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21 August 2023 | Story André Damons | Photo André Damons
Minister Noxolo Kiviet
Minister Noxolo Kiviet, minister of Public Service and Administration, addresses the students and guests during the ceremony.

Noxolo Kiviet, Minister of Public Service and Administration, says well-trained, capable and ethical public servants and senior management can go a long way in stemming the tide of corruption, maladministration and malfeasance.

Kiviet addressed the certificate ceremony of Executive Development Programme (EDP) participants on 16 August. This is a certificate programme offered by the University of the Free State (UFS) in partnership with the National School of Government (NSG). A total of 25 participants received their certificates. 

Time well-spent to change the society for the better

She said the programme is one that can address the need to build uniform skills and competence across the entire public service as envisioned in the national framework towards the professionalisation of the public sector. 

In congratulating the participants, Kiviet said they set the tone for many others for self-discovery, transformations and for great achievements. “The time was well-spent in ensuring that you will change the society for the better. Remember it’s a constitutional injunction, which we all in the public service strive for. 

“The time you spent and the knowledge that has been instilled in all of you, will remain forever in your memories. It is now time to pursue your dreams and make a positive impact on society through the skills and knowledge you have gained. You have displayed the necessary commitment to learn, to acquire and produce knowledge and develop expertise,” she said.  

Flagship leadership and development interventions

Kiviet told the graduates they had the honour to study at a special and distinctive university – an institute that deservingly commands an invaluable academic reputation, nationally and internationally. 

“We further take pride that this university is committed to the pursuit of equity and excellence as a cosmopolitan institution with many students from other countries. It is one of the leading research institutions on the continent.”

Kiviet said the programme is one of the flagship leadership and development interventions by the NSG. Its aim is to enhance the capacity of public service leaders in a dynamic, democratic and developmental state. South Africa can realise these goals by drawing on the energies of its people, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, enhancing the state’s capacity and promoting leadership and partnership throughout society. 

With programmes such as this in place, the minister continued, the public service can build the capacity through research, analysing and applying research results, while preparing these managers for challenges. To achieve this, the government must implement key interventions, including professional, meritocratic and ethical public administration, improved leadership, good governance and accountability. 

“You are amongst the talented people in the country. It is you who lead, reimagine and reshape the future of the country through fostering just and humane ways of conducting the affairs of the country to ensure human development and social justice at the heart of our conduct and actions. We look upon you to exercise with humility, leadership whenever you are given an opportunity.”

Kiviet said she expects the graduates to proceed and enroll for post-graduate qualifications so that they can advance their knowledge, sharpen their abilities to serve people with care and due diligence. To the leadership of the university, she said, they want to see more public servants return to the UFS and other universities for programmes in advanced project management, contract management, performance management, financial management and conflict resolution. 

“Design more bespoke programmes that address the specific skills deficit, not just generic programmes designed to credentialise people. It must be knowledge, know-how to do it, know-how to manage people, know-how to manage money without being tempted. Know-how must be at the core of what we do.”

Enhancing knowledge and skills

Prof Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, said the graduates have shown their commitment and dedication to enhancing their knowledge and skills in the service of the people of South Africa. The UFS and the NSG have a fruitful partnership that aims to provide quality education and training for public servants in different fields and disciplines.  

“Through its Vision 130, the university is a leading institution for higher learning in South Africa that creates opportunities for growth through its focused research, its engaged impact, engaged scholarship, and the character of caring, inclusion and diversity. 

“So dear students, by enhancing your capabilities as public servants, you have also contributed to the vision of building a capable state as outlined in the National Development Plan. A capable state is one that has the capacity to formulate and implement policies that serve the national interest and address the root causes of poverty, inequality and unemployment,” said Prof Burger. 

According to him, this also stands key to the mandate of the NSG and in pursuing that, the NSG will always have a partner in the UFS. The short-learning programme is one of the many initiatives on which the UFS and the NSG have partnered to address the needs and challenges of the public sector, a sector where we need to live the ubuntu principle: ‘I am, because you are’. 

Prof Burger said the programme is designed to equip students with the relevant knowledge, skills and competencies that will enable them to perform their duties more efficiently and effectively and advance their career prospects in a way that says ‘I am because you are’. 

“The programme also fosters a culture of ethical and professional conduct as well as citizen-centred service delivery. We are proud of your achievements, and we welcome and hope that you apply what you have learned in your respective workplaces.” 

Programme to sharpen practice

Busani Ngcaweni, Principal of the NSG, told the graduates regardless of what they might have achieved, they understood that to sharpen practice, they have to take the bold step to come into a programme like this. “You understand that the world of serving the public is changing and that you can no longer serve the public the same way we did years ago.”
Minister Noxolo Kiviet, minister of Public Service and Administration, addresses the students and guests during the ceremony.
Minister Noxolo Kiviet, minister of Public Service and Administration, addresses the students and guests during the ceremony.
Prof Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, welcomes and congratulates the students at their certificate ceremony.
Prof Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, welcomes and congratulates the students at their certificate ceremony.
Students attending the ceremony listens to the minster addressing them on their achievements.
Students attending the ceremony listens to the minster addressing them on their achievements.

News Archive

State of our campuses: UFS closes campuses until Friday 28 October 2016 to readjust academic programme
2016-10-15

UFS announces strategy for completion of the 2016 academic year

Agreement between UFS management and student leadership in relation to residences

After almost four weeks of student protests about fees at the University of the Free State (UFS) and the subsequent suspension of the academic programme and closing of campuses, the senior leadership announced on 14 October 2016 a strategy to ensure that students will be able to complete the 2016 academic year.

