Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

UFS honours alumni at Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner

31 May 2023 | Story Sieraaj Ahmed | Photo Sonia Small

The University of the Free State (UFS) Chancellor, Prof Bonang Mohale, and UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, recently hosted the UFS’s 38 ^th UFS Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Awards (CDAA) Dinner. The event took place in the Callie Human Centre on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus and honoured 10 outstanding UFS alumni for their achievements in both their personal and professional capacities.

“The UFS’s CDAA Awards are important to help represent those without a voice, thereby releasing better humans who care deeply for each other and are meaningfully connected, incredibly constructive citizens who are catalysts of change – to change us from humankind to kind humans, simply because kindness is the highest form of intelligence. To change us from important people to persons of significance – from taking to giving, as a new form of transformative philanthropy,” Prof Mohale told awardees and other UFS alumni who attended the dinner.

UFS alumni excelling in their various fields

Gerda Steyn, who recently made history by becoming the first woman to win the Two Oceans Marathon four consecutive times, was recognised as the Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award winner. This is the highest honour bestowed upon an alumnus and celebrates someone who serves to inspire fellow alumni, current students, and the community at large. Steyn’s parents, Pieter and Trudie Steyn accepted the award on her behalf. (A full list of awardees can be found at the end of this story).

Prof Petersen applauded all the winners as well as UFS alumni everywhere who excel in their various fields. “Excellence is part of our DNA, and our valued alumni across the globe are the products of this. We believe the impact our alumni are making at every level should be continuously encouraged for the greater good, through recognition and celebration of achievements. This is why the Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony has shed light on the impact of our exceptional alumni for the past 38 years and will continue to do so.”

He urged all alumni to learn more about Vision 130, an elaboration of the UFS’s strategic intent to reposition the institution ahead of 2034, when UFS will commemorate its 130th anniversary. “Vision 130 is centred around the pillars of academic excellence, quality, and impact; creating maximum societal impact with sustainable relationships; and establishing a diverse, inclusive, and equitable university. The alumni honoured this year are an embodiment of our Vision 130, and we congratulate them and look forward to the great achievements that are on the horizon for you and the rest of the UFS community.”



Cum Laude Award winner, Dr Maryam Amra Jordaan, with Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, and Prof Bonang Mohale, UFS Chancellor, at the 38^th Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner.		Kovsie Ambassador Award winner, Uyleta Nel-Marais, with Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, and Prof Bonang Mohale, UFS Chancellor, at the 38^th Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner.

38^th Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Awards (CDAA) winners – 20 May 2023

Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year

GERDA STEYN

Young Alumnus of the Year

SEBABATSO TSAOANE

Executive Management Award

PROF FRANCOIS STRYDOM

PROF ABDON ATANGANA

Cum Laude Award

DR SOLOMON WERTA

DR MARYAM AMRA JORDAAN

PROF ANDRIES STULTING

Kovsie Ambassador Award

REHAN GREEFF

UYLETA NEL-MARAIS

ELIZABETH MOKGOSI

Click to view document View Full programme

Watch the live stream recording:

News Archive

First ever international conference on Student Affairs in Africa

2011-05-11

We hosted the 2011 African Student Affairs Conference on our Main Campus in Bloemfontein from 17 – 19 May 2011.

This was the first year that the conference was hosted on African soil as it was presented in the United Kingdom in 2009/2010. The UFS was selected to join hands with the University of the Western Cape and welcomed students from across the continent.

The purpose of the conference was to share and exchange strategies, ideas and resources, and to discuss issues related to the work of student affairs professionals. The conference promoted an exchange of best practice and assisted attendees in identifying successful programmes.

“We are immensely privileged to be selected to host the first ever international conference on student affairs in Africa and cannot wait to welcome the rest of Africa to our university,” said Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs at our university.

The conference is in response to the need to develop education in Africa and for African institutions to compete with the globalising world. To this end, more emphasis should be laid on student affairs, as this unit complements the academic curriculum with programmes geared towards the holistic formation of students.

“Twenty delegates from the UFS will attended the conference and presented papers. In this way we will not only actively participate, but also be a leader in discussions about student affairs on the continent,” said Mr Buys.

Media Release
11 May 2011
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept