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14 March 2024 | Story Kagiso Ngake | Photo SUPPLIED
Prof Petersen and Dr Thelma John David
Prof Petersen and Dr Thelma John David, the Consul General of India in Durban.

The University of the Free State (UFS) proudly welcomed Dr Thelma John David, the Consul General of India, to Durban, South Africa, on 27 February 2024. The UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Francis Petersen extended a warm reception to the distinguished guest.

Accompanied by Prem Sagar Kesarapu, Head of Chancery at the Consulate General, Dr David engaged in fruitful discussions with key figures at the UFS, including Prof Lynette Jacobs, Acting Director of the Office for International Affairs (OIA); Kagiso Ngake, responsible for the Partnerships portfolio in the OIA; Prof Hussein Solomon, Senior Professor in the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies, known for spearheading collaborative efforts across India; and Dr Jared McDonald, Chief of Staff in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

The meeting centred on exploring opportunities for academic exchange programmes, research partnerships, and cultural exchanges. Concrete plans were devised to enhance and fortify collaboration between the UFS, the Consulate General in Durban, and higher education institutions in India.

Expressing gratitude for the visit, Prof Petersen underscored its significance in strengthening bonds between the UFS and India. He emphasised the pivotal role of international collaborations in academia to foster diversity and global understanding.

Dr David echoed Prof Petersen's sentiments, emphasising the role of education and collaboration in building bridges between nations. She commended the UFS for its commitment to excellence in higher education and expressed enthusiasm to explore future partnerships.

UFS Fosters strong collaborative ties with Indian institutions across diverse fields

The UFS takes pride in its extensive collaboration network with various Indian universities and research institutions, spanning diverse academic disciplines. This dynamic partnership promotes knowledge exchange, research advancements, and academic growth in physics, chemistry, health sciences, and social sciences.

Notable collaborations include ongoing projects led by the UFS Veterinary Biotechnology Group with Saife VetMed (India) on potential commercial products. Another project involves collaboration with Ventri Biologicals, India’s largest poultry vaccine manufacturer, focusing on developing effective vaccines against infectious coryza.

Additionally, the Department of Pharmacology, under the expertise of Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa in Indigenous Knowledge Systems, collaborates with the SRM Institute of Science and Technology in India on traditional medicines.

For more information on current and potential collaboration with universities and research institutes in India, please contact Kagiso Ngake at ngakekm@ufs.ac.za.

News Archive

UFS Law Clinic launches Access to Justice Cluster in the Eastern Free State
2010-05-13

In order to initiate support services for various paralegal associations in the Eastern Free State, the Law Clinic at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently launched the Free State Access to Justice Cluster. The cluster that is funded by Atlantic Philanthropists is managed by the UFS Law Clinic as part of their community engagement initiatives.

The overall objective of the cluster is to increase access to justice to rural and indigent communities in the region. Furthermore, quality legal services will be provided to all individuals and groups whose fundamental rights have been abused; the professional capacity of paralegals will be improved; and workshops will be facilitated to inform communities regarding their rights and duties to empower them.

Adv. Inez Bezuidenhout from the UFS Law Clinic says, “The clinic envisages reaching the aforesaid objectives through the provision of support legal services; providing training, assisting with the dissemination of information and lobbying for a stronger and an expanded network of stakeholders in the access to justice arena.”

This initial meeting, attended by various delegates from the Eastern Free State region, was mainly geared towards the identification of challenges and to establish solutions to the problems experienced by paralegals in the provision of legal services in rural communities.

“The cluster is a non-governmental organisation independent of any political party or religious affiliation. It comprises different organisations all aimed at assisting indigent community members with access to justice,” says Adv. Bezuidenhout.

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