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29 March 2023 | Story Samkelo Fetile | Photo Simba Matema
MoU Latest News
From left to right: Prof Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki, Director General at the CIRMF; Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS; and Prof Jean-Fabrice Yala, Scientific and Technical Director at the CIRMF.

The University of the Free State (UFS) recently welcomed senior members from the International Centre for Medical Research in Franceville (CIRMF), Gabon to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities.

CIRMF is a non-profit medical research centre that was established in 1974. Its primary focus is on diagnosing infectious diseases that pose immediate problems in Gabon and the Central African sub-region. The centre is dedicated to improving public health through various initiatives, including the training of Gabonese health executives in doctoral and post-doctoral education.

“The signing of the MoU with CIRMF is a step in the right direction as the UFS continues to strengthen its footprint on the African Continent. This is seminal in driving the university’s internationalisation processes and opening an avenue to expanding research networks, especially in the African continent,” said Bonolo Makhalemele, Coordinator of strategic projects at the Office for International Affairs, UFS.

In the interest of developing broader research collaborations, the CIRMF delegation met with some UFS academics in a series of engagements, particularly in the Health Sciences Faculty and the Natural and Agricultural Sciences Faculty. “The integration of knowledge and practices that emanate from the continent provides opportunities for the co-creation of knowledge that can be shared with the rest of the world,” said Kagiso Ngake, Coordinator for Partnerships, Collaborative Degrees, and Outgoing Mobility at the Office for International Affairs, UFS.

A concrete roadmap was established to formalise the collaborations that resulted from these engagements and will commence as soon as April 2023. “We have laid a solid foundation and are on the way to a strong and rich partnership!” exclaimed Prof Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki, Director General at the CIRMF.

Prof Francis Petersen, Rector, and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, further highlighted how the newly established partnership with the CIRMF aligns with the mandate of the UFS Vision 130 of expanding the UFS Africa research network.

News Archive

Kovsies raise their voice against gender violence
2013-02-25

25 February 2013 

On Wednesday 27 February 2013, Kovsie men and women will march to raise their voices against gender violence. They will be saying no to the scourge of violence and rape in the country. Showing solidarity with the late Anene Booysen and thousands other victims of gender violence, staff and students of the university will take part in the “Enough is Enough: Are you man Enough?” march.

An important feature of the march is that it will be men adding their voices to those of women supporting the call for action.

Dean of Student Affairs Rudi Buys, who will lead the march, says, “Protestors will use their bodies to say that they are against the continued and absolute annihilation of the dignity of the females in our country. It's a solidarity march with victims but also with perpetrators to show our shared complicities."

The university will kick-off of a month-long programme of in-depth conversations, not only creating awareness but also facilitating broader understanding of gender violence.

The march will start at 12:30 at the Main Gate of the Bloemfontein Campus and proceed to the Main Building. Those participating are encouraged to make posters or banners with supportive messages showing solidarity with the cause.

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