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20 June 2023
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Story Melissa Kilian
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Photo Supplied
Melissa Kilian is a Lecturer in the Department of Occupational Therapy.
The University of the Free State (UFS) is celebrating Youth Month by showcasing the positive influence of the institution on career development. As part of this initiative, we are sharing the stories of UFS alumni who are now working at the university.
Melissa Kilian, Lecturer in the Department of Occupational Therapy, shares her UFS journey:
Q: Year of graduation from the UFS:
A: 2011 and 2021.
Q: Qualification obtained from the UFS:
A: Baccalaureus and Master of Occupational Therapy.
Q: Date of joining the UFS as a staff member:
A: 1 June 2022 (employed for one year this month).
Q: Initial job title and current job title:
A: Lecturer in Occupational Therapy.
Q: How did the UFS prepare you for the professional world?
A: The UFS provided me with excellent clinical exposure to the diverse profession of occupational therapy. Additionally, the occupational therapy undergraduate course provided many opportunities for promoting self-awareness and self-development and entering the workforce as a graduate willing to explore the dimensions of the profession and what my unique contribution can be.
Q: What are your thoughts on transitioning from a UFS alumnus to a staff member?
A: Since being employed with the UFS, I have a deeper acknowledgement and appreciation for lecturers, as well as a multi-layered understanding of the importance of curriculum development and how this translates into students becoming competent graduates.
Q: Any additional comments about your experience?
A: It’s been quite an experience ...!
Community project teaches students psychology behind training
2009-05-13
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Aaron Li and Marisa Smit busy teaching pre-school children how to bake biscuits at the Welpies Pre-primary School of Free State Care in Action in Bloemfontein.
Photo: Supplied |
A community project of the third-year industrial psychology students at the University of the Free State (UFS) is helping students to gain a better understanding of the psychology behind training so as to facilitate a higher success rate with regard to their programme. Since 2004 the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences and the Community Service Learning Office at the UFS have been involved in a very unique community project. The third-year industrial psychology students are required to conduct their own needs analysis to determine the needs of the community allocated to them, after which they must address this need in a viable, sustainable manner. Key to this project is training and development that often involve the unemployed and entrepreneurs. Some training is also focused on smaller children. The 340 students involved in the project this year were responsible for presenting projects at various communities in Mangaung, amongst others: The Life Cycle of a Butterfly; Small-Group Facilitation; Bake and Decorate a Cookie; Sustainable Chicken Project; How to use the Library; Fire Prevention; Peer Pressure; Team Development; Preparation for Interviews and Writing of CVs; and Early Childhood Development.