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10 February 2023 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Lunga Luthuli
Gateway Amigos
Volunteer Gateway Amigos, a University of the Free State initiative to assist first-entering students during Gateway First-year Orientation and the transition to life at the institution.

The University of the Free State (UFS) will be hosting welcoming ceremonies – which include the 2023 UFS Dream Walk event – for first-year students on the Bloemfontein and South Campuses on 18 February 2023, and on the Qwaqwa Campus on 25 February 2023.  

The Dream Walk – also known as Kovsie Dream – is an annual event, with the first being hosted in 2022.  With the event, the UFS welcomes first-year students to the university community, placing an emphasis on their individual dreams and aspirations. The event is also an opportunity for new students to familiarise themselves with the university, facilities, available opportunities, and to make new friends. 

The UFS recognises the importance of helping students set and pursue their dreams, especially in their first year. During the event, students will have an opportunity to interact with university staff, as well as current students who will share their experiences of pursuing their dreams and overcoming obstacles. 

Students participating in the Dream Walk will have the chance to explore their potential, identify their passions, and by completing their dream cards, they will be able to set goals for their individual futures.

Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, will officially welcome students to the UFS on both days – on the Bloemfontein Campus on 18 February 2023, and on the Qwaqwa Campus on 25 February 2023.  The welcoming messages on the two campuses will be followed by a Dream Walk.  Students participating in the Dream Walk will move along the same route that students follow on the day of graduation. 

The Division of Student Affairs believes that building a strong support network is crucial for students to succeed in their academic and professional lives. By connecting with staff and seniors, first-year students will gain valuable insight into their chosen courses and receive advice on how to achieve their academic goals.

Dr WP Wahl, Director: Student Life within the Division of Student Affairs, said: “The UFS is committed to providing its students with the support and resources they need to pursue their dreams. The Rector’s Welcoming, coupled with the Dream Walk, is an exciting opportunity for first-year students to start their university journey on the right foot and to set themselves up for success.”

For more information on the Welcoming, the Dream Walk event, and the programme, please click here

News Archive

Deputy Governor of SA Reserve Bank inspires students
2016-08-19

Description: Deputy Governor of SA Reserve Bank  Tags: Deputy Governor of SA Reserve Bank

Dr Lyndon du Plessis, Head of Department of Public
Administration and Management, Francois Groepe,
Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank,
Prof Philippe Burger, Head of the
Department of Economics and B.Com Hons student,
Mosoeu Mabote.

Photo: Siobhan Canavan

Students from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences had the opportunity to learn from the best in the field when the Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Francois Groepe, presented a seminar on the changing roles of central banks.

According to Groepe, we are currently living in challenging times as central banks are called on to do more.

“Central banks have limits, and these limits are not always understood,” he said on 11 August 2016 in the Equitas Auditorium on the Bloemfontein Campus.

How central banks contribute to inflation

There are two main generally-expected roles from central banks: the obvious one of providing bank notes and coins, and the other, maintaining price stability.

According to Groepe, the aim of keeping prices stable is to ensure easier planning for the future, and to assist the poor.

“The poor are the ones more vulnerable to higher inflation because they hardly have enough to get by,” he said.

A negative impact on monetary policies could affect the economy negatively. This is as a result of higher inflation caused by the increase in food prices.

Furthermore, the 12% government debt renders a negative yield in the economy.

The stability of finances in South Africa


Financial stability is not an end in itself, but, like price stability, is generally regarded as an important precondition for sustainable economic growth, development, and employment creation.

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