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17 March 2021 | Story Karen Venter
As illustrated in the infographic, the input from engaged activities delivered by the UFS resulted in 285 engaged-activity outputs, of which the majority constituted engaged citizenship, followed by engaged research, and then engaged learning and teaching.


View infographic here

At the University of the Free State (UFS), engaged scholarship activities are guided by the vision of being a research-led, student-centred, and regionally relevant university, focused on development and social justice.

For enactment of this vision, the UFS invests physical resources and funding, as well as staff and student hours to contribute to nation building. 

Demonstrating the heart of strategic partnerships

Engaged scholarship demonstrates the heart of strategic partnerships, where agreements are grounded in shared goals, designed and agreed upon in unity for socio-economic renewal to improve people’s living conditions, contributing to societal well-being. It links the best of the research and teaching skills of staff and students to specific needs of the community, including civil society, the private sector, government, non-governmental organisations, and enterprises. 

Democratic knowledge co-creation emerges from engaged learning and teaching, engaged research, and engaged citizenship through interaction between the institution, its staff and students, and the community. 

The curriculum, engaged research efforts, engaged learning and teaching, and graduate attributes are all enriched through collaborative and reciprocal learning activities. As illustrated in the infographic, the input from engaged activities delivered by the UFS resulted in 285 engaged-activity outputs, of which the majority constituted engaged citizenship, followed by engaged research, and then engaged learning and teaching. 

Deep understanding of socio-economic and environmental challenges

Our students participate in community-engaged service-learning, leading to knowledge acquisition and a deep understanding of socio-economic and environmental challenges in mutual solidarity with the community. Service-learning also gives rise to the acceptance and understanding of diverse cultures and races and advances the ability to interact meaningfully with diverse people from different backgrounds. 

Community-engaged learning increases awareness of own biases and stereotypes along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. By transcending their own comfort zones, combined with collaborative learning with diverse groups, students can gain greater appreciation of the strengths and capacities of diverse groups in the community. 

The UFS invests physical resources and funding, as well as staff and student hours to contribute to nation building. – Karen Venter

Engaged scholarship also embraces the inculcation of citizenship and the social responsibility of the UFS to society by giving effect to one of the key ‘public good’ dimensions of the UFS. 

News Archive

Huge interest in Ms Oprah Winfrey's visit to our university
2011-06-10

 

Staff and students from our Bloemfontein Campus queued since early this morning to obtain their tickets.
Photo: Phelekwa Mpono

The atmosphere on our campuses is electric with the upcoming visit and Graduation Ceremony of Ms Oprah Winfrey in Bloemfontein.

Ms Winfrey will receive an Honorary Doctorate in Education from our university on Friday, 24 June 2011.

Every single ticket for the event was snapped up within hours of becoming available this morning (Wednesday, 15 June 2011). Staff and students queued in front of the Information Centre on our university’s Bloemfontein Campus to get their free tickets, while the general public did the same at Computicket outlets throughout the country.

The university would like to thank everyone for their positive attitude and eagerness to be part of this special day. A special thank you to all our staff and students who have volunteered their services and are helping to plan and manage the event.

The university requests everyone who has managed to secure a ticket to ensure that they arrive early on the Bloemfontein Campus that day.

On Friday, 24 June 2011, the doors of the Callie Human Centre will open for both special guests and the public in general at 13:00. The doors will close strictly at 14:00 and no one will be allowed to enter or leave the building for reasons of safety and security.

Entertainment before and after the Graduation Ceremony will be provided by acclaimed musicians such as the internationally lauded, award-winning singer Sibongile Khumalo, the Botshabelo String Orchestra, the Bloemfontein Children’s Choir and the choir of the Bartimea School for the Deaf and Blind.

After the Graduation Ceremony, Ms Winfrey will formally address the 4 500 guests, after which she will conduct a Question-and-Answer Session with students from the large audience. 


Media Release
15 June 2011
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

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