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07 March 2024 Photo Lunga Luthuli
Simphiwe Kunene and Prof Francois Strydom
Prof Francois Strydom, Senior Director at the Centre for Teaching and Learning and Simphiwe Kunene, the first African DREAM scholar and a master’s student from the Faculty of Education.

The University of the Free State (UFS) received recognition for its commitment to student success at the 2024 Achieving the Dream (ATD) conference which celebrated its 20-year anniversary. Simphiwe Kunene, an Education master's student originally from the Qwaqwa campus, was selected to represent South Africa as the first DREAM scholar from Africa as part of the conference.

The Achieving the Dream network of over 300 institutions, which is one of the largest movements in US higher education aims to transform colleges and universities so that students of colour and a lower socio-economic status are supported to earn a degree. The UFS is a leading partner in the Siyaphumelela Network, which has been working for 10 years with ATD to enhance the success of students in South Africa. Prof Francois Strydom, Senior Director at the Centre of Teaching and Learning (CTL), accepted the award on behalf of the institution.

Prof Strydom said that collaboration with the ATD and Siyaphumelela institutions has helped the UFS to develop cutting-edge approaches to “level the playing field” and support Kovsies to earn their undergraduate degrees.

The first African DREAM scholar

Kunene was selected as the first African DREAM scholar from the Siyaphumelela network. To select the DREAM scholar, each Siyaphumelela partner institution nominated one student as a preferred candidate. From the proposed candidates, the DREAM scholar was selected by the South African Institute for Distance Education (Saide) based on the following: demonstrating resilience, academic excellence, and a deep commitment to making a positive difference in universities and personal communities.

He addressed the conference of over 2 000 delegates and shared with them his hopes and dreams. Many members of the South African delegation said Simphiwe did his country proud. He had the following to say about his opportunity to be a DREAM scholar: “Being a DREAM scholar was life changing for me, exposing me to an array of opportunities I never knew were possible and available for me. It was as if, for a moment, the world had stopped to just listen to what I had to say."

The way forward

The UFS will continue its work as a partner of the Siyaphumelela network for the 2024-2026 cycle. The multi-stakeholder project team is focused on enhancing undergraduate students’ time, and to position the UFS as a thought and research leader in the area of student success as part of Vision 130.  

News Archive

Sevens rugby adds to KovsieSport titles
2015-04-29

Photo: Varsitysportssa.com

KovsieSport has added yet another trophy to their ever-growing collection when they won the Varsity Sevens rugby tournament over the long weekend. 

The undisputed UFS sevens team outwitted the University of Pretoria (UP) with a 24-19 score in the final match at Villager FC in Cape Town on Monday 27 April 2015.

Trailing behind 7-12 at half time, the UFS sevens fought hard in the second half. Crossing the try line twice in those 10 minutes secured final victory for the team who had also finished the group stages at the top of the standings.

Throughout the tournament, the UFS were unbeaten. They beat the Walter Sisulu University 26-17 in their first match of the weekend. Continuing on their winning way, the UFS beat North-West University Pukke 43-12, overwhelmed University of Cape Town Ikeys 44-14, thrashed University of Fort Hare 36-0, and then toppled the Pukke again in the semifinal.

This was truly the best way for KovsieRugby to round off their 2015 Varsity Cup/Varsity Sports season.

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