Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
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

2014 Sêr champions: Soetdoring and Veritas
2014-08-12


Photo Gallery
Video:
- Announcement of the winners:

 

Kovsies know the feeling. And Sêr is the one event where that feeling runs like an electrical current across the Bloemfontein Campus. The 2014 Kovsie Sêr finals on 9 August was no exception.

The voices of seven ladies’ and six men’s residence serenade groups resounded through the icy evening air. With each rotation round, the tension built at a staggering rate. The three designated venues – Kovsiekerk, Albert Wessels Auditorium and Scholtz Hall – nearly burst at the seams with supporters packing in to cheer on their favourites.

A group from our Qwaqwa Campus, called Unspoken, allowed everyone to breathe a bit easier as they performed a variety of music pieces during the evening.

The suspense reached fever pitch, though, as the time arrived for the finalists to be announced.

The top three spots for the ladies’ residences:
• Marjolein (3rd),
• Vergeet My Nie (2nd) and
• Soetdoring (1st)

The top three spots for the men’s residences:
• Armentum (3rd),
• Vishuis (2nd) and
• Veritas (1st)

When Veritas took to the stage as newly-crowned victors, the crowd could hardly contain their enthusiasm and roared their approval. Amplifying the spirit of the evening even further, Soetdoring’s closing act ensured everyone went home feeling giddy with joy.

Veritas and Soetdoring will now proceed to compete at the nationals, hosted by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on 30 August 2014.

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept