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UFS shines at international student success conference

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

Additional and ad hoc examinations as well as results

2017-01-11

Additional Examination

Additional examinations will be arranged for students who are unable to write the main examination during the period 24 November 2016 to 14 December 2016 (excluding the Faculty of Health Sciences).

The additional examinations will take place from 4 January 2017 to 16 January 2017.
Application forms are available at the Examination Department and online at KovsieLife.

Closing date for all additional examination applications: 14 December 2016.
The Examination Department will notify students of the outcome via e-mail.

Procedure:
•   Completed applications will be handed in at the Examination Department.
•   The Examination Department will notify students of the outcome via e-mail.
•   Students must refer to the official examination timetable for their personal timetable.

For more information, please contact Anneline Dyers on dyersaf@ufs.ac.za

Ad hoc Examinations

Ad hoc examinations will be arranged for students who are unable to write the main and additional examinations in the periods 24 November to 14 December and 4 January 2017 to 16 January 2017, respectively (excluding the Faculty of Health Sciences).

The ad hoc examinations will take place from 23 to 27 January 2017.
Application forms are available at the Examination Department.

Closing date for all ad hoc applications: 14 December 2016.
The Examination Department will notify students of the outcome via e-mail.

Procedure:
•   Completed applications must be handed in at the Examination Department.
•   The Examination Department will electronically send applications, including supporting documents, to the respective deans and the Registrar (Governance) for approval.
•   The Examination Department will notify students of the outcome via e-mail.
•   The Examination Department will arrange a venue for the examinations.

For more information, please contact Alfredine Majiedt on majiedtay@ufs.ac.za

Results

Provisional examination results for the main and additional examinations will be posted onto a student’s record seven (7) working days after the relevant examination. Should students require their provisional results, they may access it via Self-Service on KovsieLife.

Official examination results will only be available on 1 February 2017.

For more information, please contact Edwin Crouch on crouchej@ufs.ac.za

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