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15 July 2022 | Story Lacea Loader

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) approved the lifting of the institution’s COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy with immediate effect.

“Since the declaration by the Government on 22 June 2022 that the COVID-19 regulations will be repealed, the UFS has conducted a risk assessment to determine the risk of exposure to staff and students. From the assessment, it was clear that the university’s COVID-19 infections are currently a low risk,” said Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

Factors that contributed to this low risk include the following:

  • No COVID-19 positive cases among UFS staff and students have been reported in the past month.
  • The high number of vaccinations among UFS stakeholders. In addition, the current national immunity level of the total South African population is high.
  • Certain faculties and postgraduate students are currently proceeding with hybrid/online learning, which minimises the risk of possible COVID-19 infections on the university’s three campuses.
  • In its correspondence of 23 June 2022, the UFS urged all staff and students to continue wearing masks should they have comorbidities and/or symptoms of illness, thus safeguarding other stakeholders.

“We believe that COVID-19 no longer poses an immediate threat to the safety of our staff and students, and that the pandemic is at a stage where they should take responsibility for their own safety. This can be mainly ascribed to the success of the implementation of the policy. Staff and students who still wish to wear masks are urged to do so at their own discretion. Those who have not yet been vaccinated against the virus and have no

known condition preventing them from doing so, are advised to get vaccinated for their own safety and protection,” said Prof Petersen.

The UFS COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy was approved by the University Council on 26 November 2021 and implemented on 6 December 2021. The university commenced restricting unvaccinated individuals from accessing its campuses as of 14 February 2022.

“If the national regulatory environment with respect to COVID-19 is changing to such an extent that the policy needs to be re-implemented, the university’s executive management will act accordingly, and hence the COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy remains a policy of the university as approved by the UFS Council on 26 November 2021.” said Prof Petersen.

 

Uplifting of the COVID-19 vaccination policy - mitigation strategies of the University of the Free State.

News Archive

Competition can assist with transformation
2008-06-04

At the announcement of the winners of the transformation competition were, from the left, front: Ms Khani Seatile, Prof. Helena van Zyl, Director of the School of Management, Ms Charlotte Gallego, Ms Debbie Packwood; back: Mr Valentine Ndhlela and Mr Roger Potgieter.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

     

Competition can assist with transformation

The School of Management of the University of the Free State (UFS) held a transformation competition amongst its MBA and BML students. The winners were announced at a function that was held on the Main Campus of the university in Bloemfontein this week.

Prof. Helena van Zyl, Director of the School of Management, said: “The competition gave the students the opportunity to apply their expertise and knowledge and in this way they could add value to the university’s challenge to manage the transformation process effectively and to the benefit of all.” In the competition students had to provide recommendations to the management of the UFS on the effective management of the transformation process at the institution.

The winners in the MBA category were Ms Charlotte Gallego and Mr Roger Potgieter. In the BML category Mr Valentine Ndhlela, Ms Khani Seatile and Ms Debbie Packwood were the winners. The winners can attend either a conference on knowledge, culture and change at organisations in the United Kingdom or a conference on entrepreneurship in Ireland. This prize includes air fare, accommodation and the registration fee for the conference. They also get a 10%-bonus mark in a module of their choice.

Some of the suggestions made by the students include:

The use of the Reitz incident as an empowering tool for skills development for all staff to participate in and not only the previously disadvantaged communities.

Another suggestion was that it is not enough to acknowledge people’s issues involved in organisational change and restructuring in an organisation. Management must be equipped to deal with these challenges. In order to ensure long-term survival, the university must develop skills in strategic transformation.

One of the students also suggested the displaying of notice boards in student residences to enhance unity and shared values, using the slogan “We are all human beings no matter what we are”.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel:  051 401 2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
4 June 2008

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