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27 September 2023
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Story Prof Francois Strydom and Dr Sonja Loots
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Prof Francois Strydom and Dr Sonja Loots are among the individuals dedicated to making student success at the UFS a priority.
The University of the Free State (UFS) was recently recognised internationally for its exceptional work in promoting student success. This achievement was acknowledged in a publication featuring 31 other exemplary good practice institutions from 24 different countries, all dedicated to transforming students’ lives. The acknowledgement came as the UFS was nominated as an international case study showcasing best practices. The publication highlights how the UFS has significantly improved student success, bridged racial achievement gaps, and successfully implemented high-impact practices to support its students.
The publication, titled "Transforming Lives at the Institutional Level: Equity Promotion Initiatives Across the World ", and edited by renowned higher education expert Jamil Salmi, aims to acknowledge global efforts in higher education that strive for equitable opportunities. The UFS was an integral part of this publication, with Dr Sonja Loots and Prof Francois Strydom collaborating with Dr Nasima Badsha, the former deputy director general. The UFS’ narrative underscores its transformation from a predominantly White, Afrikaans-speaking university in the late 1980s/early 1990s to a university that now predominantly serves black, first-generation students. Most of these students come from under-resourced schools. The UFS’ commitment to understanding its students and addressing their support needs, has been a significant contributor to the Siyaphumelela success story. The University’s active engagement in national and international knowledge exchange networks continues to shape its approach towards achieving student success.
The UFS was nominated through the Siyaphumelela Network, a project funded by the Kresge Foundation, of which the UFS has been part of since its inception in 2014. Participation in the Siyaphumelela Network has empowered the UFS to develop data analytics supporting student success, broaden the implementation of high-impact practices such as tutorials and the UFSS transitional module, and lead in the professional development of academic advising within the sector on a national platform. Additionally, the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) administers the South African Surveys of Student Engagement (SASSE), a crucial vehicle for student voice that informs institutional planning, practices, and change, utilised by 17 Siyaphumelela Network institutions. The Kresge Foundation has confirmed its commitment to continue supporting the Siyaphumelela Network for another three-year funding cycle, starting in 2024.
Prof Strydom stated, “The inclusion of the UFS in this publication gives international recognition to the remarkable success story that the UFS has to tell. It further illustrates CTL’s commitment to Vision 130 for academic excellence, quality, research visibility, and impact that promotes social justice.”
There’s more to media freedom than the Secrecy Bill
2012-05-04
4 May 2012
“Media freedom is a universal human right. It cannot be abolished, but it should be managed.” The freedom of the media is protected by numerous formal documents, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the South African Constitution, and is commemorated annually with the celebration of World Press Freedom Day.
“As long as those in power have something to hide, media freedom will be under threat. This is a war that takes place on many fronts,” says Ms Willemien Marais, a journalism lecturer at the Department of Communication Science at the University of the Free State (UFS).
“On the one hand we have to take a stand against institutional threats such as the proposed Protection of State Information Bill. This is diametrically opposed to everything that media freedom and freedom of expression encapsulates.
“But on the other hand we also need to educate and transform our society. It is not only up to journalists to defend media freedom. Newspaper reports on the public hearings on this Bill earlier this year proved that ignorance concerning media freedom is a big threat. The lack of resistance against the Secrecy Bill from the general population clearly illustrates that people aren’t aware of what they are about to lose.”
Ms Marais says the rise of social media and the accompanying awareness of individual freedom of expression have paved the way for more people to exercise this right. “The role of social media in the Arab Spring has been highlighted numerous times. The power of social media is undeniable – but alas, so is the lack of access to especially social media. We can only increase media literacy if we increase people’s access to the media – new and traditional.”
A high level of media literacy is also vital following last month’s recommendation by the Press Freedom Commission of a system of independent co-regulation for South Africa’s print media. This system proposes replacing government regulation with a panel consisting of representatives from the print industry as well as members of the general public. “It is abundantly clear that this system can only work if those members of the general public are media literate and understand the role of media freedom in protecting democracy.”
“The media is not a sentient being – it consists of and is run by people, and human beings are fallible. Protecting media freedom does not only mean fighting institutional threats. It also means increasing media literacy by educating people. And it means owning up to your mistakes, and correcting it.”