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International exchange students back on our campus

26 July 2022 | Story Bulelwa Moikwatlhai | Photo Supplied

UFS exchange students — Experiencing the UFS in person for the first time are from the left: Sandor Potjer (VU Amsterdam), Bulelwa Moikwatlhai (UFS OIA), Ricarda Kochems (Bremen University, Germany), Froukje Pronk (VU Amsterdam) and Matome Mokoena (UFS OIA)

As the UFS COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy has been lifted with immediate effect – allowing 100% capacity of both students and staff members and a fully operational campus – the Office for International Affairs welcomes its first physical exchange cohort after two years. The cohort of students hail from the various international partners of the UFS, namely the University of Bremen in Germany, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Sciences PO Bordeaux in France. The students will be hosted in the UFS faculties of the Humanities, Economic and Management Sciences, and Natural and Agricultural Sciences, respectively.

These students have been paired with Umoja Buddy Programme ambassadors to help ensure their smooth transition and integration into student life at the UFS. Furthermore, the students received an invitation from the President of the International Student Association (ISA), Courtney Madziwa, to join their association, thus exposing them to students from other countries to learn about the various cultures.

On 18 July, the Office for International Affairs (OIA) arranged a hybrid orientation programme for the exchange students, including those students who have not yet arrived on the Bloemfontein Campus. The students took part in an icebreaker activity, where they had the opportunity to learn from and teach other participants about their home countries. Dr Cornelius Hagenmeier, Director of the OIA, welcomed the exchange students to the Bloemfontein Campus, and expressed excitement to have physical exchanges again. Furthermore, the guest presenters ranged from student leadership, staff members, and service providers.

The presentations were practical, demonstrating, among others, how to create a password on the institutional website – presented by Mr Molemo Mohapi from UFS ICT. The presentation on how to fully utilise Blackboard was facilitated by Ms Vuthihi Mudau from the UFS CTL division. We take the safety of all our students seriously, so Ms Elise Oberholzer from the UFS Protection Services has given the students some tips on how to safeguard themselves.

News Archive

Rolene Strauss: a beauty with a passion

2017-12-08

Rolene Strauss and Prof Gert van Zyl, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, after
receiving her MB CHB degree during the Summer Graduation on the
Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State
on 7 December.
Photo: Charl Devenish

Spotlight photo: Johan Roux

It was definitely a moment to remember when former Miss World 2014, Rolene Strauss, was among the 107 students in the Faculty of Health Sciences walking across the stage in the Callie Human Center on 7 December 2017.

Rolene, now Dr Rolene Strauss, received her MB ChB degree during the Summer Graduations at the University of the Free State (UFS). She also recited the Vow of the Graduands in Medicine during the ceremony. She resumed her studies at the UFS in 2016 after putting it on hold in 2014 when she was crowned as Miss World.

Passion for health and education
“My love for health and medicine is what got me back to studying. There were so many opportunities to be explored after my year as Miss World, but I wouldn’t have been ‘Rolene’ if I didn’t finish my medical studies. I have absolutely no regrets,” Rolene said in a statement.

“I’m a test-tube baby and I believe my passion for health was born with me,” Rolene said. This is what fostered her deep set passion for health, women, and education.

Together with her sister-in-law, Dr Ledivia Strauss, she will be launching a holistic women’s health practice in Paarl next year. Rolene will not be commencing her medical internship in 2018, as she plans on doing more public speaking engagements, finishing her book, and focusing on the medical practice.

Photo gallery:

7 December Morning session

Video:

7 December Morning session

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