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24 February 2023 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo iFlair Photography
Prof Francis Petersen
Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State, Prof Francis Petersen at the Sci-Ed Science Education Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus hosting and thanking donors for continued support and sharing plans to grow the institution.
Speaking to donors at the Donor Sundowner Cocktail event held at the Sci-Ed Science Education Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus, Professor Francis Petersen Rector and Vice Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS) said, ‘the university has a voice to make an impact on things important to South African citizens.’

The event hosted by the Department of Institutional Advancement was attended by the CEOs and Corporate Social Investment officers from the organisations involved with UFS faculties of  Education, Law, Health Sciences, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, the Business School and support services departments. 


The event was marked by the UFS acknowledging the contribution made by existing donors and focused on building new relations and sharing plans, highlighting the role this played in changing the narrative of the university and the lives of the student community. 

Prof Petersen thanked the donors for their contributions to the institution. “Financial and in-kind contributions make an immense difference to the university,” said Prof Petersen.  He iterated the appreciation of the UFS to the donors, and noted that the ongoing relationship building with existing and new donors and partners is integral for the university.  

Re-connect to achieve success

Guests in attendance were also given insight into the recently launched Vision 130 – a 12-year strategy taking the university to 2034 commemorating 130 years. “We want to be a university that has a student population of 35 000, and do more research and development work that can impact locally, nationally, and internationally,” said Prof Petersen. 

Prof Peterson highlighted the need for the university to reshape the proportion of undergraduate to postgraduate students and to open more time for staff to do research work that answers to the needs of industry and the private sector. “We must understand that the university is not the only custodian of knowledge. Some knowledge sits amongst yourselves,’ added Prof Petersen.

Mapping the way forward to greater heights

‘The aspiration for the university is to be among the top 600 universities in the world and amongst the top five in the country and to do that, we need to change the shape of the university, by improving qualifications of academic and support staff. We need to get quality skills into the system,’ he said. 

Prof Petersen said the university also needs to get ‘quality students into the system and a proxy to that using the National Senior Certificate and Admission Policy Score (APS), we have made a commitment that by 2034 at least 60 percent of students entering the university should have an APS of 35 and higher’.  Prof Peterson emphasized the commitment of the UFS that staff and students that come to the university ‘be diverse racially, ability and intellectually.’

The Department of Institutional Advancement is planning a similar event to be held in Cape Town in April, and another in Gauteng later in the year. 

News Archive

Autumn Graduation Ceremony a thrilling showcase
2013-04-19

 

Yolanda du Toit from the Department Student Academic Services is the proud mother of three daughters who all received qualifications at the Autumn Graduation. Maryke (left) received her certificate in Certified Financial Planning. She already has degrees in B.Com. Law and LLB. Amandi (centre) received her B.Ed and twin sister received her degree in consumer science.
Photo: Renè-Jean van der Berg
19 April 2013

Gareth Cliff video clip
Vicus and Vincent Visser video clip
Joshua Johnson video clip
Graduation YouTube video clip

Photo Gallery

The university’s Autumn Graduation Ceremony infused the Bloemfontein Campus with exhilaration last week.

Beaming with pride, graduates received 526 diplomas/certificates and 2 796 bachelor’s and honours degrees in total.

Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, lead each procession of graduates from the Red Square down the path to the Callie Human Centre while the beat of drums filled the air. “To break the cycle of poverty, get an education, get a degree,” Prof Jansen urged graduates during their respective ceremonies. He underscored the fact that, as graduates, they are ten times more likely to get a job, with the odds rising as they continue their postgraduate studies.

Dr Khotso Mohele, Chancellor of the university, advised graduates not to allow life’s obstacles to discourage them. “Take what you have learned over the last three or four years and use that knowledge to reach your goal,” he said. He also emphasised that graduates need to be able to take standpoint against issues.

Graduates’ ceremonies were made even more memorable by various local and international speakers and performers.

American student and tap-dancer, Joshua Johnson, inspired the audience with his story of hope and perseverance. As a student from Penn State University, he travels five hours by bus to New York every weekend where he dances on the subway train to earn money for his tuition fees. Joshua told graduates that, in order to achieve their goals, they have to make the best use of the 24 hours they get to live daily. “Don’t follow in the footsteps of someone else. Take the beat of life, but add your rhythm to it," his wise words resonated with the exhilarated graduates. The audience could not help but clap to the rhythmic beat of his tap-dancing performance.

Vicus Visser, dubbed Bloemfontein’s Justin Bieber was also on the list of performers. Vicus – a South African YouTube singing sensation – performed with his brother, Vincent, to the delight of the crowd.

Radio personality and Idols South Africa judge, Gareth Cliff, was also among the speakers who addressed the graduates during the week. “It’s a good time be alive, a good time to be a South African, a good time to be a qualified South African,” he said. “It’s a time in our country’s development that we require minds such as yours to propel us forward,” was part of his message. Gareth also stressed the freedom of speech in South Africa, especially the freedom of the media.

The Autumn Graduation Ceremony of 2013 was an immense success and filled the hearts of Kovsie graduates, students, staff, parents, family and friends with overwhelming pride.

The Qwaqwa Campus’ graduation ceremony will take place on 8 June 2013. Diplomas / certificates up to and including doctorates will be awarded at this ceremony.

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