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UFS among top ten Best Value Universities for International Students in SA

18 January 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Kaleidoscope

UFS students — Study Abroad Aide (SAA) recently ranked the University of the Free State (UFS) as the eighth best value university for international students among 39 universities in South Africa.

Study Abroad Aide (SAA) recently ranked the University of the Free State (UFS) as the eighth best value university for international students among 39 universities in South Africa and placed the university among the top 13% of universities in the Best Value University World Rankings.

Eight thousand and sixty higher education institutions assessed

SAA, based in South Korea and the sister company of Global Scholarships (the leading scholarship database for international students), is the world’s largest and most comprehensive database of universities. Roxanne Naguinlin, the University Database Lead at SAA, states that they had 1,6 million visitors in 2022.

SAA has published its list of 1 000 Best Value Universities for International Students. According to its website, these rankings highlight the universities that offer high-quality education at an affordable price. It states, “SAA continues to provide rankings to help aspiring international students choose their next educational destination. By having the 1 000 Best Value Universities, we aim to provide a helpful list of choices for international students.”

“We are thrilled to share that your institution will kick off the year 2024 with recognition, as it has earned its spot in our latest rankings,” says Naguinlin, mentioning that their rankings assessed 8 060 private and public higher education institutions in 69 countries.

According to her, the rankings identify the institutions that offer the best quality education while remaining within most students’ budgets. “To achieve this, it evaluates universities based on both academic quality and the difference between the university’s tuition fees and the country’s average tuition fees.”

Academic quality accounts for 75% of the institution’s evaluation

The most important factors that learners consider when choosing a university are academic quality, which accounts for 75% of the institution’s evaluation and is based on academic reputation, and tuition fees, which comprise the remaining 25% of the evaluation and are included to gauge the institution’s affordability.

Being included in the SAA’s best value rankings not only exposes the UFS to a wider international audience, but it also reflects where the university stands among its peers and provides a perfect opportunity for institutions to champion their excellent academic reputation.

In a statement released by SAA, it declared that it offers a platform not just for students but also for universities to thrive and prosper. “Study Abroad Aide hopes that the Best Value Rankings will encourage international students to live their dreams and universities to continue providing high-quality education at a low cost.”

A comprehensive internationalisation approach

Prof Lynette Jacobs, Acting Director and Research Portfolio Lead: Office for International Affairs, believes this ranking indicates the UFS’ success in creating an internationalised and multicultural institution, providing students with opportunities to engage with different cultures, perspectives, and academic approaches. She says the UFS follows a comprehensive internationalisation approach, striving to infuse intercultural and international dimensions in all aspects of the university’s being. Prof Jacobs thinks that international students and staff are an integral part of the endeavour and appreciates the value that they add to the institution in terms of diversity.

"The Office for International Affairs serves as a one-stop shop for internationalisation, for instance providing numerous programmes to support international students from enrolment to graduation. Diversity and inclusion are integral aspects of our internationalisation efforts," she states.

News Archive

FF Plus court case against UFS withdrawn

2007-10-23

The University of the Free State (UFS) is pleased to announce that a Supreme Court application to have the racial integration of its student residences set aside has been withdrawn unconditionally by the Freedom Front Plus (FF+). The political party has offered to pay the assessed costs of the UFS.

The Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Prof. Frederick Fourie, welcomed this decision by the FF+, saying all energy should now be focused on making a success of this very important nation-building initiative in the student residences. “We have been convinced all the time that we had followed a fair and inclusive consultation process which led to a thorough and well-considered decision by the Council,” he said.

The decision to integrate student residences as from January 2008 was approved by the UFS Council on 8 June 2007. This last decision was confirmed by the Council – which is the highest decision making body at the UFS - on 14 September 2007 with an overwhelming majority, with only one vote against.

“There is now no legal obstacle to student participation in the work being done to implement Council’s decision. In fact I want to urge all students in our residences to play an active role in implementing Council’s decision,” he said.

According to Prof. Fourie much work has been done in preparation for the intake of first-years into the residences in January 2008.

Since the initial decision of 8 June 2007, the Vice-Rector: Student Affairs, Dr Ezekiel Moraka, has been leading a team of staff members and student representatives who are doing work in various sub-task teams.

“One of the main reasons for working in this way through sub-task teams, is to ensure the widest possible participation of the affected students in the implementation of the Council’s decision,” said Prof. Fourie.

These sub-task teams are working on aspects of residence life in order to make the racial integration of residences as successful as possible. These aspects of residence life include, among others:

governance structures
traditions and character of residences
diversity education and training
security
placement and recruitment

“This list is not exhaustive, but merely to illustrate the kinds of areas being looked into. I would like to encourage all students in residences to make an input into the work of these sub-task teams through the primes, the Student Representative Council (SRC) or through the offices of the Dean or the Deputy Dean of Student Affairs.

“We have already begun to implement an interpreting service at the house meetings of three ladies residences, namely Emily Hobhouse, Roosmaryn and Vergeet-my-nie. From next year this service will be extended to other residences on the Main Campus,” said Prof. Fourie.

“In the light of withdrawal of the court case, I am appealing to all students in our residences, to join hands with fellow students and with management in creating a campus of respect and appreciation for all languages, cultures and backgrounds,” he said.

“We want our students to assist the UFS in successfully managing the rich diversity on this campus, particularly in its student residences, and in so doing become an example to South Africa of a truly non-racial, multi-cultural and multi-lingual campus, where students are appropriately educated for the workplace,” Prof. Fourie said.

Media release issued by:
Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za

23 October 2007

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