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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

Shimlas now the log leaders - Undefeated Kovsies beat Maties 21-16
2015-03-04

Photo: Johan Roux

Being the only unbeaten team in the 2015 Varsity Cup rugby tournament, it comes as no surprise that our Shimlas are on top of the log.

Shimlas beat the Stellenbosch University Maties side 21-16 at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein on Monday night, 2 March 2015. As yet, Maties have no wins, while the Shimlas have no losses. Shimlas now top the 2015 Varsity Cup log, with Tuks – the only side to have managed not to lose against Shimlas – trailing by one point in the second position.

Niel Marais, Shimlas flyhalf, touched down and converted his try to give the home side an early start. Maties fired back shortly after, scoring their first try of the night, and leaving the teams tied into the first strategy break at 8-8.

Shimlas took the lead back just after the break when skipper, AJ Coertzen, scored a try in the corner, and Marais again succeeded in the touchline conversion, putting them in a 16-8 lead. Yet again, it was not long after this that Maties leveled the score to 16-16 before the half-time break.

The second half was a bit quieter on the scoreboard. The only point scoring action was Shimlas replacement, Daniel Maartens, who crossed the try line to give his side the necessary five-point lead.

The Shimlas point scorers:
Tries: Marais, Coertzen, Maartens
Cons: Marais 2

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