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New US Consul General visits UFS

21 September 2021 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo 3T Photography

web read more — The new US Consul General, Vincent Spera, recently visited the UFS Bloemfontein Campus. He was hosted by the Office for International Affairs. Pictured here are Cornelius Hagenmeier, Dr Dionne van Reenen, and Vincent Spera.

Vincent Spera, the new US Consul General, paid a courtesy visit to the University of the Free State (UFS) on 16 September 2021, where he was hosted by the Office for International Affairs on the Bloemfontein Campus.

The aim of his visit was to strengthen relationships with the UFS. The university has a rich academic collaboration with US higher education institutions, as evidenced by the 313 co-authored papers published by UFS authors with collaborators at 291 institutions in the United States (US) between 2018 and 2020.

In the past eight years, close to 150 international students from the US – from postdoctoral fellows up to undergraduate level – studied at the UFS. The UFS is also home to more than 30 research fellows from the US.

Cornelius Hagenmeier, Director of the UFS Office for International Affairs, says he would like every student to have an international experience. “I believe it is doable. Through virtual exchanges, curriculum internationalisation, and internationalisation at home, we can make this happen,” he says.

Prof Corli Witthuhn, Vice-Rector: Research, emphasised the importance of US collaborations for the university. She appreciates the support afforded by the US Consulate for the manifold collaborative activities connecting the UFS with the US.

A number of UFS researchers who is collaborating with the US on certain projects interacted with Spera during his visit.

USDP Programme

According to Prof Corlia Janse van Vuuren, Head: UFS School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, the Faculty of Health Sciences’ biggest academic collaboration with US higher education institutions is through the University Staff Development Programme (USDP).

She says: “The USDP is an enriching journey for the group of UFS academic staff members who participate as PhD candidates in this initiative. The international connection with the University of Virginia (UVA), where mentors are assigned to most of the PhD candidates, is raising the quality of the qualification.”

This doctoral training programme supports the doctoral degree studies of a cohort of six academics from the UFS and five from the University of Venda (Univen) in the field of global health. The group of PhD candidates are from different disciplines in health sciences, including Anaesthesiology, Orthopaedics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, as well as Occupational Therapy in the Allied Health Sciences. One of the candidates completed his studies and is working with UVA on a number of publications; the rest of the candidates will complete their studies in 2022 and 2023.

“These doctoral candidates are also very much involved in student training as well as medical specialist training. This increases the quality of our medical specialist training in the faculty. Undergraduate student training also indirectly benefits from this initiative,” she adds.

Dr Gray Magaiza, Acting Assistant Vice-Dean and Programme Director in the Department of Sociology on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus, is in agreement about the value of the USDP programme. He himself received his PhD qualification through the programme.

US Consul General, Vincent Spera, and Prof Corli Witthuhn, , Vice-Rector: Research, Innovation and
Internationalisation. (Photo: 3T Photography)

“The programme opened many doors for me. It was one of the best experiences I ever had, especially the support I received in completing my studies. The quality sought by US supervisors are also quite high,” he says.

Spera says it is wonderful to hear about the collaborations taking place. “It is through these partnerships that connections between South Africans and Americans are allowed to grow exponentially.”

“PhD development is critical, and we want to increase the number of PhD graduates, particularly staff members with PhD qualifications. We appreciate the collaboration with the US in research and capacity development, which together with internalisation are high priorities,” Hagenmeier says.

Fulbright Scholarships

Prof Lynette Jacobs, Head of Research on the UFS South Campus, acknowledged the contribution that the Fulbright programme has made to the UFS South Campus. Four years ago, the visit of one Fulbright scholar, Prof Barbara Howard from the Appalachian State University, evolved to a long-term commitment from individuals and the institution to continue working on intercultural and international projects, as well as research collaborations.

Together with academics from Novgorod State University in Russia, Prof Jacobs and Prof Howard are collaborating on the development of virtual capacity building programmes, specifically to support internationalisation. The courses include international cross-cultural communication skills, leadership in virtual international teams, sustainable development, and using technology meaningfully in a virtual international space.

“This is a wonderful testament to not letting ourselves get fixed to one kind of thinking. It does not always have to be the five-year PhD or two-year academic Fulbright programme, but there are all sorts of models that can make a difference,” responds Spera.

Guided by Dr Dionne van Reenen, Senior Researcher in the Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice, Spera undertook a walking tour of the UFS Centenary Complex and the Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice. He appreciated the information shared about the UFS transformation process, and the collaboration between the US and the unit.

According to Mbali Moiketsi, Study Abroad coordinator, the US consulate has supported and offered guidance to UFS students and staff to pursue study abroad opportunities with the assistance of International Affairs.

Recently, the university had two recipients of the Fulbright foreign student scholarship and has to date hosted three Fulbright visiting scholars. These recipients have contributed to the growth of the partnership and has increased relations with universities in the US. The partnership is set to continue, offering broad opportunities for the UFS staff and students.

