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UFS Matriculant of the Year - 40 years of excellence

06 May 2021 | Story Linda Greyling

Matriculant of the year_web read more — Matric achievers from across the country can now enter for the 40th Matriculant of the Year competition, hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS), Netwerk24, and Volksblad. From the left is Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Pieter Hoogenboezem, 2019 winner, and Gert Coetzee, Editor of Volksblad.

Pieter Hoogenboezem describes his first year as a student at the University of the Free State (UFS) as a roller-coaster ride. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I was also looking forward to it.”

The medical student and 39th winner of the Matriculant of the Year competition for 2019 says last year was an uphill struggle due to COVID-19, but when he was eventually able to return to campus in August, it was nice to experience a bit of student life.

No one could have foreseen what would happen in the world in 2020. COVID-19 has changed everything and this popular annual competition, which has been presented ever since 1981, also had to be cancelled last year.

However, this could not get the better of a competition rooted so deeply in the school community, and matric learners from across the country can now enter for the 40th Matriculant of the Year competition hosted by the UFS, Netwerk24, and Volksblad.

Well-rounded matriculants – learners who not only excel academically, but who are also involved in culture, sport, and leadership at their schools – who intend to study full-time at the UFS in 2022 – can enter. Community service and community engagement are also taken into account during the judging process. Matriculants can enter themselves or they can be entered by their schools. However, the signature of the principal as well as the school’s stamp must appear on the form.

All entries are judged according to fixed criteria, and 25 semi-finalists are selected. A total of 14 finalists chosen from this 25 will take part in the Matriculant of the Year finals in Bloemfontein from 5 to 7 October. During the finals, interviews will be conducted with the finalists; they will participate in team sessions, after which the winner will be announced.

The winner and 13 finalists will receive prize money from the sponsors – Kovsie Alumni Trust, Mazars, Absa, and Pick n Pay Preller Walk, as well as bursaries from UFS Student Recruitment Services, the final gala event in Bloemfontein, and gifts to the value of R10 000.

The other 11 semi-finalists will receive prize money from Kovsie Alumni Trust and bursaries from UFS Student Recruitment Services.

Two special prizes of R5 000 each are sponsored by the Kovsie Alumni Trust and will be awarded for outstanding achievement in the field of leadership, academy, sport, or culture.

The bursaries and prize money will be paid as soon as the student has registered at the UFS. Entries must reach the UFS on or before 6 August 2021.

For entry forms or for more information, email Linda Greyling at greylinl@ufs.ac.za

News Archive

UFS discontinues one Masters programme

2006-07-26

As from next year, the University of the Free State (UFS) will no longer offer one of its specialist master’s degrees in education – the M Ed in Education Management.

The other six M Ed programmes that are currently being offered at the UFS will continue as normal.

The decision to discontinue one of the M Ed programmes follows a national review of M Ed programmes in Educational Management and Leadership by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the Council on Higher Education (CHE).

Of the 23 tertiary institutions whose M Ed programmes in Educational Management and Leadership were reviewed by the HEQC, only 7 received full accreditation.

“The findings of the HEQC affect only one of our M Ed degree programmes, namely the M Ed in Educational Management,” said Prof Magda Fourie, Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the UFS

“We will be paying full attention to the findings of the HEQC with a view to correcting some of the shortcomings that have been identified by the HEQC and will consider submitting a reviewed proposal for such a qualification in two years time,” she said.

According to Prof Fourie, the programme currently has 30 students enrolled. “These students – spread across their first and second years of the degree programme – will be allowed to complete their studies with the full support of the UFS and the School of Education,” said Prof Fourie.

“The qualification that has been awarded to students who have already completed their studies for this specific M Ed in Education Management degree programme remains a valid qualification and is not affected by the HEQC review,” said Prof Fourie.

She said the UFS welcomed the efforts of the HEQC to ensure that all academic programmes offered by higher education institutions meet certain standards.

“One of the primary problem areas in the M Ed in Educational Management offered by the UFS identified by the HEQC, was that the programme is too practice orientated and must be more theoretical to comply with the academic requirements of a master’s degree. This was a result of the fact that the programme was initially compiled in consultation with principals and the provincial Department of Education to address their needs,” said Prof Fourie.

“The UFS will in the mean time offer an advanced certificate in Educational Management and Leadership from next year. This is a new course that will stretch over a period of two years and will ensure that we can still address the needs of teachers and principals,” said Prof Fourie.

“The UFS remains committed to providing top quality degree programmes in all its six faculties and will continue to work with the HEQC in ensuring that this actually happens,” said Prof Fourie.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
25 July 2006

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