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The UFS Qwaqwa Campus celebrates its graduates over two days of ceremonies

20 April 2023 | Story NONSINDISO QWABE | Photo SONIA SMALL

Few moments in a student’s life are as memorable as graduation day. Graduates on the Qwaqwa Campus soaked in their moment and revelled in their accomplishments during the two-day ceremonies on 14 and 15 April 2023.

Graduations on the Qwaqwa Campus are known for their unique traditional flair, and during the two-day ceremonies, the excited graduates did not disappoint.

One thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight qualifications were awarded during the two-day ceremonies. As they walked across the stage to receive their qualifications, graduates ululated, chanted, and whipped out various traditional and modern dancing styles to celebrate their degrees.

Graduates reminded to leave a lasting legacy

Joining the excited graduates was Prof Adipala Ekwamu, a trailblazer in the field of agriculture who was awarded an honorary doctorate on 14 April 2023 during the Natural and Agricultural Sciences graduation ceremony on our Qwaqwa Campus, and Kopung Ralikontsane, the Director General of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the Free State, who was a guest speaker at the Faculty of Education ceremonies on Saturday 15 April 2023.

Addressing graduates during his acceptance speech, Prof Ekwamu challenged his ‘fellow graduands’ to be drivers of change in their respective industries.

“I was very impressed by the quality of the students and graduates that this university has trained. May I remind everyone that universities have always been the drivers of development and reform? Elsewhere, and in Africa too, they have contributed to the political discourse and catalysing the rate of economic development. I appeal and call upon all universities to remain the powerful drivers of innovation and environmental protection, poverty reduction, and inclusivity in all their undertakings.”

Likewise, Ralikontsane encouraged students to get involved in building the nation beyond its current limitations. Having trained as a teacher, Ralikontsane spoke about a teacher's lasting legacy as he shared his teacher reflections and gave a congratulatory speech to the graduates.

“You now have the responsibility to help our collective endeavours as a nation to improve our education, training, and innovation. I wish you to rise above the prevailing limitations of our time, insidious poverty and underdevelopment inflicted on our people, as underpinned by the principles of Batho Pele.”

The UFS wishes to congratulate our new graduates who received qualifications in ceremonies on the Qwaqwa Campus. We would like to say – Thank you for allowing us the honour to recognise your contribution to our society.

News Archive

Quantity Surveying and Construction Management department aspires to excellence

2017-08-14

From the left: Prof Danie Vermeulen, Dean of the
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences;
Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, Head of the Department
of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management;
Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor
at the UFS; and Dr Franco Geminiani, chairing the
panel from the South African Council for the Project
and Construction Management Professions.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

Achieving programme accreditation from the respective professional bodies is the ultimate goal for the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the University of the Free State (UFS). This is according to Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, the head of this department. This hallmark of quality reflects the university’s aspiration towards excellence.

Construction Management programmes reviewed
The university recently received a visit by a panel, representing the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) to re-accredit programmes offered by the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management. During the accreditation visit, the panel evaluated the programmes to determine whether they met the minimum requirements according to a set of pre-determined criteria.

When reviewing the programmes: BSc and BSc Hons Construction Management respectively, as well as the Project Management stream of the Masters programme in Land and Property Development Management (MLPM), the panel looked at programme design and outcomes including curriculum, study material and exam papers, institutional support, student recruitment, admission, development, retention and throughput, staffing recruitment and development, teaching and learning strategies, quality assurance, facilities, infrastructure and resources, professional development, industry and practical exposure and postgraduate policies, procedures and regulations, including research activities.

If the minimum requirements are achieved, the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the UFS will receive accreditation for its programmes from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2022.

It will also mean that we are certified
as producing quality employable
graduates who are well prepared to
enter the industry and make a difference.

Currently, the department has full accreditation by the SACPCMP (until March 2017) and the SACQSP (until December 2017).

Later this month, a panel from the South African Council for Property Valuation Profession (SACPVP) will review the accreditation of the Valuation stream of the MLPM programme. The South African Council for Quantity Surveying Profession responsible for accrediting the Quantity Surveying programmes will visit the university in 2018.

Certified as producing quality students
Prof Kajimo-Shakantu said: “If we maintain our accreditation, it will reflect that the UFS is among the best, with programmes which are recognised by professional bodies that set competence standards for professional registration of students. It will also mean that we are certified as producing quality employable graduates who are well prepared to enter the industry and make a difference. The programmes contribute to the development of the much-needed critical skills in the built environment.”

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