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12 May 2023
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Story Mbali Moiketsi
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Photo iStock
Visiting universities and learning more about them is an essential part of prospective students’ journey into higher education. The University of the Free State (UFS) has launched the Kovsie-Connect Virtual Experience.
This is an initiative of the Student Recruitment Services in partnership with the Office for International Affairs to give the modern-day prospective student an experience of what the University of the Free State can offer. The Kovsie-Connect Virtual Experience is an interactive online platform that allows prospective students to engage and learn more about the UFS from the comfort of their own homes.
The Virtual Experience is tailor-made for local and international prospective students with the aim of providing an overview of academic offerings, facilities, and student life through a series of online documents, pre-recorded videos, and virtual tours.
The virtual format allows for easy accessibility and convenience, as potential students can attend the event from anywhere in the world without the need for travel. This experience aims to provide students with the information they need to make an informed decision and Choose the UFS!
Click here to access the tour.
Cornell academic focuses on international trade in inaugural lecture at the UFS
2013-11-12
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Prof Muna Ndulo
Photo: Stephen Collett
12 November 2013 |
Prof Muna Ndulo, Professor at the Cornell Law School, delivered his inaugural lecture as Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Mercantile Law at the University of the Free State (UFS). The topic of his lecture was: Facilitating regional and world trade through international trade.
With this topic, Prof Ndulo said that trade is a recognised contributor to the Growth Domestic Product of countries and its role can be used to reduce global poverty and inequality. “Although Africa’s GDP is 5-6% on average, with a positive increase in direct foreign investments, its meaningful participation in world trade has been decimal,” he said.
Trade between African countries is 12%, which is the lowest in the world. This is in comparison to intercontinental trade in European states (72%), North America (48%), Asia (52%) and 26% in Latin America. The EU and USA are Africa’s key export markets. High transport costs, import substitution, intra-regional transactions, conflict of rules and bills of exchange remain as challenges. There are also no common standards with regards to the development of manpower as an important factor in production.
Prof Ndulo suggested solutions which Africa can use to achieve harmonisation. This includes the introduction of normative rules designed in a framework of a treaty. A modern law approach could be used to develop legislation and ensure uniformity; and lastly, the formulation of commercial customs and practice. “Harmonisation demands a high level of expertise and quality research,” said Prof Ndulo.
He added: “When legislation is developed, it must resemble the needs of our trade laws in order to maximise benefits.”
He concluded that, for harmonisation to be achieved, the political environment must play a major role in regional and world trade.
Prof Elizabeth Snyman-Van Deventer, Head of the Department of Mercantile Law, made sincere closing remarks on how much we as a continent have become an enemy of our own self by not having trade relationships among ourselves as Africans. Prof Snyman urged those in the legal fraternity to be part of the harmonisation of trade laws and eliminate the barriers by improving legislation.