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17 September 2021 | Story Nitha Ramnath

Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Free State, South Africa, invites us to rethink our relationship with the world in a series of ‘Courageous Conversations’ on the theme of ‘The Global Citizen’. Prof Petersen argues that COVID-19 has been a powerful ‘disruptor’ – it was a stark reminder of the need to rethink our identity, of where we belong, our ‘normative’ view of citizenship – if we want to secure long-term survival of our civilisation and the environments that support it.

Global Citizen and the role of Digital Futures – Monday, 27 September - 13:30 SAST / 12:30 BST 

How we turn information into intelligence is the subject of SACC’s next ‘Courageous Conversation’ with University of the Free State Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, in his series debating ‘The Global Citizen’.  “I believe the world needs multi-disciplinary solutions to its global problems.  For this reason, I established the Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures at the University of the Free State as part of my vision to infuse the natural and social sciences and the humanities with everything that digital brings to a multi-disciplinary approach in order to solve real-world problems through the power of big-data analysis,” says Prof Petersen.

Prof Philippe Burger, the UFS Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Poverty, Inequality, and Economic Development, together with Prof Katinka de Wet and Herkulaas Combrink, the interim co-directors of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures, will join Prof Petersen to discuss the value that such an approach can bring to finding solutions to real-world problems. They will also share information on some of the exciting projects of international relevance that they are working on. Agriculture and food security, medicine, and attitudes to issues such as, for example, vaccination, education, governance, and ethics are key foci of the centre.

Join us to find out how big-data analysis and a multi-disciplinary approach can transform understanding and deliver solutions to some of the challenges we face as citizens of the world.  

To RSVP click here 


The Global Citizen Courageous Conversations series

In partnership with the South African Chamber of Commerce based in the United Kingdom, the Global Citizen Courageous Conversations series that was launched on 26 May 2021, brings together powerful voices from public life, intellectuals, public interest and business leaders, academics, naturalists, religious leaders, astrophysicists, economists, ecologists, and others.

If you missed our previous Global Citizen Courageous Conversations, you can watch the replay on YouTube, or visit the South African Chamber of Commerce website for the recordings. 


News Archive

UFS Alumni Honours three former Students
2006-02-21

Three alumni of the University of the Free State will be awarded the prestigious Kovsie Alumni awards, presented to UFS Alumni annually, on the 10th of March at a Gala Awards Banquet. Alumni of the UFS have chosen Naka Drotské as Kovsie Alumnus for 2005. Harold Verster will receive the Kovsie Alumni Cum Laude Award and Prof Johan Henning, Dean of the Faculty of Law, will receive the Kovsie Alumni National Management Award. These prestigious accolades are awarded annually to honour alumni of the UFS for their exceptional achievements and contribution to the UFS.

Naka Drotské has been chosen as Kovsie Alumnus of the Year for the professional manner in which he led the Cheetah rugby team, which played a determining role in the team’s 2005 Currie Cup victory. The Cum Laude Award is made from time to time to any alumnus for outstanding service or achievement at local, national or international level in his/her specific career domain. Verster receives the Award for his role in the inclusion of the Vodacom Cheetahs as Super 14 team, as well as for his leadership that contributed to the success of the Cheetah rugby team in 2005. The Kovsie Alumni National Management Award for Exceptional Service to the UFS is made from time to time to an individual who has rendered exceptional service to the University. Prof Henning will receive this award for his role in the expansion and development of the Faculty of Law as academic, centre head, department head and, especially, as Dean.

Any Kovsie Alumnus is welcome to attend the Kovsie Alumni Gala Award Banquet that will be held in the Reitz Hall of the UFS Centenary complex. Matthys Roets will be the guest artist at the function and the cost of R80 per head includes a three course meal. If you are interested in attending the banquet, contact Jeannette Boshoff-Jansen at 051-401-3594 or alumni@mail.uovs.ac.za

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