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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“Since the declaration by the Government on 22 June 2022 that the COVID-19 regulations will be repealed, the UFS has conducted a risk assessment to determine the risk of exposure to staff and students.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

A learning path for working adults
2009-02-09

 
From the left are: Ms Maquida du Preez (MDP Programme Manager), Ms Eliche Lorandi ( Marketing Executive), Mr Theo Potgieter (BEE and Transformation Manager), Ms Marie Griebenouw (Programme Manager) and Mr Danie Jacobs (Head: Centre fro Business Dynamics).
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe
 
 In the short space of five years, the Centre for Business Dynamics at the University of the Free State (UFS) has grown in stature to such an extent that it is currently offering leadership development programmes at 45 institutions all over the country.

Speaking at the fifth anniversary of the centre’s establishment, its director, Mr Danie Jacobs, said the centre was the first commercial unit in South Africa, attached to a business school, to establish a desk focusing on Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Transformation in association with Empowerdex.

The main purpose of this joint venture with Empowerdex is to deliver comprehensive BEE training through the development and presentation of various programmes.

The centre has also introduced the High-Performing Directors’ Programme in association with ABSA. A total of about 40 students have enrolled for this programme so far,and their numbers fluctuate every year.

It is also the first unit in the country to link up with Thinking Fusion, one of the three consultancies contracted by the UFS, to introduce two unique leadership programmes, namely a programme in Creating Leadership and Personal Capacity in Women and the Leadership in the Connection Economy programme.

“Our aim is to prepare women for full participation as managers and leaders in transforming organizations to become truly integrated and representative of the full diversity spectrum of South Africa,” Mr Jacobs said.

“We have built amazing relationships with various clients, both in the private and public sector, over the last five years,” said Mr Jacobs. “I believe the success of the Centre for Business Dynamics lies within our methodology of action learning, as well as creating a learning path for working adults.”

“Because of our country’s history not all people are on an equal footing when it comes to prior learning, so we level the playing field by breaking the training up into easily absorbable components. The centre can address the training needs of any company because of the multiple resources that we are fortunate enough to have at our fingertips,” he said.

The centre also offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Strategy and Management, aimed at bringing all parties involved in the field of taxation up to date with the latest developments and changes.

In addition, the centre has introduced The Choice and The Choice at Work programme in association with the Arbinger Institute in the United States of America. There are also two management programmes, namely the Management Preparation Programme and the Management Development Programme.

Apart from these programmes, the centre also offers products and services such as short courses, workshops and consultations.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za  
9 February 2009
 

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