The university on 13 October 2016 announced that it will shut down its Bloemfontein and South Campuses until 28 October 2016 for crucial and complex arrangements to be put in place to readjust the academic calendar and ensure that all students can complete their studies. The senior leadership did, however, make it clear that the university will not be shutting down for the remainder of 2016.

No teaching and learning activities at undergraduate and honours level will be offered between 17 October and 28 October 2016. The university will re-start teaching and learning at undergraduate and honours level in the first week of November 2016.

However, teaching and learning will not take place in the classrooms during November 2016, but through a different mode of delivery that consists of a combination of printed and recorded lectures, study materials and learning aids that will be provided by the university and delivered through Blackboard. In this manner no attempts at disrupting the rest of the academic year will affect our students’ academic programme. Students, however, will sit for the exam on campus.

Students in residence accommodation can return to campus as from 29 October 2016 and it is recommended that students who do not have off-campus internet access return to campus in order to access study material to complete the academic year.A new timetable for exams is still being developed and will be communicated as soon as the arrangements have been finalised.

Faculties have been differently affected by the loss of teaching time. Some faculties like the Faculty of Law have completed their curriculum, while other faculties like the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences require more teaching time. Some faculties, like the Faculty of Health Sciences, cannot do teaching through alternative modes of delivery.

The needs of the different faculties have been taken into account for developing a rescue plan to complete the 2016 academic year.

  • The Faculty of Health Sciences will continue its classes and clinical rotations as normal for all three schools on the Bloemfontein Campus and in the relevant hospitals. All students registered in programmes in the Faculty of Health Sciences will stay in residences for the full period of their studies and exams. Final-year medical students will graduate in December 2016 as expected.
  • In the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, final-year students for the Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (CTA) will stay on campus during October through to December 2016 and their classes and tests will not change.
  • Arrangements for all other faculties and programmes are being prepared and within the next week, students and parents/guardians will receive communication about how curriculum content will be completed and when the final exams will take place.
  • The university is extending the academic year so that we can recuperate all the lost teaching and learning time. The qualifications conferred on the 2016 class will be of the same quality and standards as all UFS qualifications.

The UFS is and will remain a fundamentally contact teaching and learning education university. However, under the current circumstances faced not only by the UFS, but higher-education institutions across the country, the best way of ensuring the integrity of the academic programmes in most faculties is by using an alternative way of teaching and learning. Other South African universities have chosen the same approach to be able to complete the academic year.

Instead of students going to class, they will have content delivered to them where they are (library, computer labs, their own computers, etc.) through Blackboard and printed and electronic material. This is a different way of learning but students will be carefully guided and supported.

Faculties are currently preparing all the necessary materials and instructions to support student learning.Standards and quality will be the same as if students were attending classes. Some faculties require practical laboratory work as part of their curriculum. The exam timetable will be adapted for these students to be able to complete their practical work when the academic activities commences in November 2016. The relevant faculties will communicate the schedule of practical work directly to the students.

Students in their final year will complete their studies during 2016. It is possible that in some cases the graduation ceremony for these students will be in June 2017 instead of April 2017. This will not prejudice students with bursaries, or committed employment in law firms or other businesses. The university will provide the necessary academic transcripts as proof of the completion of the relevant qualifications. None of these changes will affect postgraduate students.

The university will maintain regular communication with students and parents/guardians to update them on the new exams timetable.Faculties will communicate directly with students about issues related to their programmes.

“One of the areas in which significant progress was made, is that we were able to agree on a basis for stability with student leaders. The student protests occurred during an important time in the university’s academic calendar and the readjustment of our academic programme has put tremendous pressure on academic and support services staff, and created anxieties for parents,” said Prof Nicky Morgan, Acting Rector of the UFS.

“The senior leadership restates its commitment to free education as well as its willingness to stand together with students and other public universities to impress on government the urgency to decide on a time frame for the roll-out of free higher education for the poor and missing middle. We will use the next two weeks to meet with the leadership of Universities South Africa to coordinate collective action in this regard. We will furthermore also roll out a series of activities to inform and educate students and the general public on different models and experiences of providing free higher education,” he said.

The strategy to readjust the 2016 academic year is applicable to students on the Bloemfontein and South Campuses.


Released by:
Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Telephone: +27 51 401 2584 | +27 83 645 2454
Email: news@ufs.ac.za | loaderl@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 51 444 6393

 

State of our campuses #15: UFS closes campuses until Friday 28 October 2016 to readjust academic programme

State of our campuses #14: All academic activities on UFS campuses remain suspended on 13 and 14 October 2016

State of our campuses #13: Availability of information about plans for remainder of UFS 2016 calendar year

State of our campuses #12: All academic activities at UFS campuses suspended for 11 and 12 October 2016

State of our campuses #11: Academic activities on UFS campuses continue

State of our campuses #10: Impact of non-completion of the 2016 academic year on UFS students 

State of our campuses #9: Academic programme on all UFS campuses to resume on Monday 10 October 2016

State of our campuses #8:  UFS extends vacation as from 28 September until 7 October 2016, 28 September 2016

State of our campuses #7: All three UFS campuses will be closed today, 27 September 2016.

State of our campuses #6: All UFS campuses reopen on Tuesday 27 September 2016

State of our campuses #5: UFS campuses to remain closed on Monday 26 September 2016

State of our campuses #4: Decisions about the UFS academic calendar

State of our campuses #3: UFS campuses closed until Friday 23 September 2016 

State of our campuses #2: UFS Bloemfontein and South Campuses closed on Tuesday 20 September 2016 (19 September 2016)

State of our campuses #1: Academic activities suspended on UFS Bloemfontein Campus (19 September 2016)

 

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