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22 February 2024 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Stephen Collett
Prof Petersen 2024 Official Opening
UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Francis Petersen addressed the institution's official opening on 16 February 2024.

Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State (UFS), addressed the institution's official opening on 16 February 2024, highlighting the complex current global geopolitical landscape and the university's long-term strategic plan, Vision 130.

During the address, held at the Centenary Complex on the UFS’s Bloemfontein Campus and streamed live to its Qwaqwa Campus, Prof Petersen noted that the “world is more interconnected but also more divided and fragmented, with inequality and injustice reaching critical levels”.

He added that there is a need for the higher education sector to be prudent and think differently in the face of global challenges, including market dislocations, supply chain dislocations, and economies going into recession. 

Vision 130 progress: addressing global disruptions

Vision 130, a strategic plan to reposition the university by its 130th anniversary in 2034, is centred around values such as Excellence, Innovation and Impact, Accountability, Care, Social Justice, and Sustainability. “The exciting journey is about care, being courageous, and having a strong appetite for curiosity,” Prof Petersen said. He acknowledged that 2023 provided initial traction but also identified specific areas where the university needed to improve to stay on track to deliver on the commitments of Vision 130.

“Undergraduate student success and overall student employability have been reset and stabilised post-COVID pandemic, with continued engagement and financial and advisory support from various foundations and government departments.” The university's student success rate currently stands at 83%, and Prof Petersen applauded the efforts of the team at the Centre for Teaching and Learning and all the faculties for their contributions towards this achievement.

Industry and private-sector involvement in the university’s academic work remains strong through a range of academic advisory boards and a renewed focus for the Career Services office. Prof Petersen highlighted the need to develop more platforms and spaces for robust engagement, debate, critical thinking, and exposure to diverse views for and among students.

Looking back to 2023, there was no change in the UFS’s average postgraduate-level results, but there was an overall improvement in other indicators of research output. Prof Petersen committed to strengthening support to the research and postgraduate environments.

Digital transformation and the UFS's forward-looking approach

Prof Petersen highlighted the importance of digital transformation, digitalisation, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as part of the university's institutional DNA, supported through its Digitalisation Strategy. He acknowledged that a fully resourced Information Communication and Technology Service (ICTS) is essential to ensuring a quality, forward-looking institution.

Valamy Vermeulen, Chief Officer at University Estates responsible for cleaning and events maintenance, said Prof Petersen’s speech created enthusiasm about facing 2024 head-on. “Working together, we can overcome a lot of challenges and achieve university goals,” Vermeulen said. “It is important to see your plans for the university, play your role, stay positive, and together as a team, we will succeed.”

Prof Petersen concluded by saying the university is financially sustainable but needs to be prudent in its resource management. He emphasised the need for a renewed commitment from all members of the university to own their space, understand how their space is connected to Vision 130, and share an unrelenting ambition to deliver on the strategy.

Grey document Click here for the official opening speech or watch the video below.

Prof Petersen addresses the staff member at the 2024 Official Opening.
Prof Petersen addresses the staff member at the 2024 Official Opening.
Rectorate and faculty deans at the 2024 UFS Official Opening.
Rectorate and faculty deans at the 2024 UFS Official Opening.
Attendees at the Official Opening
Attendees at the Official Opening
The UFS Choir performs at the Official Opening
The UFS Choir performs at the Official Opening
Staff members attended the UFS Official Opening
Staff members attended the UFS Official Opening
UFS Official Opening 20204
UFS Official Opening 20204
Staff members attended the UFS Official Opening
Staff members attended the UFS Official Opening
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Operations, Prof Prakash Naidoo.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Operations, Prof Prakash Naidoo.

News Archive

Research into surrogate milk important to wildlife conservation
2017-05-08

Description: Prof Garry Osthoff Tags: Prof Garry Osthoff

Prof Gary Osthoff from the UFS Department of
Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology,
will soon work on a milk formula for elephants.
Photo: Supplied

Research is being done at the University of the Free State (UFS) to analyse and synthetically imitate the unique milk of various wildlife species. This research is not only of scientific value, but also serves the conservation of South Africa’s wildlife species. At the forefront of this research is Prof Garry Osthoff from the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology.

Orphaned rhino calf pulled through with surrogate milk
“There is still a lot of research to be done. Naturally the research is of scientific importance, but with surrogate milk having the same composition as the mother’s milk of a specific species, orphaned calves or cubs of that species could be pulled through during a difficult time of weaning. Bearing in mind that exotic animals fetch thousands and even millions of rands at auctions, it goes without saying a game farmer will do everything possible to provide only the best nourishment to such an orphaned animal. In such a case, synthetically-manufactured milk would be the right choice,” says Prof Osthoff.

The fruits of his research were recently demonstrated in Germany when a rhino calf was left orphaned in the Leipzig Zoo. Prof Osthoff’s article: “Milk composition of a free-ranging white rhinoceros during late lactation” was used as a directive for applying surrogate milk for horse foals (which is already commercially available), since the composition of horse and rhino milk largely corresponds. The surrogate milk was used with great success and the rhino calf is flourishing. He mentions that such an orphan is often given the wrong nourishment with the best intentions, resulting in the starvation of the animal despite the amount of cow’s milk it devours.

With surrogate milk having the same
composition as the mother’s milk of a
specific species, orphaned calves or
cubs of that species could be pulled
through during the difficult time
of weaning.

Milk formula for baby elephants in the pipeline
With baby elephants left orphaned due to the increase in elephant poaching for their ivory, several attempts have been made to create a milk formula in order to feed these elephants. To date, many elephants have died in captivity from side effects such as diarrhoea as a result of the surrogate formula which they were fed.

Prof Osthoff recently received a consignment of frozen milk which he, together with researchers from Zimbabwe, will use to work on a milk formula for elephants. They are studying the milk in a full lactation period of two years. During lactation, the composition of the milk changes to such an extent that a single surrogate formula will not be sufficient. Four different formulas should probably be designed.

Prof Osthoff says that of the different species he has researched, elephants are the most interesting and deviate most from the known species.

Although his research to develop surrogate milk is adding much value to the wildlife industry, and although he finds this part of his work very exciting, his research focus is on food science and nutrition. “What is currently authentic in milk research is the study of the fat globules with content, the structure and composition of the casein micelle, and the prebiotic sugars. The knowledge which is gained helps to improve the processing, development of new food products, and development of food products for health purposes,” says Prof Osthoff.

 

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