Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
17 January 2024
|
Story Leonie Bolleurs
|
Photo Sonia Small
"Dreams and expectations are the foundation of transformative leadership. It fuels my determination to push boundaries and strive for the seemingly impossible in pursuit of positive change," says Siphilangenkosi Dlamini.
At 16, he wrote himself a letter with a quote from a book he was reading: “To achieve the impossible, it is precisely the unthinkable that must be thought.” This became his guiding light.
“Dreams and expectations are the foundation of transformative leadership, fuelling my determination to push boundaries and strive for the seemingly impossible in pursuit of positive change,” says Siphilangenkosi Dlamini, Assistant Coordinator of the Initiative for Creative African Narratives (ICAN) in the Centre for Teaching and Learning and a student in Political Governance and Transformation.
Dlamini has served in numerous leadership roles – from President of the Fakazi Combined School RCL in 2013 up to his current position as President of the UFS Chapter of the United Nations Association of South Africa. “What inspired me to take this position, was my commitment to the United Nations’ principles and values, with a focus on advocating for peace, sustainability, and social justice within the university community,” he says.
Other highlights in Dlamini’s activist career include serving as the Interim Chair of the African Youth Business Council and driving discussions on the African Union Continental Free Trade Area. He also founded Lihawu Industries PTY LTD, where he facilitated 7 698 placements in South African institutions through Operation Siyafundza, providing disadvantaged youth with access to higher education.
Dlamini champs curriculum decolonisation and equitable, inclusive education. Among others, he served as a member of the South African Students Congress (SASCO), was a FeesMustFall activist, and has been involved in the call for free education in South Africa since its inception in 2016. He tirelessly advocates for youth voices, sustainable development, and positive change in the region, making a significant impact with his initiatives.
Intravarsity brings Kovsie Campuses together
2012-05-09
 |
|
Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses find each other in sport, arts and culture.
|
|
Intravarsity Photo Gallery
|
|
Intravarsity
Two campuses, one university, students coming together for a weekend filled with sport, arts and culture. That was the backdrop to Intravarsity 2012, which was held at the University of the Free State (UFS) on 4 and 5 May 2012.
Students from the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses came together on the Main Campus to compete in soccer, netball, cross-country, basketball, debating and chess.
The Qwaqwa Campus raked up victories in soccer with their men’s and women’s teams beating their Bloemfontein counterparts. The women’s team won 3-2, while the men triumphed with 1-0.
Bloemfontein Campus beat Qwaqwa Campus 34-12 in netball, 2-0 in chess and 36-34 in basketball.
However, Intravarsity is not just about sport. Students from the two campuses also engaged in art, cultural and leadership events. These events included a musical festival with top local DJs and a leadership breakfast attended by the student leadership from both campuses.
Talking at the leadership breakfast, Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo, Head of the Centre for Africa Studies, urged student leaders to strive for selfless leadership. “We want our student leaders to be better leaders than we are. Perhaps at one moment some of you may end up leading this country. I hope when your time comes you will save South Africa from the democratisation of shamelessness and corruption, which has gained the upper hand.”
Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, told the student leaders that the institution was in crisis five years ago. “Today our campuses are together. I hope the significance of the weekend is not lost.”
Intravarsity 2012 replaced this year’s Intervarsity. The annual Intervarsity between the UFS and North-West University (NWU) has been postponed to 2013.
|
Kovsie student leaders discuss leadership at Intravarsity
 Student leaders from the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses attended a leadership breakfast during the Intravarsity weekend of 4 and 5 May 2012. The breakfast, held on the Main Campus, was hosted by the Division: Student Affairs.
Taking lessons in leadership from Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo, Head of the Centre for Africa Studies, the Kovsie student leaders discussed the duties and responsibilities of leadership, not only on our campuses but also throughout the country.
Highlighting the role of student leadership Prof. Kondlo told students they needed to be active partners in building a cohesive and united university.
“Student leadership is important in the life of any university; it creates conditions the university requires for the construction and production of knowledge. This is very important; hence cooperation between student leadership and management is so vital.”
Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo’s speech that he delivered at the leadership breakfast. (pdf format)
|