During the visit of a senior delegation of the University of Minnesota to the University of the Free State (UFS) were Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk (left), Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS, and Prof. Robert Jones, Senior Vice-President: System Academic Administration at the University of Minnesota. Prof. Van Schalkwyk initiated the current cooperation agreement between the two institutions.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
 

 UFS hosts delegation of University of Minnesota

A senior delegation from the University of Minnesota in the United States of America (USA) visited the University of the Free State (UFS) this week to explore ways of strengthening already existing ties between the two institutions.

According to Dr Aldo Stroebel, Head of Internationalisation at the UFS, teacher training, capacity building in health sciences, and student preparedness will be among the areas of co-operation that will be investigated, within the context of the Strategic Academic Cluster initiative of the UFS. Poverty reduction strategies will also be a strong focus area.

“The UFS has had a cooperation agreement with the University of Minnesota’s department of agricultural economics since 1997 and the exchange of staff has been taking place on a regular basis,” said Dr Stroebel.

This agreement will be expanded and both institutions are now exploring the possibility of applying it across faculties.

According to Dr Stroebel, the visit was very successful and both institutions have committed seed funding to formalise the cooperation agreement.


Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za  
13 August 2008