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24 April 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Saleem Badat
Prof Saleem Badat, Research Professor in the UFS Department of History, who has initiated an exciting research project to produce a critical institutional history of the UFS.

The Department of History at the University of the Free State (UFS) has initiated an exciting research project to produce a critical institutional history of the UFS. The initiative is part of a wider national project, the Research Project on the Histories of Universities (RPHUSA) in South Africa. Prof Saleem Badat is leading this undertaking, which involves several other universities.

According to Prof Badat, the aim of the UFS project is to produce a volume on the overall history of the UFS and possible additional volumes on specific themes and issues, depending on the nature and extent of scholarly contributions.

The emphasis of this project will mainly be on critical reflections on

• learning-teaching, research, and community engagement at the UFS; 
• the history of disciplines or fields or departments, centres, and institutes;
• governance, leadership and management, and finances; 
• student politics and unionism; 
• work on issues such as the UFS’ location, architecture, and planning; and

• its crest, regalia, and visual imagery. 

“The Department of History hopes that the project will stimulate broad participation,” says Prof Badat.

He invites current and former UFS scholars, students, support staff, and alumni to contribute to research, writing, publishing, and related activities. To discuss the history project, the Department of History will convene a seminar:

Date: Monday, 6 May 2024
Time: 14:00

Venue: Flippie Groenewoud Building (FGG), Room 202

Please confirm attendance with Nicole Masalla.

After the seminar there will be an opportunity for potential contributors to participate in a workshop to consider the nature, extent, and range of possible contributions and to develop protocols, time frames, and timelines for research, writing, and publishing. 

News Archive

Diligence to be rewarded at the 2015 Spring Graduation
2015-09-15

The hard work of many students finally comes to fruition with this year’s spring graduation ceremonies taking place on Thursday 17 September 2015 on the Bloemfontein Campus.

A total of 124 diplomas, 419 bachelors and 56 honours degrees will be conferred on graduates from all seven faculties of the University of the Free State (UFS). In addition to the 599 conferrals, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, the world-renown American economist, will round out the number to 600 as the recipient of an honorary doctorate.  

The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences wishes to express appreciation for his extensive contribution towards economic, social, and political development across borders with an honorary doctorate in Economics.

Prof Sachs has had a positive impact on global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, human rights promotion, and governance through various platforms, including being a Special Advisor to United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). He also served as the Secretary-General’s MDG Advocate and Commissioner of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Broadband Commission for Development.

In addition, Prof Sachs serves as the Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. As an author, he has featured three times on the New York Times bestsellers list, and is the co-founder of the Millennium Promise Alliance, and drives the Millennium Villages Project as its Director.

Graduates should expect words of salutation and encouragement from our main speaker, the Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the university, Prof Jonathan Jansen.

Two ceremonies will take place in the Callie Human Centre at 09:00 and 14:00 respectively. Attendees of the afternoon ceremony will witness the conferment of Prof Sach’s degree. There is a live stream option available on the university’s website to individuals who are unable to attend the ceremonies.


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