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31 October 2021 | Story Prof Francis Petersen
The University of the Free State (UFS) calls on all higher education institutions, business, the private and public sector, and the South African community to confirm their commitment towards climate change and to contribute to climate change interventions.

“The UFS is committed to contributing meaningfully through research, innovation, policy advice, activism, and the operational management of the university to a fairer, cleaner, and healthier world, and urges world leaders to make bold decisions on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the upcoming Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) meeting in Glasgow,” says Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor.

The UFS supports the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in particular Goal 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impact and is committed to underpinning it in the institution’s strategy and operations.

According to Prof Petersen, the university is developing a response to positively impact society and is using the SDGs as basis for this response. “This will incorporate our operations in terms of green and sustainable campuses, as well as the Academic Project in terms of quality research, engaged scholarship, and strategic partnerships with government, communities, and different sectors of the economy. A response to the SDGs is a significant step towards our commitment to play a role in climate change,” says Prof Petersen.

News Archive

An incident-free recess for the UFS
2010-07-19

The improved security measures at the University of the Free State (UFS) have resulted in an incident-free recess on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the annual Volksblad Arts Festival.

The UFS provided accommodation for international spectators visiting the country for the World Cup and recently also hosted the hugely popular Volksblad Arts Festival without any security glitches.

These successes could be attributed to the hard work of staff members from various divisions at the UFS to ensure that the security was improved.

“The main question we had to deal with was: should our Main Campus be fenced off? This matter had been under discussion for quite some time. In order to ensure the feasibility thereof, a second impact study was done by a consulting engineer,” said Prof. Niel Viljoen, Vice-Rector: Operations at the UFS.

“This study has shown that, given the nature of activities on the campus and the access configuration, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to effectively control access to the campus, especially as far as visitors were concerned. Any type of access control measure would result in delays at the gates, which could have a major impact on the traffic flow, delays, costs and emissions.”

“It is important that our staff and students feel safe on the Main Campus, whether they are walking on campus or working in their offices. In that way we can ensure an environment that is conducive to staff and students to work and study,” he said.

Various measures are being implemented to make the campuses safer. These include, among others:

  • The installation of alarms in buildings on the Main Campus. The project for the South Campus has been completed and the installation of a new alarm system on the Qwaqwa Campus will start soon.

     
  • Staff and students will be required to wear identification cards once the new identification system has been put in place. These cards will allow access to all buildings.

     
  • Fences around the Main Campus are being repaired and the areas around these fences are being cleaned. This project should be completed by August 2010.

     
  • Lights will be installed in badly lit areas on the Main Campus. The first phase of this project includes the area between the Mooimeisiesfontein, Welwitschia and Vergeet-my-nie residences. This project will also be completed by August 2010.

     
  • The walkways on the Main Campus will be patrolled more frequently and effectively.

     
  • Contracted security workers will be utilised more effectively.

     
  • The monitoring of security cameras on the Main Campus on a 24/7 basis. “For this purpose the security room of our Protection Services is in the process of being upgraded,” said Prof. Viljoen.

The possibility of placing security cameras and panic buttons in parking areas and walkways is investigated.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za  
16 July 2010

 

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