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20 April 2023 | Story NONSINDISO QWABE | Photo SONIA SMALL
A jubilant gradaute

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

Inaugural lecture: Prof Pieter Verster
2005-02-16

Prof Pieter Verster from the Department of Missiology at the University of the Free State (UFS) will deliver his inaugural lecture on Wednesday 23 February 2005 at 19:00 in the CR Swart Auditorium on campus.

The topic of the lecture is Die begronding van die sending by Paulus in die lig van sy erkenning van die godheid van Christus.

Pieter Verster started his theological training in 1973 at the UFS and continued it at the University of Pretoria (UP). He obtained the degrees BA (cl) from the UFS in 1976; BA Hons (Greek cl) from the UP in 1979; MA (Greek) from the UFS in 2000;

a BD (cl) from the UP in 1979; a Post-graduate Diploma in Theology (cl) from the UP in 1980; a DD (Missiology and Religion Studies) from the UP in 1985 and a DD (Dogmatics and Ethics) from the UP in 1989.

He was honoured for academic excellence (UFS 1975), overall excellence (UP 1979) and research excellence (UFS 2004). He has visited various overseas universities and institutions in the Netherlands , Switzerland , Germany and the USA ,.

Prof Verster has also published various articles in academic journals and his books include Wie het die waarheid beet? for which he received the CUM/RSG writers’ competition prize in 1996. He has also published short stories in Tydskrif vir Letterkunde and Dolos and poems in inter alia Literator and Litnet.

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

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