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#YouthMonth: UFS Career Hub to increase graduate employability

01 June 2023 | Story Belinda Janeke | Photo Kaleidoscope

Opinion article by Belinda Janeke, Head of Career Services in the Division of Student Affairs at the University of the Free State.

More than half of the youth in South Africa are unemployed. Although a tertiary qualification increases your chances of finding a job, a staggering 32,6% of graduates are still unemployed. This is unacceptably high. As universities, it is our duty to help decrease the graduate unemployment rate by producing highly employable graduates.

Employability is one of the key drivers in the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Vision 130. As an institution of higher learning, we have always supported employability and ensured that our students are skilled according to industry standards. UFS Career Services is known for cultivating relationships between the industry and students, and many successful applicants have completed our programmes before stepping into the job market.

Coming soon: Virtual Career Hub

This year, the Career Services Office is looking forward to technological developments in the field of career readiness. The virtual Career Hub will be a space where students and employers can make initial contact and where students can grow their employability by tracking their skills completion.

Continuous job placements

In the meantime, our newly appointed placement officers in UFS Career Services are being trained to assist students with job placements. We help students to compile a professional CV tailored to market requirements, a convincing cover letter, and a LinkedIn page that gets noticed. To make sure that students are fully prepared and confident, we also offer interview coaching and career plan development.

We have already achieved much success with our employability support and look forward to the data that will be generated by the Career Hub. All students (from first year to postgraduates) are encouraged to connect with UFS Career Services to help increase their employability. Let your degree work for you by making sure that you are work ready.

News Archive

UFS Centenary celebrations come to an end

2005-02-03

OFFICIAL OPENING

The official opening of the UFS will take place on Friday 04 February 2005 at 09:00 in the Reitz Hall (Centenary Complex). Please note that this is a test and lecture free day. The Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Frederick Fourie will be the keynote speaker. Refreshments will be served at the Centenary Complex after the opening ceremony.

The historic Centenary photograph will be taken at 11:00 on the eastern side of the Red Square (CR Swart parking area). All staff members and students are invited to be part of this massive photograph.

Important

• There will be no parking allowed on the CR Swart parking area until 12:00 on Friday 04 February 2005, as a result of the photo session.

• All academic staff members are requested to wear academic dress on the day, seeing as staff members will depict the Centenary emblem on the photograph. Academic gowns may be collected from the Gown Store on Wednesday 02 - Thursday 03 February 2005 between 08:00 and 16:00. Gowns must be returned to the Gown Store after the photograph has been taken.

SERVICE OF DEVOTION

A special service of devotion will take place on Sunday 06 February 2005 at 18:00 for 18:30 in front of the Main Building on the Red Square. This is a special gathering of students, hosted by all the interdenominational groups on the UFS campus. The evening will be a celebration of praise, thanks and worship, followed by a message from Dr Wollie Grobler. The evening will conclude with song and fireworks.

Staff members and students are welcome to bring their friends and families to this special event.

Important

• Even though there will be chairs in front of the Main Building, staff members and students are requested to bring extra pillows and blankets to sit on.

• No persons or vehicles will be allowed on the eastern side of the Red Square or on the CR Swart parking area, due to the security requirements of the fireworks show.

• All members of the choir are invited to be part of the mass choir. Lyrics will be provided.

• All persons who attend this event are requested to bring a candle for the purpose of the mass choir.

• Special transportation arrangements will be made for all service workers to enable them to attend the service. If there is someone in your faculty, department or division who would like to make use of this service, please send an e-mail to Elize Rall (ralle.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za) no later than Tuesday 01 February 2005.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• A reunion for all former SRC members of the UFS will take place on the campus, from 04 February to 06 February 2005. An interesting programme is being planned. For more information, please contact Nicolaas du Plessis on 084 955 0875.

• The annual Rag Procession will take place on Saturday 05 February 2005. For more information, contact the Rag Office at X 2718.

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