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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.
2014 Sêr champions: Soetdoring and Veritas
2014-08-12
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Video: - Announcement of the winners:
Kovsies know the feeling. And Sêr is the one event where that feeling runs like an electrical current across the Bloemfontein Campus. The 2014 Kovsie Sêr finals on 9 August was no exception.
The voices of seven ladies’ and six men’s residence serenade groups resounded through the icy evening air. With each rotation round, the tension built at a staggering rate. The three designated venues – Kovsiekerk, Albert Wessels Auditorium and Scholtz Hall – nearly burst at the seams with supporters packing in to cheer on their favourites.
A group from our Qwaqwa Campus, called Unspoken, allowed everyone to breathe a bit easier as they performed a variety of music pieces during the evening.
The suspense reached fever pitch, though, as the time arrived for the finalists to be announced.
The top three spots for the ladies’ residences:
• Marjolein (3rd),
• Vergeet My Nie (2nd) and
• Soetdoring (1st)
The top three spots for the men’s residences:
• Armentum (3rd),
• Vishuis (2nd) and
• Veritas (1st)
When Veritas took to the stage as newly-crowned victors, the crowd could hardly contain their enthusiasm and roared their approval. Amplifying the spirit of the evening even further, Soetdoring’s closing act ensured everyone went home feeling giddy with joy.
Veritas and Soetdoring will now proceed to compete at the nationals, hosted by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on 30 August 2014.