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02 November 2023
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Story Kekeletso Makau
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Photo SUPPLIED
The UFS Heads of Mission Breakfast event attracted a distinguished delegation of foreign diplomatic missions.
The second Heads of Diplomatic Mission breakfast was hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS) in collaboration with the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) in Pretoria, South Africa on 26 October 2023.
The event served as an opportunity to position the UFS as a preferred partner for international collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation – following the success of the inaugural event in 2022. More than ten diplomatic missions were represented by distinguished foreign mission representatives who shared in the deliberations on this year’s theme, namely partnerships and collaborations.
The keynote address was delivered by the UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Francis Petersen, with contributing presentations from MISTRA researcher Laurence Caromba, UFS Professor of Pharmacology, Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, and Senior Lecturer from the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies, Dr Grey Magaiza. A key goal of Prof Petersen’s presentation was to highlight the benefits of reciprocal collaboration and co-creation of knowledge with international partners, including industry partners. Contributing presentations posited the UFS as a partner of interest in research, innovation, and technology in the international arena and showcased the value of university and diplomatic partnerships in support of the UFS Internationalisation Strategy and Vision 130.
Caromba, a MISTRA researcher, reiterated the importance of collaboration between universities, research institutes, and the diplomatic community, further reaffirming the partnership value proposition entrenched in the UFS-MISTRA collaboration in co-hosting this year’s event. MISTRA, a renowned influential think tank, served as an excellent partner for the event.
The UFS currently boasts more than 100 vibrant international partnerships and is the incumbent coordinator of large EU-funded Erasmus+ projects among South African universities, with UFS researchers having co-authored more than 5 000 scientific publications with universities worldwide (2018-2022).
An engaging question-and-answer session concluded with insights and further action items for continued engagement post the event.
Qwaqwa Campus Got Talent show rocks
2014-08-07
The Happy Feet trio are from the left: Matshediso Senkhane, Andile Mbuli and Lebo Mokoena.
Our Qwaqwa Campus Health and Wellness Centre truly believes in the all-round wellbeing of all Kovsies – and that laughter is the best medicine.
This was evident when the centre hosted the first ever UFS Qwaqwa Campus Got Talent show. In the various elimination rounds, students and staff had to showcase their various talents.
Competing acts got the crowd jumping with a variety of singing and dancing acts, provided insight and wisdom through poetry and roaring laughter from the comedy.
A panel of judges selected the top 10 acts. These groups will compete for the ultimate crown later in September. One of the acts that had the crowd captivated was the modern dance trio called Happy Feet. This energetic student act amazed the audience with their superbly choreographed moves that left everyone shouting for more.
“The response of the crowd during the show and when the winners were announced proved just how much fun everybody had. We surely are talented on this campus,” said Industrial Psychology student Cebelihle Mtshali, who was one of the judges.