We hosted the 2011 African Student Affairs Conference on our Main Campus in Bloemfontein from 17 – 19 May 2011.
This was the first year that the conference was hosted on African soil as it was presented in the United Kingdom in 2009/2010. The UFS was selected to join hands with the University of the Western Cape and welcomed students from across the continent.
The purpose of the conference was to share and exchange strategies, ideas and resources, and to discuss issues related to the work of student affairs professionals. The conference promoted an exchange of best practice and assisted attendees in identifying successful programmes.
“We are immensely privileged to be selected to host the first ever international conference on student affairs in Africa and cannot wait to welcome the rest of Africa to our university,” said Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs at our university.
The conference is in response to the need to develop education in Africa and for African institutions to compete with the globalising world. To this end, more emphasis should be laid on student affairs, as this unit complements the academic curriculum with programmes geared towards the holistic formation of students.
“Twenty delegates from the UFS will attended the conference and presented papers. In this way we will not only actively participate, but also be a leader in discussions about student affairs on the continent,” said Mr Buys.
Media Release
11 May 2011
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za