News Archive

UFS awards degrees at autumn graduation ceremony

2009-04-28

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) autumn diploma and graduation ceremony took place this week in the Arena on the South Campus in Bloemfontein (formerly known as the Vista Campus). This arrangement has been made because of the large-scale renovations to the Callie Human Centre on the Main Campus.

Friday, 24 April 2009
Faculties of Health Sciences, Law and Theology Diploma ceremony

Law student’s achievement excels 80%
Four Law students obtained the LLB degree at this year’s autumn graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS) summa cum laude and were awarded the Moritz Bobbert Medal. They are from the left: Lezelle Olivier (80%), Albert Nell (91%) and Amanda du Toit (83%). LiFeng Chien were absent during the photo.

UFS awards degrees at autumn graduation ceremony
Today 331 students and five doctorates in the Faculties of Health Sciences, Law and Theology received their qualifications at this year’s autumn graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS). Michael Molahloe (left) and Mamokete Ntholeng both received their LL.B. degrees in the Faculty of Law.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

This year’s autumn graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS) was held on the South Campus. From the group of students that received their qualification from the Faculty of Law, is from the left: Janine Jonson, Anneska van der Spoel, Andrea Coetzer, and Jo-Mari Visser.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

Students in Nursing receive their degree
A group of students from the Faculty of Health Sciences received their B.Soc.Sc. degree at this year’s autumn graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS). At the occasion were, from the left: Ruth Beukes, Basetsana Panana, and Dipontsheng Tsolo.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

UFS Faculty of Health Sciences awards degrees
Liezl Swanepoel (left) and Heide van der Merwe received their BSocSC degrees at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) autumn graduation ceremony.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

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Thursday, 23 April 2009
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences & Chancellor’s Dinner

UFS awards unique doctorate
Dr Rodney Douglas, who had never obtained any formal undergraduate qualification, this week received a Ph.D. in Geography and Geology during the autumn graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS). The name of his thesis is “A new perspective on the geohydrological and surface processes controlling the depositional environment at the Florisbad archaeozoological site”. He had four papers published in journals that were related to his thesis. He obtained his South African Museums Association Diploma in Biology in 1988 and his M.Sc. in Environmental Biology at the University of Natal, Durban in 1992. He was accepted as a Master's degree student at that university based on research that he had conducted on, amongst others, the diets of reptiles. He has been working at the Department of Herpetology at the National Museum, Bloemfontein since 1984, where he holds the post of Principal Museum Scientist and Head of Department.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

Chancellor’s Dinner: UFS honours doctoral students
Last night, the University of the Free State (UFS) honoured students who had received their Ph.D. degrees at the autumn graduation ceremony this past week, at the Chancellor’s Dinner. A total of 25 doctorates were awarded during the respective ceremonies. Attending the occasion were, from the left: Dr Annemarie Kühn, Ph.D. in Chemistry, Prof. Jeanet Conradie, Department of Chemistry at the UFS and Dr Kühn’s promoter, Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Acting Rector of the UFS, Prof. Corene de Wet, Department of Comparative Education and Education Management at the UFS, and Dr Mafu Rakometsi, Chief Executive Officer of Umalusi and former head of the Free State Department of Education who received a Ph.D. in History. Prof. De Wet is Dr Rakometsi's co-promoter and the late Prof. Leo Barnard, former Head of the Department of History at the UFS, who passed away at the beginning of April 2009, was his promoter.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

Mrs Annemarie Kilian, Mr Willem Kilian (BSc. Hons) and Prof Stephanus Kilian
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe

Mr Jaco van der Merwe, Mr Renico Pretorius and Mr Rion Terblanche (all BSc. Quantity Survying)
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe

Ms Mamakoanyane Amelia Shata (BSc. Genetics and BSc. Hons. Plant Molecular Biology) and Mrs Maente Adelinah Shata.
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe

Mr Maurice Ambrose and Mr Owen Monk (both BSc. Quantity Survying).
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe

Ms Tobeka Mehlomekhulu (Lecturer: Department of Geography), Mr Neo Mokgosi (BSc. Hons. Genetics) and Ms Nwabisa Mehlomekhulu (BSc. Hons. Food Science).
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe

Mr John Mdane, Mr Fana Mdane (BSc. Information Technology) and Mrs Agnes Mdane
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe

Mr Kevin Vermaak (BSc. Hons. Geohydrology) and Ms Michelle Steenkamp (BSc. Hons. Geology).
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe

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21 April 2009
Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

Prof. Magda Fourie's daughter graduates
Nadia Fourie, daughter of Prof. Magda Fourie, former Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the UFS and now Vice-Rector: Teaching at Stellenbosch University, received the B.Com. Law degree.
Photo: Lacea Loader

