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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

UFS Faculty of Theology hosts expert on African Traditional Religion (ATR)
2016-05-20

Description: African Traditional Religion Tags: African Traditional Religion

Dr Nokuzola Mndende, Prof Fanie Snyman (Dean of the Faculty of Theology), and Dr Luvuyo Ntombana (Department Head: Religion Studies)

Dr Nokuzola Mndende, an acclaimed theologian, researcher, and practitioner of African Traditional Religion (ATR), is often called upon in the media to offer her expert opinion or participate in interfaith panel discussions. Thanks to an initiative from the postgraduate diploma class in the Faculty of Theology and the efforts of Dr Luvuyo Ntombana (Department Head: Religion Studies; Faculty of Theology), Dr Mndende accepted an invitation to present her paper, “From the periphery to the centre: African Traditional Religion in a democratic state”, on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS). In his opening remarks, Dr Ntombana stated that he was heartened by his students’ desire to be “co-workers in knowledge production” by engaging with Dr Mndende.

Dr Mndende’s contention is that African Traditional Religion (ATR) was suppressed throughout colonial times, and, despite a 22-year-old democracy, continues to be moved to “beyond the periphery” by what she terms “spiritual subsets”; those who strive to amalgamate their African Traditional Religion rituals with the practices of Christianity. Quoting statistics from a 1995 survey by the SABC, she stated that ATR is a minority in its birthplace (with only 5% representation), and posed the question: “If ATR is a minority in its place of birth, where is it a majority?” Her presentation put forward the need to study and interpret ATR introspectively, but acknowledged that more “homework” would be needed in this regard.

Dr Mndende thanked the university, Dr Ntombana, and the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Prof Fanie Snyman, for inviting her, and expressed a desire for the relationship with the UFS to continue.

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