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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

State of our campuses: UFS extends vacation as from 28 September until 7 October 2016

2016-09-28

In solidarity with the call for free education for the poor and missing middle, a discussion was held with the University Management Committee this morning, in consultation with the student leadership, and after careful assessment of operational matters on all three campuses of the University of the Free State (UFS), we agreed upon the following:

1.    All classes, tests, and assignments will be suspended until Friday 7 October 2016. This means that the university will close on Wednesday 28 September 2016 for an extended vacation until 7 October 2016. The academic programme will resume on Monday 10 October 2016.

2.    This will allow the entire university time to demonstrate solidarity, in collaboration with student leadership, academic and support staff, and the broader community in support of free higher education for the poor and missing middle.

3.    The administration of the university will continue on Thursday 29
September 2016, and staff will have access to their offices to plan the additional academic support for students, to consider the re-scheduling of the academic calendar, to engage with the Department of Higher Education and Training in relation to the students’ demands, and to continue with support services during the extended vacation.

4.    The university management and student leadership will also, over the next three days, engage in discussions to provide for a platform that is conducive to continued collaboration between students and the university leadership.

5.    The suspension of tests, classes, and assignments will also allow time for a social compact and code of ethics for protests to be agreed upon and signed between student leadership and the university management.

In respect of the Qwaqwa Campus, some protesting students yesterday intimidated others and forcibly removed staff, as well as security personnel. Today, university property was burnt. In view of our commitment to the safety of staff, students, and university property at the campus, it was necessary to evacuate the campus – including residences – with immediate effect. However, residential students are allowed to remain on campus until midday tomorrow (28 September 2016).

The university leadership again wants to emphasise its support for a national policy of free education for the poor and missing middle and stresses its support for peaceful protests on matters that are of concern to our students.

We further understand the frustration of many students and their parents/guardians at the closure of the campuses and the impact it has on academic staff, staff in the Support Services, our security personnel, teaching, learning, projects, assignments, lectures, tests, fieldwork, and the academic calendar in general, and commit to do all in our power to ensure the delivery of quality education to all our students under difficult circumstances.

Released by:
Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Telephone: +27 51 401 2584 | +27 83 645 2454
Email: news@ufs.ac.za | loaderl@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 51 444 6393

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