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14 June 2023 | Story Nwabisa Dinga | Photo Supplied
Nwabisa Dinga
Nwabisa Dinga, Senior Assistant Officer at the School of Nursing

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.

Nwabisa Dinga, Senior Assistant Officer at the School of Nursing, shares her UFS journey:

Q: Year of graduation from the UFS:

A: 2014.

Q: Qualification obtained from the UFS:
A: BA in Governance and Political Transformation.

Q: Date of joining the UFS as a staff member:
A: 1 September 2022.

Q: Initial job title and current job title:
A: Senior Assistant Officer in the School of Nursing. 

Q: How did the UFS prepare you for the professional world?
A: The University of the Free State taught me to always be professional, communicate effectively, and manage my time wisely – those are some of the major things I have carried into my professional world.
 
Q: What are your thoughts on transitioning from a UFS alumnus to a staff member?
A: The professional world operates in a different way than when you were a student; the mindset shift required is significant and the changes in personal circumstances are huge.

Q: Any additional comments about your experience?
A: The shift from student to professional life can be bewildering, and for some it can take a very long time to adjust.

News Archive

UFS takes the lead in solar heating in the Free State
2010-06-03

In the “engine room” of the solar heating system of the Vergeet-my-nie Residence with the big hot water tanks in the background. From the left are Mr Anton Calitz, Electrical Engineer of the UFS, and Mr Nico Janse van Renburg, Manager: Physical Planning at the UFS.
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar


The University of the Free State (UFS) took a further step in reducing its carbon footprint and its dependency on coal fired electricity with the installation of a solar heating system at one of its residences. The contractor handed the system over to the UFS on Wednesday, 2 June 2010.

The system installed at the Vergeet-my-nie Residence is the first commercial solar water heating project in both Bloemfontein and at the UFS. It is estimated that it will provide in 70% of the residence’s energy needs and save approximately R101 000 per annum in electricity cost. The project was completed at a cost of R2,4 million.

More residences at the UFS will be refurbished with solar systems as the existing heating systems in the rest of the twenty residences are due for replacement.

The energy crisis of 2008, and the challenges and necessity to reduce the use of electricity, sparked the initiative around the installation of solar heating systems at the UFS. The UFS is the second largest energy user in Bloemfontein.

Mr Nico Janse van Rensburg, Manager: Physical Planning at the UFS, says the management of the UFS saw an opportunity in the crisis and pro-actively embarked to become a market leader. Solar heating would not only alleviate the electricity problem of South Africa, but will impact the ever increasing electricity bill of the UFS.

“Protecting the environment and being on the cutting edge of technology are core issues to the UFS,” says Janse van Rensburg. “We are an educational institution and take pride in practicing what we preach.”

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication (acting)
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za  
3 June 2010
 

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