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05 October 2022 | Story Samkelo Fetile
Studentships and Internships
Interns based in various departments on the Bloemfontein, South, and Qwaqwa campuses participated in a workshop hosted by the Department of Human Resources.

The Department of Human Resources at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently organised a session for interns employed by various departments on the Bloemfontein, South, and Qwaqwa campuses. These interns appointed by the UFS, are funded through various Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (Presidential Youth Employment Initiative).

The goal of these workshops is to provide interns with the required skills to prepare them for the workplace.

 

Building the skill set of interns

Telishia van Vollenhoven, Training Specialist in the Department of Human Resources, says interns are essential to the UFS because they provide a new perspective on the institution's day-to-day operations and processes and may give thoughts on strategy, goals, rules, and more.

 “Interns are a very important part of an organisation. They are also our employees. With these workshops, we would like to equip them with the necessary skills to prepare them for the workplace. They bring in new fresh ideas and assist with the operational function of the institution. The workshop is not just applicable to interns, but all staff and line managers could also benefit from such a workshop.”

As part of the workshop, interns were introduced to a variety of programmes that aid in their overall development. These include how to create a results-oriented resume/CV, the definition and benefits of an internship, understanding the internship programme at the UFS, understanding workplace requirements, delivering effective customer service, becoming more productive, learning organisational skills, the importance of teamwork, creating awareness of differences in the workplace, and how to compile a portfolio of evidence (POE).

 

Empowering young people

Interns are further empowered by participating in brainstorming sessions and meetings, as well as providing feedback and proposals to institutional or internship leaders. Through their education and knowledge, they may assist the institution in implementing the most recent strategies and methods in their chosen career field.

The workshop is conducted four times a year or as the need arises. Thus far this year, a total of four workshops have been conducted as follows:

  • 29 June 2022 – Bloemfontein Campus
  • 18 August 2022 – Qwaqwa Campus
  • 14 September 2022 – Bloemfontein Campus
  • 28 September 2022 – Bloemfontein Campus

News Archive

Meet our Council Members: Derek Foster, ethical and responsible leadership role model
2016-05-18

Description: 2016 05 18 Derek Foster Tags: 2016 05 18 Derek FosterMr Derek Foster
Photo: Stephen Collett

Derek Foster was elected to the Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) in October 2012. He was the first Chartered Accountant (South Africa) to be appointed to Council because of the role he could play through his training, background, and experience. In particular, it was his knowledge of corporate governance, ethics, and reporting that led to his serving currently on the Audit and Risk Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Investment Committee of Council.

This Kovsie alumnus qualified as chartered accountant at the UFS in 1978. During his student years, he played rugby for Oud-Studente, and served in the Evening Student Representative Council.

Until December 2010, Derek was a partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers, which he joined in 1972 as a rookie when the company was still known as Meyer, Nel and Co. Nowadays, he is a business consultant and company director, serving on the boards of NWK Limited, Cancer Association of South Africa (national), and Samba Cooperative Limited.

His background and knowledge of auditing shine through strongly when it comes to the manner in which he sees his role as Council member. “The contribution which I can make to the Council of the university is to ensure that management executes strategy and policy appropriately, as formulated and approved by Council, in the best interest of the university community. Of course, this should be done in an ethical, sustainable manner, taking into account the risk environment we find ourselves in. We need to provide ethical leadership, and ensure that the UFS is a responsible corporate institution,” he says.

Work obligations are keeping him very busy, but his four grandsons are equally high on his priority list. He met his wife, Sally, at Kovsies, another reason why the university is close to his heart. “Everything I do, I want to do with enthusiasm and passion, and I want to make a difference wherever I go. I would also like to be a good grandfather, and set a memorable example to my grandchildren,” he says.

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