Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
30 March 2021 | Story Cornelle Scheltema-Van Wyk
A cover image of the Perspectives in Education journal

Perspectives in Education (PiE) is one of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) accredited academic journals. Hosted on KovsieJournals with eight other accredited titles published by the UFS, PiE is a fully open-access journal, which means that all articles are freely available on the internet immediately after publication. A professional, peer-reviewed journal, PiE represents a variety of cross-disciplinary interests, both theoretical and practical, seeking to stimulate important dialogue and intellectual exchange on education and democratic transition with respect to schools, colleges, non-governmental organisations, universities, and universities of technology in South Africa and beyond.

Moving to the South Campus for Open Distance Learning 

The latest issue looked at the seismic disruptions brought about by COVID-19 in 2020, and the global challenges for education systems to promote and continue meaningful learning. Schools and colleges across the globe were closed, and teachers, students, schools, universities, and education planners had to create contingency plans. In the scholarly community, COVID-19 unsettled what we know, how we come to know, and how we should proceed from here onwards. It was the opportune moment for re-invigorated interrogation, rethinking discussion, and replanning education. An opportunity to rethink teaching and learning, the organisation of educational institutions, and the structure and workings of education systems, as well as to reflect once again on the objectives of education, and the interrelationship between education and society.

The issue features many national and international authors – from the UFS to authors from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Israel, Brazil, and Haiti. Its diverse content comes from a relatively new editorial team. Prof Jan Nieuwenhuis’ first issue as editor-in chief was published in 2020. The move to the South Campus for Open Distance Learning was accompanied by the journal’s application to be included in the internationally renowned accreditation list, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). The DOAJ has strict inclusion criteria, and to be included on this list is a mark of a high-quality open-access academic journal. 

Just over a year after moving, PiE is now included in the DOAJ list and appears on four accredited lists (also DHET, IBSS, and Scopus). The journal has firmly cemented its place in the field of education and is broadening the reach of research for the University of the Free State

News Archive

UFS sympathises with exchange students from Virginia Tech
2007-04-18

The University of the Free State (UFS) is shocked by the news of the tragedy that happened yesterday at Virginia Tech in the United States of America (USA).

Sixteen (16) students from Virginia Tech are currently studying at the Main Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein on an exchange programme of six months.

The students are devastated because of the loss of their friends who were killed when an armed man opened fire on a hostel and classroom on the Blacksburg Campus of Virginia Tech, killing at least 33 people.

“The exchange programme between the UFS and Virginia Tech, which was implemented in 1998, stipulates that selected students from both institutions will study at the other institution for six months on an annual basis as part of the completion of their undergraduate studies. Approximately 120 students from both institutions have taken part in the exchange programme over the past couple of years,” said Prof. Izak Groenewald, co-ordinator of the agreement and Director of the UFS Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to Prof. Groenewald no students from the UFS are currently studying at Virginia Tech. “The students from Virginia Tech who are currently studying on the Main Campus are all in their third-year in agriculture and the biological sciences. They will be staying here until the completion of the June examinations, when they will return to Virginia Tech,” said Prof. Groenewald.

According to the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Frederick Fourie, the UFS has already made the necessary arrangements for the students to receive pastoral and psychological counselling. “We are doing everything in our power to support them and to bring them in touch with their friends on the Blacksburg Campus,” said Prof. Fourie.

According to Prof. Groenewald the American Ambassador in South Africa, Mr Eric M. Bost, will be talking telephonically to the students this afternoon (17 April 2007).

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za
17 April 2007
 

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept