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01 June 2023 | Story Belinda Janeke | Photo Kaleidoscope
Career Hub
Belinda Janeke is the Head of Career Services in the Division of Student Affairs at the University of the Free State.

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

Ferial Haffajee among graduates at Summer Graduation
2016-12-02

Description: Summer graduation Tags: Summer graduation 

A total of 124 master’s, 37 doctoral degrees, and
464 undergraduate degrees are conferred on students from
all seven faculties during the Summer Graduations.
Photo: Johan Roux

Graduation is a time to celebrate and to reap the fruits of hard work. The journalist Ferial Haffajee (Humanities) will be among the 124 master’s and 37 doctoral students receiving their qualifications in all seven faculties at the Summer Graduation of the University of the Free State (UFS). At the ceremonies on 8 December 2016 in the Callie Human Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus, the university will also confer 264 Education qualifications to students from its South Campus, as well as 200 undergraduate degrees in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Haffajee joins likes of Tutu and others

Haffajee, a renowned newspaper editor whose expertise has made her one of the most prominent journalists in South Africa, will receive an honorary doctorate at the morning ceremony. Until recently she was the editor-in-chief of City Press newspaper. She joins the likes of Desmond Tutu, and others who have received honorary doctorates at the UFS.

Earlier this year, four distinguished individuals also received honorary doctorates from the university. They were Max du Preez, Trevor Manuel, Prof Joel Samoff, and Dr Reuel Jethro Khoza. The Summer Graduation once again promises to deliver the cream of academic excellence.

Dr Rakometsi to address UFS graduates

The guest speaker at both ceremonies is Dr Mafu Rakometsi, Chief Executive Officer of Umalusi. Dr Rakometsi also serves on the board of the Council of Higher Education. He is deeply committed to see the South African education system function at an optimum level in order to give all children equal educational opportunities.

Master’s and Doctoral degrees: All faculties

Date: 8 December 2016
Place: Callie Human Centre, Bloemfontein Campus
Time: 09:00

Education qualifications – South Campus, as well as undergraduate degrees in the Faculty of Health Sciences
Date: 8 December 2016
Place: Callie Human Centre, Bloemfontein Campus
Time: 14:30

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