Latest News Archive

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

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 a much safer place

2011-09-20

First-year students Chuma Nyiko (left) and Mabasa Teleni next to one of the red poles installed on our Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Amanda Tongha

Students and staff at our Bloemfontein Campus can feel even safer, with several initiatives being put in place to ensure their safety.

The stop-and-search actions of the recent past, which are being carried out at all the main gates of our Bloemfontein Campus, seem to be successful, since car theft has decreased on the campus. Mr Willie Frankim, Head of Protection Services, says the stop-and-search actions are carried out sporadically, but have a definite effect on crime at the campus. Mr Frankim says only one vehicle has been stolen in the past two months as opposed to the many more that have been stolen in the past.

The message that safety is viewed in a serious light reaches as far as our university’s parking areas and walkways, which are being patrolled by security staff. Mr Frankim says a security officer is placed in all the large parking areas, while other personnel are distributed across the entire campus, especially at key areas, such as at the library and student centre.

Our university also recently installed more than 30 red poles across the entire campus. Each of these red poles is fitted with a panic button by means of which help can be summoned. Should a student or staff member feel unsafe, all they have to do is press the button and cameras, which are installed in the vicinity, will focus on the pole and Protection Services will send assistance. Twenty five of these poles are already working and ten more still have to be activated.

Students and staff can also phone Protection Services on 051 401 2911 if they feel uncomfortable about their safety. They can use this number, for example, to ask a security officer to accompany them to their car.

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