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UFS welcomes 2023 first-year students to the ‘university of their future’

28 February 2023 | Story Lunga Luthuli and Nonsindiso Qwabe | Photo Sonia Small

University of the Free State Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, addressing first-entry first-year students at this year’s official welcoming and Dream Walk event hosted on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa campuses.

‘Welcome to the Kovsie Land. This is the university of your future.’ These words reverberated across the University of the Free State’s (UFS) two campuses as Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, welcomed first-year students to the beginning of their journey to success.

During the annual official welcoming and the second Dream Walk, known as Kovsie Dream, the UFS welcomed first-year students to the university community on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses over two weekends, emphasizing clarity and the committed pursuit of their dreams and aspirations.

University, a step towards harnessing personal development

“University is a valuable stage of growth in your life and an important platform for you to mature and gain personal success. It is a meaningful day marking a new chapter in your life,” said Prof Petersen.

The First-Year welcoming event is an important day on the university’s calendar, and the Division of Student Affairs has pulled out all the stops to ensure that, as one of the most memorable and significant days of the student’s academic journey, it was marked with fanfare and the instilling of the Kovsie spirit and values.

Prof Petersen committed the university to walking the journey with students to see them leave the institution as proud and thriving graduates and UFS alumni.

“Today you stand on the shoulders of many alumni who continue to excel in various fields, not only in South Africa, but on the continent and globally, such as 2016 Olympics gold medallist, Wayde van Niekerk, 2020 Paralympics silver medal winner, Louzanne Coetzee, Free State Cheetahs rugby star, Oupa Mohoje, and former Miss World, Rolene Strauss. The challenge I would like you to sign up for, is to promise yourself, your family, and the UFS that you will develop yourself and try to make society a better place,” added Prof Petersen.

He said: “As you begin your journey as Kovsies, I believe you will forge your path of excellence and expand your potential within the faculties that will be your primary academic home. At the University of the Free State, we inspire excellence and transform lives.”

The University of the Free State management leading first-year students on the Qwaqwa Campus during the
Dream Walk, which also provided an opportunity to complete their dream cards, setting their goals and
future aspirations. (Photo: Sonia Small)

Get set, dream and achieve your goals

From the Callie Human and Mandela Halls respectively, the students participated in a Dream Walk, grouped according to their colleges, having completed dream cards that set goals for their future. In a move to shape the future of student life on the Qwaqwa Campus, on- and off-campus students were incorporated into colleges. This is another fulfilment of the university’s mission to see all students participating fully in student activities and having a holistic campus life experience, regardless of where they stay.

In closing, Prof Petersen said: “At the University of the Free State, we are an institution focused on consistently renewing and reimaging ourselves to effectively impact the communities around us. We equip you for global platforms. We believe that the graduates can operate and exhibit themselves on platforms around the globe.”

The welcoming festivities were closed with serenades by Durban-born Afro-pop songstress and songwriter Azana, former UFS LLB student and UFS alumni, and Van Pletzen band.

Watch the highlights from this year's welcoming:

News Archive

Three OSM students selected for the 2013 World Youth Symphony Orchestra

2013-01-25

Carmi Nel	Elsabe Raath
Maja van Dyk

25 January 2013

Three students from the University of the Free State’s Odeion School of Music (OSM) have proved their mettle. Carmi Viljoen (violin), Elsabé Raath (viola) and Maja van Dyk (viola), have been accepted into the prestigious World Youth Orchestra – an orchestra known worldwide for its quality and the prix de corps itadvances between nations.

Musica Europa, an Italian cultural association, founded the World Youth Orchestra (WYO) in its present guise in 2001. It has close ties with UNICEF and its mission is to combine music with social activities from cultures all over to world in order to enrich the cultural life of all.

Rigorous auditions are held which require applicants to upload video recordings onto a website (Vimeo). An international board of adjudicators subsequently listens to these recordings and select the best.The three OSM students were good enough to make the grade.

These three musicians are also members of the Free State Symphony Orchestra, as well as the MIAGI orchestra that toured Europe successfully last year. They are also outstanding chamber musicians. Carmi and Elsabé, as members of the Junior Odeion String Quartet, have shown that they are on par with international standards and have toured The Netherlands. In 2012, Maja van Dyk had been selected to perform as soloist with the National Youth String Orchestra under the baton of Swedish conductor and violinist, Fredrik Burstedt.

They first heard of the possibility of playing for the WYO through Anmari van der Westhuizen, lecturer at the OSM. Margarite Spies from the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra (KZNPO) had contacted her in search of worthy candidates. A scant three weeks later, they received the good news of their inclusion.

The orchestra, with representatives from five continents, will be touring South Africa this year and no less than nine South Africans have been included. The tour kicks off in Durban, followed by performances in East London, Plettenberg Bay, George, Knysna, Stellenbosch, with a grand finale in the Cape Town City Hall.

Works that will be performed include ‘’Romeo and Juliet’’ by Prokofiev, the irrepressible “Carnival Overture” by Dvorák, Barber’s ‘’Adagio for Strings’’ and part of Mahler’s majestic Fifth Symphony, all under the baton of the dynamic Josep Vicent.

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