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27 September 2022 | Story Mbali Moiketsi | Photo Supplied
Heritage day
Staff members of the Office for International Affairs celebrated Heritage Day dressing up in cultural or traditional attire from all over the world
Globally and in South Africa, internationalisation has become accepted as one of the critical processes that advance the core business of universities. The Office for International Affairs (OIA) aims to encourage stakeholders to integrate the international and intercultural dimensions into the formal and informal curriculum for all students within the domestic environment. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the OIA to ensure that the University of the Free State is exposed to an intercultural environment as part of everyday learning. This includes the celebration of Africa Month, Intercultural Diversity, and Heritage Day. The latter is commemorated annually on 24 September, acknowledging and celebrating the cultural wealth of our nation. At the UFS, students and staff celebrate the day by remembering the cultural heritage of the many cultures, including international cultures, that make up the population of South Africa.

OIA staff members celebrated the day by dressing up in cultural or traditional attire from all over the world, recognising the importance of each culture. The day was meant to reflect on the culture and meaning of who we are by educating ourselves on what it means to be global. We need to instil a sense of social cohesion among the UFS community by appreciating and overcoming racial and social barriers to unity. The day was filled with lots of activities, such as learning about different countries, taking part in indigenous games, and indulging in traditional music. The day ended with the realisation of the importance of heritage, and how we as the OIA continue to educate and instil intercultural dimensions at the UFS.

News Archive

Busy medical student’s message to Kovsies
2014-05-23

Stefan van der Westhuizen is a third-year medical student at Kovsies and although he performs well academically, it is not only his studies that keep him busy.

In 2012 Stefan was part of the Leadership for Change programme visiting the International Christian University in Tokyo and in 2013 he visited Stanford’s Sophomore College in California. More recently, he was a guest speaker at this year’ Kovsie Open Day.

His message to current and prospective Kovsies is as follows.

“It is important to me that all students should know: at Kovsies it isn’t only about what you see at the surface. At Kovsies we build a holistic student. And there is a great variety of opportunities – this is what made me decide to come here.”

“The more you do, the more you can do. Something important that I would like to say to prospective medical students, is: here at Kovsies you will not only swot medicine. You learn to be a human being. And this is something you won’t find at other universities.”

“You must decide what you want to achieve, who you want to be and where you want to make a difference. I would rather be a 60% medical student than a 60% human being.”

Stefan would like to go abroad again in future, but then he would like to study at an American medical university. He aims to eventually specialise in cardiothoracic surgery.

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