Latest News Archive

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

The Africa we want

27 June 2023 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Charl Devenish

“The Africa we want can only be achieved by promoting good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law, a peaceful and secure Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values, and ethics,” said Shelton Makore, Senior Law Lecturer in the University of the Free State Department of Mercantile Law.

He further remarked that, “Such an approach will enable Africa to have economic, political, and social development that is people-driven, relying on the potential offered by the people of Africa, especially its women and youth, caring for children, and an Africa that is strong, united, resilient, and an influential global player and partner.”

Makore's statement encapsulated a concise summary of the dialogue he moderated, which took place during Africa Month and was organised by the Faculty of Law. The main purpose of the dialogue was to delve into the African Union's Agenda 2063, titled ‘The Africa we want’, with a specific focus on advancing justice in Africa to achieve sustainable development. The discussions revolved around the idea of fostering a politically united and integrated continent that embraces the principles of Pan-Africanism and the vision of African Renaissance.

Looking back on Africa Month

The Faculty of Law hosted a two-tier Africa Day event on the Bloemfontein Campus on 25 May 2023. It included a round-table dialogue on 'Advancing Justice with a View of the Future: The 2063 Agenda for Sustainable Development' and a cultural exhibition titled: 'Appreciating Knowledge through Culture'.

Prof Danie Brand, Director of the Free State Centre for Human Rights at the UFS, Ntando Sindane, Lecturer in the Department of Private Law, and Dr Isolde de Villiers, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mercantile Law, were part of the panel of experts who facilitated a discussion that looked through the lens of seven aspirational themes:

A prosperous Africa, based on inclusive growth and sustainable development
An integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of African Renaissance
An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice, and the rule of law
A peaceful and secure Africa
Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values, and ethics
An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential offered by African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children
An Africa as a strong, united, resilient, and influential global player and partner

Africa’s futureEnvisioning

During the discussion, Prof Brand underscored the importance of fostering cultural diversity as a means to achieve inclusivity and a sustainable future. On the other hand, Sindane highlighted the necessity of engaging in self-reflection and adapting to the challenges posed by neoliberal and neo-colonial economic structures, aiming to address poverty, hunger, and deprivation in Africa. The panellists delved into a comprehensive exploration of the Sustainable Development Goals and their significant role in shaping the desired future for Africa. Dr De Villiers highlighted the impact of spatial injustice on people's lives, emphasising the need for fair and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities within cities and towns.

The dialogue generated valuable insights on repositioning Africa as a beacon of hope, inclusivity, justice, and prosperity, aligning with the UFS Vision 130 strategic plan. Additionally, the exhibition added to the dialogue's impact, featuring impressive displays of cultural attire, food, and artefacts by students representing diverse African countries.

News Archive

UFS Odeion School of Music (OSM) launched

2011-09-15

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Odeion School of Music will be launched at the first Dean’s Concert in the Odeion on the Bloemfontein Campus on Friday, 16 September 2011.

The former Department of Music, in the Faculty of Humanities, has been transformed and will henceforth be known as the Odeion School of Music (OSM). This follows in the path of the corporate transition currently taking place at the university, which aims to reflect the progressive and dynamic striving towards excellence, as endorsed by the UFS Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof. Jonathan Jansen, and his management group.

Two years ago the faculty formulated a new mission with the aim to become an international faculty of excellence. An important component of it has been to create a pro-active marketing strategy and policy towards internationalisation and curriculum development.

The name Odeion School of Music portrays not only an excellent asset in the Free State, but also nationally and internationally. The school’s new name bears the respected Odeion brand and a number of successful and respected ensembles operate under this brand. These include the acclaimed residential Odeion String Quartet, as well as the Music Department’s student ensembles, the Junior Odeion String Quartet, the Odeion Sinfonia, and the Odeion Choir.

According to Prof. Nicol Viljoen, the Chairperson of the OSM, the name change was motivated by the following objectives:

The idea of a school within the Faculty of Humanities not only reflects an academic profile that does justice to the intention of the Department to reposition itself, but also simulates the current identity of the unit. This encompasses diverse thematic entities not only from an academic perspective, but also from a community and cultural perspective. The unit does this through providing services, which include arts entertainment, the provision of facilities, as well as a strong emphasis on community development.
With regard to an international perspective, it provides attractive possibilities not only from the perspective of a marketing and publicity profile, but also with regard to the identity of the unit.
Hypothetically the new name allows more flexibility to complement the profile with reference to newly anticipated developments. These include the application of prestigious international experts as artistic fellows, membership to progressive European, jointly developed degree programmes and curriculum development initiatives, the founding of a chair in Orchestra Conducting, a master’s degree in Arts Management, as well as the incorporation of bio-kinetics in the teaching methodologies of performance practice, to name but a few.
From a management perspective it could also consolidate the perspective of scarce skill specialisation.
To give momentum to the establishment of the OSM, Mr Marius Coetzee was appointed as Innovation Manager. He is a former Project Manager of the European Degree in International Music Management – a joint degree initiative between three Universities from Norway, the Netherlands and Finland, funded by the EU in Brussels. His aim will be to develop and investigate aspects such as internationalisation, marketing, pro-active recruitment strategies, curriculum development and innovative teaching methodologies.

Mr Coetzee said music conservatories, from both European and American perspectives are managed and maintained as highly successful and substantial brands. From the European perspective some examples include the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (Finland), the Liszt Academy in Budapest (Hungary), the Grieg Academy in Bergen (Norway) and the former Sweelinck Academy in Amsterdam (Netherlands). Similar to the South African milieu, the majority of music conservatories in the USA and Canada are resident within an academic university.

However, unlike the South African reality, the majority of these institutions have a value-added identity portrayed by a specific name. Such an example is the renowned Peabody Conservatory of the University of Baltimore or the Jacobs School of Music at the Indiana University Bloomington, to name but a few.

The Dean’s Concert will highlight performances of students in the school. The concert will probably become a regular event in future Spring Music Festivals.

Media Release
15 September 2011
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

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