Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

UFS Student Governance Office announces 2023 CSRC Elections, 22-24 August

20 July 2023 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Supplied

Your vote counts — Exercise your right to vote in the 2023 SRC elections from 22 to 24 August. Student participation makes a difference.

The University of the Free State (UFS) Office for Student Governance has announced that the 2023 Campus Student Representative Council (SRC) elections will take place from 22 to 24 August 2023. This eagerly anticipated annual event is an opportunity for students to elect their representatives, ensuring that their voices are heard and that their interests are represented in the university community.

To facilitate a smooth election process, the UFS Elections Committee has scheduled indabas for 25 July 2023 on the Qwaqwa Campus, and for 27 July 2023 on the Bloemfontein and South campuses. The indabas are platforms providing students the opportunity to raise questions about the upcoming elections.

Dr Grey Magaiza, chairperson of the UFS Elections Logistics Committee (ELC), said: “SRC elections are a critical legislative requirement of the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997, which prescribes cooperative governance at universities. The student leaders who are chosen become critical mouthpieces for the rest of the student body in critical governance functions of the university. It is therefore very important for the student community to participate in elections and to choose their preferred candidates.”

Make your vote count

The ELC is encouraging all students to actively engage in the electoral process, either as candidates or voters. Running for a position in the SRC offers students a platform to make a meaningful impact on campus life, while casting their votes ensures that the elected representatives genuinely represent the interests of the student body.

In preparation for the upcoming elections, the ELC will provide information on candidate registration procedures, campaigning guidelines, and other pertinent details to facilitate a fair and transparent electoral process.

“Student politics can shape the student life dynamic on campus, hence it is a very important element in institutional governance. We look forward to positive campaigning and mature engagements among the candidates, and to the wonderful political behaviour that has become the norm in all UFS elections. This has become a rich tradition that UFS students have proudly held, and is becoming the envy of other institutions as well. Kudos to our UFS students,” remarked Dr Magaiza.

Election Indabas:

Qwaqwa Campus: 25 July 2023, 24-hour Study Centre, from 13:00 to 15:00
South Campus: 27 July 2023, Toka Residence Gazelle, from 10:00 to 12:00
Bloemfontein Campus: 27 July 2023, EXR 4, from 14:00 to 16:00

News Archive

First Rand Foundation contributes funding towards students with disabilities

2017-01-02

Photo: iStock

Bursary funding for eight students with disabilities at the University of the Free State was recently approved by the First Rand Foundation. The grant of R2 497 440 will be paid over three years: R800 000 (2016/17), R824 000 (2017/18), and R873 440 (2018/19).

This grant from the First Rand Tertiary Education Fund is a result of the negotiations between the UFS Office for Institutional Advancement and the First Rand Foundation (FRF).

Qualifying students with disabilities will be encouraged to apply for bursaries according to criteria and requirements set by the First Rand Foundation. The selection process will be handled by a panel from the UFS. The Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS) at the UFS will be instrumental in the process of identifying students with disabilities who meet the criteria and requirements for funding.

CUADS already have a system in place to support students with disabilities in their studies and during exams. Students also have access to specialised exam and test venues for alternative test and exam procedures, as well as computer facilities.

Specialised support services include an amanuensis (scribe) service during tests and exams, accommodating extra time, individual tutor sessions provided in collaboration with the Centre for Teaching and Learning, South African Sign Language interpreter coordination, provision of accessible study material, and individual disability support.

“The centre aims to ensure that the university increasingly becomes a universally accessible environment that is welcoming and accepting to people with diverse abilities.”

According to Martie Miranda, Head of CUADS, the centre aims to ensure that the university increasingly becomes a universally accessible environment that is welcoming and accepting to people with diverse abilities. “Therefore disability awareness training and advocacy within the UFS, and specifically among staff members, is one of our priorities,” she said.

According to Thandeka Rantsi from the FRF, the company will furthermore support students in CUADS with regards to the needs ensuing from the #feesmustfall protests. “Exactly R34 000 was approved by the FRF for 14 students towards residence and meal expenses, as well as scribe and reader assistance during additional assessments,” she said.

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept