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07 March 2024
Photo Lunga Luthuli
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.
Karla’s name appears on match balls in 2016 again
2015-10-22
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She was not destined to reach and win a third Varsity Netball title in 2015, but Karla Mostert still managed to end her last series on a high note.
The University of the Free State (UFS) Netball captain was named Player of the Tournament for the second consecutive year on Monday 19 October 2015.
Therefore, her name will still appear on the balls for the 2016 Varsity Netball series. Mostert, who due to her age will not be eligible to play in the series next year, was also Player of the Tournament last year, with her name appearing on the balls this year. All 31 games during 2015 were played with balls adorned with her name.
This is a consolation prize to Kovsies, as they lost unexpectedly against Pukke by 48-56 in the semi-finals played in the Callie Human Centre on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus on 12 October 2015. Pukke won the series for the first time on Monday 19 October 2015, when they thrashed Maties 50-37 in Stellenbosch.
The 25-year-old Mostert, whose nickname is Chits, has been a great stalwart for Kovsies over the years, and has had many successes with the team. She was also named as the Brutal Fruit Player of the Tournament earlier this year.
The Protea player, who was one of South Africa’s stars during the 2015 World Cup, will be playing netball for Bath in England next year, together with Lenize Potgieter.