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17 June 2022 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath | Photo Vivid Images
Heads of Mission to South Africa
Representatives of Heads of Diplomatic Mission in South Africa

The Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), Prof Francis Petersen, hosted the Heads of Diplomatic Mission breakfast in South Africa on 9 June in Pretoria.

Fifteen foreign missions attended the event, with representation from Argentina, Belgium, Egypt, the European Union, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Spain, Switzerland, the United States, and Zimbabwe. The programme included a presentation by the Rector, followed by an engagement session.

Prof Francis Petersen’s overarching message during his presentation was that the UFS is ready to engage, co-create, and collaborate in the international arena, and that it produces graduates who are holistically developed to engage the world of work in their respective areas of specialisation. “We cannot underestimate the value of co-creation and collaboration between the Global North and Global South institutions of higher learning as equal partners. The UFS has an array of expertise that we deem as core drivers of partnerships, which has the potential to offer immense value through collaboration,” said Prof Petersen.

The event offered the UFS the opportunity to reach out and engage the international community on potential partnerships and collaborations. The Rector provided insight into the UFS, while positioning the university as well as current and potential collaborations with institutions of higher learning and other sectors in the respective heads of mission countries.

The Heads of Diplomatic Mission Breakfast was a collaboration between the Department of Communication and Marketing, the Office for International Affairs, and Institutional Advancement.


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Centre for Development Support focuses on job creation
2010-02-12

Pictured above are Prof. Marais and Dr. Toerien at the seminar.
Photo: Stephen Collet


The Centre for Development Support (CDS) is a progressive research unit at the University of the Free State (UFS). The centre is also seen as a training unit promoting sustainable human development. To prove this, the CDS recently presented a seminar series with the Khanya African Institute for Community-Driven Development.

The seminar was titled “Of paradoxes and job creation: Exploring alternative solutions”. Many aspects were looked at and Dr Daan Toerien, former Vice-President of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), presented the seminar.

According to Prof. Lochner Marais, director of the CDS, the seminar series looked into the various conflicts between technology, job creation and local economic development planning. Everyone who attended the seminar would agree that the frontiers of knowledge were undoubtedly challenged. -Lize du Plessis

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