 2021
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Story Giselle Baillie
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Photo Supplied
Residence members who led the project, included:
Bohlokwa Rantja, the Residence Prime, and Transformation Committee members Nsuku Mutemela, Ofentse Motlakeng, Phindile Tjale, Madinku Mabala, Mmapopi Motshoso, Karabo Shuping, and Tagane Sekete.
The University of the Free State (UFS) Council approved and adopted Lehakwe House as the new name for the
NJ van der Merwe residence on the Bloemfontein Campus. The approval on 26 November 2020 followed a lengthy process of deliberation, consultation, and public engagement that has taken place since November 2019 and is aligned with the UFS Policy on Naming and Renaming. The name-change process was initiated by the Prime and Transformation Committee of the residence, guided by the
Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice and supported by a multi-stakeholder committee representative of the residence, the Housing and Residence Affairs Office, the Department of Student Affairs, the Student Representative Council, and alumni.
Lehakwe – a precious gem
Following a lengthy evaluation process of the names submitted through a public voting and recommendation platform in July 2020, ‘Lehakwe’ – a Sesotho word referring to a ‘precious gem’ – emerged as the front runner. As many current and past members of the residence attest, this womxn’s residence has come to occupy a significant space within the hearts and minds of UFS students and the UFS community, given that its spirit has always been closely aligned with the constitutional values of dignity, equality, and freedom and with the human values of ubuntu. In this vein, the new name of ‘Lehakwe’ presents a consolidation of constitutional and university values into the day-to-day thinking, learning, living, and legacy spaces of students, as well as everyone who interacts and engages with the UFS.
UFS signs MOU with Binghamton University
2011-04-20
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Dr Kathrine Krebs, Vice Provost for International Affairs and Director of the Office of International Programs at Binghamton University New York, Prof. Josephine Allen from Cornell University New York, and Dr Choice Makhetha, Vice-Rector: External Relations (acting) from the UFS, signing the MOU between the UFS and Binghamton University. |
The University of the Free State (UFS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Binghamton University to work together to develop academic and cultural interchanges, scientific research and other activities.
According to Dr Choice Makhetha, Vice-Rector: External Operations (acting) from the UFS, Binghamton University has hosted students in the Student Leadership Programme from the UFS in 2010 and will host another group in 2011. A group of social-work students from Binghamton University will also visit the UFS in 2011.
Other activities between the UFS and Binghamton University will include the identification of topics for joint research, followed by research activities; mutual invitations for faculty members to teach courses, conduct research, present lectures or participate in conferences, symposia and seminars; and staff exchange for institutional development purposes.