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13 December 2024 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Charl Devenish
Lieutenant Colonel Dr Rifa Tshivhase
Lieutenant Colonel Dr Rifa Tshivhase, Head of the Department of Surgery at 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein, addressed graduates within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State on 10 December 2024.

Momentous and joyous – these are some of the words used to describe the December 2024 graduations at the University of the Free State (UFS). In celebration of the academic achievements of its students, the UFS hosted graduation ceremonies at the Callie Human Centre on its Bloemfontein Campus from 9 to 10 December 2024.

Prof Anthea Rhoda, acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS, encouraged the graduates to always acknowledge and recognise the significance of this achievement as they transition from being UFS students to being UFS graduates.

Undergraduate and postgraduate achievements

At least 2000 undergraduate qualifications and postgraduate qualifications were conferred. As such, there were some standout academic achievements across the sessions. For instance, Itumeleng Pooe received his Advanced Diploma in Theology cum laude, making him the only graduate in the Faculty of Theology and Religion to receive his qualification with distinction during these graduations. In addition, Dr Bobuin Jr Valey Gemandze Oben – at just 28 years old – was the youngest PhD graduate from the Faculty of Law at the graduation ceremony, which took place on the morning of 9 December 2024.

Conferring Honorary Doctorates

Some highlights from these graduations were the recipients of honorary doctorates, as well as the keynote speakers. The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at the UFS conferred an honorary degree on Prof Murray Leibbrandt, Research Chair in Poverty and Inequality Research in the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). In addition, the Faculty of The Humanities at the UFS conferred an honorary degree on HE Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace, and Security.

On the final day of the graduations, graduates within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the UFS were addressed by Lieutenant Colonel Dr Rifa Tshivhase, Head of the Department of Surgery at 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein. In her address, Lieutenant Colonel Dr Tshivhase encouraged and challenged the graduates to actively seek out good in the world.

As the December 2024 graduations concluded, several of the graduates within the Faculty of Health Sciences indicated that the most memorable moments in the session were the cheers and applause they received as they walked across the stage.

News Archive

UFS NWU Intervarsity offers many firsts
2010-08-06

The Intervarsity between the University of the Free State (UFS) and North-West University (NWU) kicked off today.

“We are excited to present the 68th Intervarsity on our Main Campus in Bloemfontein and look forward to a weekend filled with various matches and events,” says Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs at the UFS.

This year’s Intervarsity is boasting with a few new additions to the programme. “We have invited the other campuses of the NWU to join the Intervarsity and our Qwaqwa Campus was for the first time also involved. The additions to the programme include a major debating championship lead by our Debating Society as well as a Hip Hop event tomorrow afternoon,” says Mr Buys.

According to Mr Buys, this year as many as possible of the residences are involved in sporting events such as soccer, hockey, rugby and netball.

The UFS also made accommodation available to students from NWU in its residences and has re-introduced the Rag-Buddy-bus system to provide transport support to students who are attending private functions in Bloemfontein to ensure their safe return to the campus.

Mr Buys also indicated that: “Intervarsity should be a celebration of all aspects of student life and we aim to increase the variety of programmes and diversity of audiences that participate in our Intervarsity programmes.”

“All our students, staff and members of the public are invited to attend the various events and matches. I encourage you to be proud and worthy ambassadors of the university community,” he says.

Media Release:
Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication (actg)
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za 
6 August 2010

 

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