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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

Spring Graduation

2011-09-12

Our university will be awarding altogether 91 diplomas/certificates and 624 degrees during the Spring Graduation Ceremony on 14 and 15 September 2011. Of these, 23 doctorates and two honorary doctorates will also be awarded.

As with this year’s Autumn Graduation Ceremony, we will be making the ceremony more accessible to students and the public. Two appearances, in particular, can be looked forward to on this occasion: a national concert pianist in Grade 12 from Voortrekker High School in Bethlehem, Caryn Reed, and a continental debating champion and second-year student in our Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Sibusiso Tshabalala, as guest speaker.

All the master’s and doctoral degrees of the various faculties will once again be awarded during one ceremony on 15 September 2011.

Prof. Robert Frater, Emeritus Professor in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Centre, New York, will be receiving an honorary doctorate in Medical Science. As a teacher and trainer, Prof. Frater has influenced many surgeons in his training role in the wards, operating room and intensive care facility. Dr Akilagpa Sawyerr, an academic from Ghana, will be receiving an honorary doctorate in Education for groundbreaking work done on the African continent. Dr Sawyerr, who is a member of our International Advisory Council, has visiting appointments at prestigious universities, such as the famous Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He also has visiting status at the Harvard Law School and the Yale Law School.

The full programme for the various ceremonies is:

Wednesday, 14 September 2011:

At 10:15, the degrees will be awarded to students of the Faculties of Humanities, Education, Law and Theology. Diplomas/certificates up until honours degrees will be awarded. This excludes the Certificate in Education, National Professional Diploma in Education and the Advanced Education Certificate.

At 15:15, degrees will be awarded to students in the Faculties of Economic and Management Sciences and Natural- and Agricultural Sciences and Health Sciences. Diplomas/Certificates up until honours degrees will be awarded.

Thursday, 15 September 2011:

At 10:15, a total of 125 master’s and doctoral degrees plus two honorary doctorates will be awarded by all the faculties in a joint ceremony.

The Chancellor’s Dinner will also take place on the same day.

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