Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
03 August 2023
|
Story Lacea Loader
![]()
Received from Lacea Loader
Disruption of academic activities occurred on the Bloemfontein, South, and Qwaqwa campuses of the University of the Free State (UFS) on 1 and 2 August 2023.
The university management is aware that the protest action has impacted our students’ academic programme, as well as academic and support service activities on the campuses.
Here is a message to staff and students from Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS, about the events of the past two days: https://vimeo.com/kovsies/fromthevc
Trade unionist brings today’s policy issues to the table
2017-01-02
Sidney Kgara currently heads the public-sector union of
Nehawu’s Policy Unit
Photo: Supplied
Sidney Kgara was appointed to the University of the Free State (UFS) Council in January 2015. He was appointed to the Council by Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, in one of three such positions.
Sidney heads the public sector union Nehawu's Policy Unit. The National Health Education and Allied Workers Union is the biggest public-sector union and the biggest union in the public service coordinating bargaining council. It therefore stands to reason that researching and drafting policy on issues such as labour market matters, public health and developments in higher education form the core responsibilities of the unit.
No stranger to university governance and leadership
Nehawu has a number of members working at the UFS and before his appointment, Kgara's only contact with the university was through its UFS members. However, he is no stranger to university governance and leadership. He was a student leader at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in the 1990s and as a result has a broad understanding of student governance and university issues.
"Even though it was a different time and the circumstances were different, there is some sense of continuity to the issues we had to deal with then, and the issues that the university faces now," he says.
Kgara’s unique and valuable contributions to the Council
This, together with his experience in policy and research, enables Kgara to make a unique and valuable contribution to the Council.
Kgara is an avid reader and stimulating his mind through reading makes him truly happy. He also loves watching sport and enjoys socialising with friends.