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Social Work student participates in International Social Work Course in Germany

25 October 2023 | Story Rorisang Ramorena | Photo Supplied

Each year, the University of the Free State (UFS) selects exceptional students to participate in international credit exchange programmes, meticulously crafted through collaborative partnerships with esteemed universities worldwide. The UFS exchange programme, jointly administered by the Office for International Affairs (OIA) and various academic faculties, aligns with the university’s Vision 130 strategy. This initiative is dedicated to enhancing the designated graduate attributes, placing a particular emphasis on intercultural and global competencies.

In an exciting development, the Department of Social Work nominated one of the senior students, Tiisetso Mokaeane, for a semester-long exchange programme at the Fulda University of Applied Sciences (Fulda), in Germany. During this remarkable journey, Mokaeane will participate in the International Course in Social Work, a unique experience that involves engaging in fieldwork, a diversity of activities, and active participation in projects within social work institutions. The focus will be on community work, youth work, and street work, often in vibrant intercultural settings. International students like Mokaeane will receive unwavering support and invaluable guidance from seasoned tutors and experienced social workers.

Mokaeane is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Social Work at the UFS and is poised to gain a deeper understanding of social work in Germany, particularly the intricacies of social welfare systems that are in place. He expressed his excitement by saying, “This opportunity will give me a valuable perspective on the field of social work and allow me to make a meaningful contribution to society.”

About the opportunity

This programme is part of an ongoing partnership between the UFS and various departments at Fulda University, including the Departments of Social Work, the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences and the Department of Business. As part of this commitment, Fulda entitles UFS students participating in the programme with a full scholarship. The scholarship comprehensively covers the students' logistical expenses and living allowances. The OIA, in collaboration with other internal stakeholders such as the Student Counselling Service, provides all the nominated students with the necessary pre-departure support and continuous support throughout their international experience.

Kagiso Ngake, Senior Officer in the OIA under the portfolio of Partnerships: Collaborative Degrees and Outgoing Mobility, underscores the numerous benefits for students engaging in these programmes. “The exchanges offer a multitude of advantages, from fostering cultural understanding to expanding educational horizons. Furthermore, the UFS internationalisation strategy provides each student with an international experience during their academic journey. This is achieved through curriculum internationalisation and various other dimensions such as COIL, virtual exchanges and co-curricular internationalisation activities conducted at home.”

For more information on student exchange opportunities contact Kekeletso Makau via email at MakauKB@ufs.ac.za.

News Archive

UFS outlines research achievements

2011-09-02

At the launch of the 2010 Annual Research Report, were from the left: Mr Robert Kriger, the director for Policy and Strategy at the National Research Foundation (NRF); Prof. Driekie Hay, Vice-Rector: Academic and Prof. Frans Swanepoel, Senior Director: Research Development.
Photo: Stephen Collett

The University of the Free State (UFS) is well on course for delivery on its most important academic duty as a research university. This was the message that came forward at the launch of the 2010 Annual Research Report of the UFS on 30 August 2011.

Speakers at the launch, which included Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, as well as Prof. Driekie Hay, Vice-Rector: Academics outlined the key strategies and achievements of the UFS for the 2010 academic year. This included the establishment of a Postgraduate School at the UFS, the first of its kind at a public university in South Africa. Prof. Hay told guests that the aim of the Postgraduate School was to broaden research and deepens scholarship on postgraduate education in the country. She highlighted some initiatives the UFS undertook in 2010 to build and maintain its intellectual capital. Some of these initiatives included the appointment of seven senior professors and recruiting more female and black scholars and academics.

Also speaking at the event was Mr Robert Kriger, the director for Policy and Strategy at the National Research Foundation (NRF). Kriger reflected on the brilliant minds of scholars such as Archie Mafeje, Lewis Nkosi and Dennis Brutus and argued for efforts to increase the country’s research output.

Some highlights of the 2010 Annual Research Report:

The total funding available for research at the UFS increased from approximately R199 million in 2009 to just over R210 million in 2010. A total of R31.8 million was made available from central university funds.
In 2010 the UFS was home to 92 NRF-rated researchers. During 2010, four researchers applied for re-evaluation and of these, two improved their rating, while a further five received a first-time rating.
The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences continue to be the most prolific producer of publications in accredited journals, while the Faculty of Education has shown a 54% increase in its publication output.
Staff members in the Physics department at the UFS Qwaqwa Campus published 22 papers in international peer-reviewed journals during 2010.
Also at the Qwaqwa Campus: Ms Khethiwe Mtshali,a postgraduate student in the parasitology research unit of the Department of Zoology and Entomology, received a best Honours presenter award at the 1^st Annual Research symposium of the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa.

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