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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

UFS experimental farm to be redesigned as a training facility

2004-10-25

Back fltr:
Dr Léan van der Westhuizen, Manager: UFS Sydenham Experimental Farm; Prof Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS and Councilor Thami Stander, Chairperson: Mangaung Municipal Portfolio for Agriculture and Rural Development

Front fltr:
Mr Hanz Nketu, Chairperson: Free State Legislative Committee on Agriculture and Mr Peter Frewen from the Free State Legislature

The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences of the University of the Free State will soon sign a tri-partite cooperation agreement with the National African Farmers Union (NAFU) and the Mangaung Local Municipality with the aim of providing training and mentorship to small-scale and emerging farmers, including those recently settled under the on-going land redistribution programme.

The agreement is part of the Faculty’s strategic plan to support the on-going reform process in the country, of which Black Economic Empowerment in Agriculture (Agri-BEE) is an important part. The Free State Provincial Department of Agriculture is also actively supporting this initiative.

Under the plan, the Faculty is redesigning its experimental farm, located about 12 kilometers south of Bloemfontein, as a training facility to build up skills in among others broiler and egg production, dairy farming, animal husbandry, piggery, sheep and goat production. The idea is to introduce a comprehensive package that empowers the small and emerging farmers and the local communities adjoining the farms through simultaneous investments in research, extension, and practical agricultural training.

Learnerships are also being drawn up to provide productive skills in order to contribute to addressing the national skills gap and enhancing opportunities for both self and wage employment.

The residents of the adjoining informal settlement known as Mangaung Phase II where unemployment is currently at extremely high levels are primary targets of this component of the project. The Faculty intends for this project to service the farming communities of the Free State Province and gradually spread to other Provinces in the country.

Having recognised this training programme as a potential instrument for achieving “a united and prosperous agricultural sector”, the Free State Legislature has shown considerable interest in the programme.

Following a preparatory visit to the farms by the Agriculture Committee of the Free State Legislature a request was made to the Faculty to host a larger visit by the Legislative Committees of the Free State, North West and Eastern Cape Provincial Legislatures on Monday 25 October 2004 and present details of the training programme.

The President of NAFU in the Free State Province, Mr Nox Nonkonyana, the Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Prof Herman van Schalkwyk, the Chair of the Mangaung Municipal Portfolio for Agriculture and Rural Development, Councilor Thami Stander, and the Chairperson of the Free State Legislative Committee on Agriculture, Mr M Nketu, will address the Legislators during the occasion.

Prof Herman van Schalkwyk

Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

University of the Free State, Bloemfontein

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
25 Oktober 2004

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