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24 November 2023 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo SUPPLIED
South Africa Sweden student platform
The launch of the ‘Hot Topic’ debate series was one of the UFS SASUF student structure’s first points of business.

The University of the Free State (UFS) Office for International Affairs recently launched its first-ever UFS South Africa Sweden University Forum (SASUF) student structure during a hybrid event on the Bloemfontein Campus. 

As one of the 40 SASUF collaborating universities, the UFS has been encouraged to establish internal student structures that advocate for students' involvement and participation in activities promoting the enhancement of the Strategic Development Goals (SDGs), specifically quality education. Simba Matema, Assistant Researcher in the Office for International Affairs, was elected as the network’s representative for the UFS as well as the National SASUF coordinator.

Established in 2018, SASUF aims to strengthen ties between Sweden and South Africa in research, education, and innovation. 

Hearing student voices

Chevon Slambee, responsible for Virtual Engagement and select strategic projects in the Office for International Affairs, believes that this established student network provides an opportunity for students to make their voices heard and to impact policy imperatives related to the student community.  

“This intervention gives students a chance to engage on important matters that affect them in the student community. The student perspective is important and can contribute to positive change at the university,” she stated.

One of the first initiatives of the UFS SASUF student structure was the launch of the ‘Hot Topic’ debate series. 

The inaugural debate focused on the question: ‘Does our UFS culture allow for the preservation of indigenous knowledge?’ and permitted students to express their perspectives on this matter. It aimed to explore the extent to which the current institutional culture, along with Vision 130, either allows or inhibits the preservation and integration of African indigenous knowledge. 

Each debating team consisted of one student, one staff member, and one member from the UFS Debate Society. They deliberated on the following questions: ‘In a research-led institution, is there room for indigenous knowledge integration and preservation in an evolutional institutional climate?’ and ‘Does the current UFS institutional culture allow for the preservation of indigenous African knowledge?’

Slambee commented: “The debate provided students with a chance to not only encourage critical thinking on this topic, but also to think more strategically, enhancing articulation around this matter without taking things personally when someone disagrees. We aim to not stir up controversy, but to foster meaningful discussion and thoughtful involvement. We want the debate space to be a space where diverse views are respected and appreciated.”

Vision 130 promotes the notion of epidemic diversity. “Through the ‘Hot Topic’ debate series, we want to create a culture of care, as well as a vibrant space for and acceptance of constructive and critical engagement,” she added. 

“I was proud of the students; hearing their thoughts and contributions about the preservation of indigenous knowledge was pleasantly surprising,” said Slambee. 

“This is not a stand-alone event of the Office for International Affairs, but a collaboration with faculties and students,” said Slambee, who – with the next topic – would like to include other faculties besides the Faculty of Law in the process. 

Topics students can look forward to include discussions on the lack of funding opportunities for students in South Africa, and the importance of building sustainable relationships with surrounding communities. According to Slambee, the next debate will be hosted in the first semester of 2024.

Students’ involvement in important processes

“Besides being a great success, this event also illustrated the importance of harnessing the student voice in processes such as policy implementation and strategic decision-making – functions that essentially impact their academic and social lives,” said Matema.

With research as one of its focuses, SASUF would also like to feature research contributions from students. Slambee remarked, “I’m excited to see some of the student thoughts and perspectives that could inform new research and contribute to the overall quality of education and the student experience at universities. 

News Archive

African Student Affairs Conference a huge success
2011-05-24

 
Mr Rudi Buys, UFS Dean of Student Affairs, Mr. Folabi Obembe, Managing Director of Worldview International, Ms Birgit Schreiber, Director of the Centre for Student support services at the University of the Western Cape, Dr. Augustinah Duyilemi, Dean of Student Affairs at the Adekunleh Ajasin University in Nigeria, Dr. Christina Lunceford, assistant Director for the Centre for Research on Educational Access and Leadership at California State University in America, and Prof. Cecil Bodibe, student affairs veteran and consultant.
Photo: Earl Coetzee

The African Student Affairs Conference (ASAC), which took place on our Main Campus last week, was a major success, with two days of lectures and discussions and two pleasant social gatherings, where delegates had the opportunity to get to know each other.

The conference, hosted on African soil for the first time, and co-hosted by the University of the Western Cape (UWC), started on Wednesday 18 May 2011 with an informal welcoming session. Delegates got to meet each other and Mr Rudi Buys, UFS Dean of Student Affairs, explained the meaning of South African words like "kuier" and "lekker'.

The official start of events took place on Thursday 19 May 2011, in the Reitz Hall in our Centenary Complex. The conference was attended by delegates from universities across the continent and aimed to place the focus on issues relating to student affairs in an African context.

Delegates shared and exchanged strategies, ideas and resources, and discussed issues related to the work of student affairs professionals. The conference hoped to promote an exchange of best practice and assist attendees in identifying successful programmes.

Among the topics discussed on the first day, were “Constructing Post-Conflict Democracy on campus: a case study of transformation of student governance and political engagement as post-conflict intervention”, by Mr. Buys, and a discussion on ways in which social and online media can be used to ease the challenges of student interaction, development and support, by Ms Birgit Schreiber, Director of the Centre for Student Support Services at UWC.

A panel discussion, led by Mr Buys and several members of our Interim Student Council (ISC), discussed the specific challenges faced at the UFS.  The importance of buy-in from role-players in decisions taken by University management in order to ensure their success, was discussed, using the UFS and our recent changes as an example.

The successful integration of residences on campus inevitably came under the spotlight and the recently resolved Reitz-saga was named as a catalyst in getting students less apathetic and more involved in attempts at creating racial and social harmony.

Dr Christina Lunceford, Assistant-Director of the Centre for Research on Educational Access and Leadership at California State University, presented a paper entitled A National Approach to Building Capacity in Student Affairs in South African Higher Education.

She commented on the fact that there is little or no philosophical framework or explicit theory that informs practice of student services in South Africa.

According to Dr Lunceford, student development should be a key concern for every department or unit within student services and emphasized the need for a centralized student development unit at each university.
She also touched on the need for institutions to implement support from international student affairs professional associations, professional development for student affairs practitioners, the utilization of technology to support professionals in the field, and working with international partners to explore future opportunities, as ways in which student affairs can be used to drive performance and change at universities.

The conference continued in the Scaena theatre on Friday 20 May 2011, with presentations by Dr Augustinah Duyileme, Dean of Student Affairs at Adekunle Ajasin University in Nigeria, and Prof. Bobby Mandew, Executive Director of Student Affairs at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

Dr Duyileme presented a paper on the challenges faced by Nigerian universities with regard to student conflict and protests, which often turn violent, and how such violence can be curbed through proper planning and management.

Prof. Mandew presented a very well-received presentation on UJ’s successful off-campus housing initiative, which involves home-owners and business owners in the areas surrounding their campuses.

Their approach demonstrated how proper planning can prevent problems associated with over-population in private homes and conflict with neighbours of the university, usually related to an influx of students into residential neighbourhoods.

This problem is faced by many universities, as more and more students flock to universities on the continent and campus residents cannot accommodate them.

The conference came to a close on Friday, with most delegates agreeing that the exchange of knowledge which took place was extremely valuable.

Ms Deborah Lahlan, of Nigeria, said: “This is an important conference for Africa and it should become a regular event.”
 

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