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08 August 2023
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Story EDZANI NEPHALELA
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Photo EDZANI NEPHALELA
Mbulelo Aven Jafta, Xhariep Municipality Corporate Services Director, and Dr Engela van Staden, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at the UFS, sign a memorandum of understanding to enrich various communities in the Xhariep Municipality areas through leadership training.
The University of the Free State (UFS) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the Xhariep Municipality that is aimed at positively impacting communities through strategic partnerships. The organisations plan for their collaboration to make a significant difference by training 35 of their employees via the UFS Business School – 15 will undertake the Foundation Skills Short Learning Programme, and 20 the Bachelor’s degree in Management Leadership.
This joint effort will equip these employees with essential skills and knowledge and empower them to carry out their responsibilities efficiently and effectively. Rooted in the UFS’s Vision 130, this initiative fosters positive change within the community by enhancing social justice and innovation.
Dr Engela van Staden, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at the UFS, emphasised the university's dedication to human resource development and empowering individuals. “We were very excited when we got this engagement with you, and I hope it will be fruitful for you, because that’s the intention. We are also reaching out to other municipalities because we are doing it for our country, and the sooner we do it, the better the services you will deliver to people.”
Xhariep Municipality expressed gratitude for the collaboration, recognising its significance in empowering its employees. Mbulelo Aven Jafta, Corporate Services Director at the municipality, thanked the university for accepting the partnership. “As a municipality, we are interested in capacitating our employees to perform their duties optimally. It is through these partnerships that we reach our intended targets. This is the first two projects, and many more will be coming as our partnership progresses, and we intend to use this opportunity to the best of our abilities.”
Jafta said that such partnerships encourage a more interconnected and interdependent world. “As organisations work towards common goals, they create a ripple effect that can lead to a brighter and more promising future and play a vital role in shaping a positive and sustainable future.”
UFS hosts delegation of University of Minnesota
2008-08-13
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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
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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
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