724 degrees were awarded during the ceremony of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Here are, from the left: Simon Serutla, B.Com. Accounting, Lourencia Hamuaka, B.Com. Honours in Financial Economics and Investment Management, Sunet Opperman, B. Accounting, and Yolandi Greyling, B. Accounting.
Photo: Lacea Loader

Students in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences graduated this week during the University of the Free State's (UFS) autumn graduation ceremony. Altogether 724 degrees were conferred. Here are, from the left: Marie-Louise Lombard, B.Com. Law, Adriaan van der Merwe, B.Com. Law and member of the Student Representative Council (Legal and Constitutional Affairs), Basanio Ncike, B.Com. Economics, and Richard Schooling, B.Com. Banking.
Photo: Lacea Loader

Center for Accounting honours top achievers
The Centre for Accounting at the University of the Free State (UFS) honoured the top ten students in the third-year B.Com. and B.Com. Hons. programmes respectively during this week's autumn graduation ceremony. Here are, from the left: Prof. Ronell Britz, Chairperson of the centre, Nils Kotze, first place in the B.Com. third-year group, and Madri Victor, first place in the B.Com. Hons. group; back: Prof. Hentie van Wyk, Programme Director: Accountant Training.
Photo: Stephen Collett

Accounting firms in Free State help with recognition of top achievers
Accounting firms in the Free State have contributed to a fund at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Centre for Accounting to give recognition to top achievers in the third-year programme for the B.Com. and B.Com Hons. degrees respectively this week. It is evidence of the good relationship that exists between the Centre and the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants (SAICA), Free State. Here, from the left, are: Mr Pieter Clase, CoetzeeSmit Chartered Accountants, Mr Oswald Wentworth, KPMG, Mr Ettienne van Niekerk, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Herman Leach, Gobodo Inc. Chartered Accountants, and Mr Stefan Strydom, Havenga, Rossouw & Viljoen; front: Mr Ian Smit, Enslins Bloemfontein, Ms Thelma Crossman, Mazars, and Ms Daphline O'Brien, Ernst & Young.
Photo: Stephen Collett

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20 April 2009
Faculty of Education, Faculty of the Humanities.

CHESD awards 15 masters degrees
A group of 15 students received the Structured M.A. (Higher Education Studies) of the Centre for Higher Education Studies and Development (CHESD) at this year’s autumn graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS). This is the biggest group in the centre's history to be awarded master’s degrees, while four of the students received distinctions. Also of interest is that six of the 15 students already have doctoral degrees. At the occasion were, from the left: Dr Dipane Hlalele, Qwaqwa Campus, Ms Liesl Hoare, Central Univeristy of Technology, Welkom Campus (best achiever), and Dr Fanus van Tonder, Programme Director: Higher Education Studies and Research, CHESD. Ms Hoare received the Deans medal in the Faculty of the Humanities as the best master’s graduate student at the graduation ceremony. At the faculty’s prize function she also received the Kovsie-Alumni Trust award as the best M.A student in the faculty. She also received the CHESD Prize for the best achievement in the Structured M.A. (Higher Education Studies).
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

UFS awards degrees at autumn graduation ceremony
Five hundred and eighty six degrees and nine doctorates were awarded this week during this year's autumn graduation ceremony on the South Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) to students in the Faculty of the Humanities. At the occasion were, from the left: Nicola Bekker, Madré van der Merwe and Esté Scholtz. All three the ladies received the qualification B.A. Language Practice.
Photo: Lacea Loader

This year’s autumn graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS) is held on the South Campus in Bloemfontein. Today a group of students from the Programme: Governance and Political Transformation in the Faculty of the Humanities received their qualification. From the left, front are: Dr Tania Coetzee, Head of the Programme: Governance and Political Transformation, and Mr Itumeleng Liba, Chief Operation Officer at CENTLEC; back: Mr Kennett Sinclair, Vice-Chairperson of COPE in the Northern Cape, Ms Nicole Joannou, Goldfields Business and Catering, and Mr Tembeni Lobe from Bloemfontein.
Photo: Lacea Loader

Some of the students who received their qualifications during this week's graduation ceremony of the Faculty of the Humanities were, from the left: Shu-Jung Chan, B.Mus. Hons., Brian Gxavu, B.Mus., and Mpolokeng Lepote, B.A. Media Studies.
Photo: Lacea Loader

UFS’s CHESD awards doctoral degree
Ms Mardi Delport (middle), Assistant Director: Media and Communications at the Central University of Technology received her Doctoral degree at this year’s autumn graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS). The title of her thesis is: “An internal communication model for the Central University of Technology, Free State as a multi-campus institution”. With her are her promoter Prof. Driekie Hay (left), Vice-Rector: Academic Planning, and her co-promoter, Prof. Annette Wilkinson (right) from the Centre for Higher Education Studies and Development (CHESD) at the UFS.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

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