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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.


News Archive

Crossing borders, merging boundaries
2014-02-25


Photo: Johan Roux

Senior and first-year international students recently experienced the warm embrace of the university. The Office for International Affairs and the SRC International Affairs hosted a welcoming gala dinner for their students.

SRC member: International Student Council, Brian Hlongwane, emphasised why this group is so important to the university – helping to ensure the international students feel that they are an integral part of our three campuses.

Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, encouraged these students to immerse themselves in campus life in order to help build bridges between cultures. “Own your space, engage in and facilitate conversations around issues at this university. Do not hold back and become a spectator, know that you have the same responsibilities as any registered student at the UFS,” Buys said.

Dineo Gaofhiwe-Ingram, Head of the Office for International Affairs, spoke about the complexities of the country that international students now face. She urged students to find their role in the student community across the three campuses. In addition, they need to know their rights as well as their responsibilities. “You all deserve to be treated, and taken well care of, like any other registered student on this campus. Nothing should set you apart from the rest,” Gaofhiwe-Ingram stressed.

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