Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
15 November 2022
|
Story Valentino Ndaba
|
Photo Sonia Small
Walk of honour for December graduates
The big day has finally arrived! The December graduation ceremonies will be in full swing on 9 and 12 December. UFS Graduates will do the walk of honour across the stage in the Callie Human Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus.
All the ceremonies will be broadcast on the official
UFS YouTube channel. Join the ultimate launch of the festive season as we celebrate the graduates on:
This marks the second in-person graduations following the COVID-19 pandemic's virtual ceremonies.
Graduates are encouraged to share inspiring stories about their unique academic journey or memories on:
socialmedia@ufs.ac.za or news@ufs.ac.za
On the big day, don’t forget to tag us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, using the official hashtag #UFSGraduation2022
For more information visit the Graduation webpage
The following qualifications will be conferred
Date | Time | Faculties: All Qualifications |
---|
Friday 9 December 2022 | 09:00 | Education Economic and Management Sciences Law |
| 14:30 | Natural and Agricultural Sciences The Humanities Theology and Religion |
Monday 12 December 2022 | 09:00 | Health Sciences |
Inaugural lecture challenges leaders in higher education
2012-10-30

|
Dr Mamphela Ramphele
Photo: Stephen Collett
29 October 2012 |
Lecture (Pdf format)
According to international statistics, South Africa’s school performance is rated 140th out of 144 countries. South Africa is also ranked 143rd out of 144 countries when it comes to the quality of mathematics and science. About 600 000 South African graduates are unemployed and about 500 000 learners are failed by our current education system.
Dr Mamphela Ramphele brought these shocking statistics to the light at the inaugural lecture of the Annual Prestige Lecture at the Faculty of Education on Thursday 25 October 2012 at the University of the Free State (UFS).
This lecture will henceforth be known as the Mamphela Ramphele Prestige Lecture.
Dr Ramphelefocused her lecture on ‘Educating the 21st century citizen’.
“One of the defining characteristics of the 21st century is the vast number of choices that confront us every day at a personal, professional and political level.”
She asked if 21st century South Africans are equipped with the skills to make the choices that confront them daily.
“The failure to transform our apartheid education into one characterized by equity and excellence, is producing graduates who lack self-confidence.”
Dr Ramphele said that in South Africa about 1/6th of government expenditure goes to education, but the outcomes remain shocking.
For Dr Ramphele the answer lies in creating platforms for open conversation about South Africa’s painful past and the agenda for radical socio-economic restructuring should include the fundamental transformation of education.
She praised the UFS, under its current inspirational leadership, for its role as change agents through the education.
Prof. Rita Niemann, senior professor at the Faculty said the Annual Mamphela Ramphele lecture is to further expand and celebrate education in South Africa.
“Dr Ramphela has given us so much food for thought by challenging leaders in higher education to speak out about the questionable state of education in South Africa and to become engaged in the ‘revolution of the spirit’ in order to deliver citizens who own and shape the country.”