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The University of the Free State (UFS) has received an overwhelming response from staff and students to upload their COVID-19 vaccination certificates to access campus in the past weeks. This includes unvaccinated staff and students who are uploading their weekly SARS (COVID-19) PCR test results or are applying for deferral or exemption.
This comes after the system and process to grant access to the campuses to vaccinated and unvaccinated staff and students stipulated in the UFS COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy was activated on 14 February 2022.
So far, 99,54% permanent staff members have uploaded their vaccination/PCR certificates. The percentage of students is continuing to rise in anticipation for the beginning of the academic year, which commences on 21 February 2022 in a blended teaching and learning approach, where 67% of modules on offer will be in a face-to-face format.
The university would like to thank all staff and students who are complying with the policy and uploading their vaccination/PCR certificates as they are assisting greatly in the institution’s aim to provide and maintain a working, teaching and learning environment that is safe and without risk to the health of its staff and students.
Health Sciences expand their training platform to Trompsburg
2014-04-03
We will soon be able to accommodate more students who wish to obtain a qualification in the medical profession, after an agreement was reached between the UFS’s Faculty of Health Sciences, the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Free State Department of Health.
Some R28 million were allocated to the UFS for setting up two new Health Sciences facilities.
It is through this agreement that the Faculty of Health Sciences recently bought the Midway Hotel in Trompsburg, in order to expand their training opportunities platform for students in the faculty. Two other facilities are currently being negotiated for Kimberley and the Eastern Free State.
Prof Gert van Zyl, Dean of the faculty, says their training platform at the Universitas Academic Hospital (including Universitas Hospital, the National District Hospital, Pelonomi Hospital, the Free State Psychiatric and 3 Military Hospital) is saturated.
“We couldn’t accommodate additional students without compromising the quality of practical training. We are forced to expand the training platform to other good primary health facilities which will be accredited by that the Health Professions Council – in this case the new Trompsburg.”
Prof Van Zyl says the necessary infrastructure must be put in place before student numbers can be increased. Some of the plans include:
- Furnished accommodation in Trompsburg for about 50 students from the School of Medicine, School of Allied Health Professions and the School of Nursing.
- Administrative and academic support points, including office space for administrative and other essential learning areas.
- Equipment and facilities for e-learning.