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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

Full week of graduation ceremonies at UFS in April

2015-04-10

Autumn always sees the UFS’s first graduation ceremony of the year on the Bloemfontein Campus.

From 14 – 17 April 2015, graduates will once again be rewarded for their hard work while top speakers will address them in the Callie Human Centre. There will be a ceremony at 09:00 and at 14:30 each day on all four days of the graduation.

The programme for the 2015 April Graduation is as follows:

Tuesday 14 April 2015:

Professor Himla Soodyall will be the speaker at both ceremonies on this day. Prof Soodyall is a Medical Scientist for the South African Institute for Medical Research. She is also a Principal Medical Scientist for the National Health Laboratory Service, and a Director for the Human Genome Diversity and Disease Research Unit at the University of Witwatersrand.

During the first ceremony of the day at 09:00, all diplomas/certificates and B degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences will be awarded. Only Honours degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences will be awarded at the 14:30 ceremony.

Wednesday 15 April 2015:

Wednesday will see Ndumiso Hadebe take the stage to address graduates at both ceremonies.

At the age of 23, Hadebe is the Founder and Managing Director of Master Frontiers Consulting, a firm that capacitates leaders and managers to achieve business goals through their people. He worked previously as a Researcher at Shanduka Black Umbrellas, a flagship enterprise and supplier development programme of the Shanduka Foundation.

He has been received numerous awards for excellence in leadership, such as the Sedibeng District Municipal Mayor’s Award for Service and Leadership. He is a Brand South Africa Ambassador and Read Educational Trust Ambassador.

All diplomas/certificates, B and Honours degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, except B Com degrees, will be awarded during the morning ceremony at 09:00. Later, at the 14:30 ceremony, only B Com degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences will be awarded.

Thursday 16 April 2015:

Multiple award winning South African TV presenter, Leanne Manas, will be the speaker at both Thursday ceremonies.

Manas has graced our screens for over a decade. Not many broadcasters can boast having had live TV experience, 5 days a week for 12 years. She is currently the anchor of SABC 2’s flagship breakfast programme, Morning Live. Leanne is a qualified Speech and Drama teacher. having studied at London Trinity College. She also has an Honours degree in English.
Diplomas/certificates up to and including Honours degrees in the Faculty of the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Communication Sciences will be awarded during the ceremony at 09:00. The 14:30 ceremony will have diplomas/certificates up to and including Honours degrees in the Faculty of the Humanities’ other qualifications except for Social Sciences and Communication Sciences.

Friday 17 April 2015:

Dr Maria Phalime will be the speaker at both ceremonies on Friday.

Phalime is a medical doctor and award-winning author. She practiced for a brief period as a general practitioner in South Africa and the United Kingdom, before leaving medical practice to pursue non-clinical interests. She has worked in trade and investment promotion, and has undertaken research and consulting in the areas of economic development and business facilitation.

Diplomas/certificates up to and including Honours degrees in the Faculty of Education (CE, NPDE and ACE excluded) will be awarded during the ceremony at 09:00. Diplomas/certificates up to and including Honours degrees in the Faculties of Health Sciences, Law, and Theology will be awarded at the 14:30 ceremony.

Click here for the simple layout of the 2015 April Graduation programme:
http://www.ufs.ac.za/adhoc-pages/2014-graduation-ceremony/graduation-ceremony

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