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#UFSGraduation: UFS gives Qwaqwa student more than just a degree

20 April 2023 | Story Nonsindiso Qwabe | Photo Supplied

Kunene new — Simphiwe Kunene revelling in the moment during the April 2023 graduations.

“The University of the Free State has given me more than just a degree; it has given me skills, attributes, and so much more, but above all else, the university gave me an opportunity.”

This is according to former Qwaqwa Campus SRC member Simphiwe Kunene, who walked across the stage to receive his Bachelor of Education in Intermediate Phase Teaching during the April 2023 graduations on the Qwaqwa Campus.

Support enabled Kunene to juggle multiple roles

Kunene, who has been involved in student life since his first year, said the support received from various individuals and structures at the UFS enabled him to juggle his multiple roles successfully, and groomed the sharp leader he considers himself to be today. As a first-generation student from the rural town of Nquthu in KwaZulu-Natal, Kunene said he “never imagined some of the achievements and support I received from the university. My journey may have been uneasy, but it has also been filled with many beautiful memories and significant moments. My life has been one of many firsts, and so I want to create many others like me."

While pursuing his studies, Kunene was a tutor and a residence assistant, and held positions in the CSRC and ISRC. “My story, like many others before me, has been riddled with challenges and adversities that sought to deter me from completing my studies. Relocating to a new environment is always difficult, and studying there is even more challenging. The challenges have been bigger, but the support from the university was way bigger. The dream has always been bigger.”

His most memorable moments are being elected as ISRC Secretary General and winning an A-Step award for best tutor in the Faculty of Education. “From a very young age, I've always wanted to change the world in one way or another. I figured that perhaps one way to do that was to be a teacher, and the Qwaqwa Campus offered me the platform to help me realise that dream of mine.”

With this degree, Kunene hopes to impact the lives of his learners just like the warm embrace of education has impacted him.

“I am convinced that this degree – which is the first in my family – will drive out the scourge of poverty and restore dignity to the community, myself, and my family. For me, education is supposed to transform the lives of those it touches. I am a teacher, and that's my calling. My mission is to transform lives. I want to make education fashionable. This degree is the very foundation on which this premise is built.”

Driving quality, impact, and care

He is now pursuing an honours degree with specialisation in Management and Governance in the Faculty of Education and is working as a facilitator in the Centre for Teaching and Learning. “I will forever be grateful for the support and opportunities afforded to me by this great university. I can say without fear of contradiction that lives have been changed with quality, impact, and care.”

News Archive

Graduation ceremony awaited with great excitement

2011-06-22

Everything is running according to plan on the Bloemfontein Campus of our university for the graduation ceremony of Ms Oprah Winfrey, which is taking place in the Callie Human Centre today, 24 June 2011.

The graduation ceremony, during which an Honorary Doctorate in Education will be conferred upon Ms Winfrey, promises to be something special. Measured against the smooth course of the preparations, the speed at which the tickets were obtained and the continuous interest amongst UFS staff and students, as well as members of the public, this promises to be a real 2011 highlight for all who are going to attend the event.

Strict safety and security measures shall be enforced and therefore, ticket holders are requested to make sure that they arrive early on the Bloemfontein Campus.

The UFS is aware of the fact that tickets are sold illegally at shopping centres in Bloemfontein. Computicket equipment shall be used on the premises tomorrow to ensure that only persons who have original tickets in their possession are admitted. People found to be in possession of forged tickets tomorrow shall be prosecuted.

The doors of the Callie Human Centre shall open at 13:00 on Friday for ticket holders and shall be closed strictly at 14:00. For safety and security reasons, nobody shall be allowed to enter or leave the building after the doors were closed.

Although the entrance gates to the Bloemfontein Campus shall not be closed, certain streets on the campus will be closed for some time today (23 June 2011) and the whole of Friday (24 June 2011). More information about this is available at www.ufs.ac.za

Clear signs, as well as voluntary staff, shall guide parking visitors to their parking spaces. The volunteers were selected after staff of all three campuses offered their assistance for the day.

Amongst the 4 500 guests attending the graduation ceremony are various well-known personalities and dignitaries, alumni, learners and other stakeholders of the university. Good reaction has also been received from the local, national and international media.

The programme in the Callie Human Centre is as follows:

13:00 Doors open
14:00 Doors close
14:30 Opening performances
15:30 Graduation ceremony
16:00 Ms. Winfrey’s speech and question and answer session with students
18:00 Programme ends.

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