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Prof Per Assmo from University West, Sweden and Prof Anthea Rhoda from the UFS signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will develop academic cooperation across fields such as research, student and academic exchanges, and collaborative projects.

The University of the Free State (UFS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with University West, Sweden. Held at the UFS Business School on the Bloemfontein Campus, the event saw the signing of the agreement by Prof Anthea Rhoda, acting UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal, and Prof Per Assmo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Internationalisation at University West. The partnership aims to develop academic cooperation across fields such as research, student and academic exchanges, and collaborative projects.

This MOU opens the door to a wide range of collaborative initiatives, including academic and researcher exchanges for the purposes of teaching, conducting lectures, conducting research, and exchanging expertise. Additionally, the MOU includes student exchange programmes, joint research projects, and the shared hosting of seminars and conferences.

Prof Rhoda shared her enthusiasm to incorporate work-integrated learning (WIL) more widely at the UFS. “We are looking at work-integrated learning as an extension of engaged scholarship. It is something that we're looking forward to expanding,” she said.

Building a connected community

Prof Assmo explained that their institution, though small, has a unique approach that focuses on both production technology and work-integrated learning – a teaching model that goes beyond internships to provide students with practical, hands-on experience. "For us, WIL is a research field and academic discipline in its own right," he said.

University West is also the only university in the world to offer a PhD specifically in WIL, a programme it spent 20 years developing.

“We want to collaborate with South Africa as a strategic partner,” he said. The University West is already actively working with several South African universities, including the UFS, the Central University of Technology, the University of the Western Cape, and Tshwane University of Technology. “This would be the core for us, where we collaborate and find different forms within research and education, not restricted to any faculty or field as such.”

His vision also includes forming a larger ‘Nordic hub’ of connections across Sweden, Norway, and the European Union, along with a ‘regional hub’ in Bloemfontein. This way, universities can share ideas and resources to build a stronger, more connected community for the future.

A need for work-integrated learning

A working example of this partnership between University West and the UFS is the collaborative focus on integrated learning between Prof Liezel Massyn, Associate Professor in the UFS Business School, and Prof Kristina Areskoug Josefsson, Professor in Work-integrated Learning and Health Science from University West. They have a mutual commitment to improve educational practices through international partnerships and to advance integrated learning strategies. Together, they have already co-authored a research article and presented their findings at five conferences this year.

Prof Massyn said she realised that there is a need for work-integrated learning, specifically in the UFS Business School. “Initially, I thought our students were working, so they didn't need the work-integrated learning component. I then realised it could actually add a lot more value.”

Prof Nicolene Barkhuizen, Director of the UFS Business School, highlighted how this venture aligns with the university’s Vision 130, which aims to expand the UFS’ global footprint. “This partnership is an optimisation of the collaboration to contribute to Vision 130, expanding our reach globally while bringing practical value locally. We are looking forward to a very fruitful collaboration,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, acting Dean Prof Frans Prinsloo discussed the potential for future projects. “Now that we have this collaboration agreement, there are many opportunities we can explore further,” he stated.

News Archive

Ensure your place at the UFS
2010-10-27

The University of the Free State (UFS) appeals to all prospective South African students who want to come and study at the UFS in 2011 to submit their applications no later than Tuesday, 30 November 2010.

The UFS is aware of the fact that learners will not have received their final Grade 12 results by Tuesday, 30 November 2010; therefore provisional admission will be granted based on learners’ most recent Grade 12 results. Final admission will take place upon receipt of the final Grade 12 results, which will be available early in January 2011.

Prospective students can obtain application forms for admission at the following places:

  1. The UFS’s web site at www.ufs.ac.za,
  2. The Information Office (Unit for Prospective Students) at the Thakaneng Bridge on the UFS’s Main Campus in Bloemfontein,
  3. You may also send an e-mail to info@ufs.ac.za or
  4. Phone 051 401 3000 and the necessary forms will be posted to you.

Senior undergraduate students (that is all students who were registered up to and during 2010 at the UFS) as well as post-graduate students, must self-register electronically on-line from Monday, 1 November 2010 until Tuesday, 4 January 2011. This includes master’s and doctoral students.

In order to encourage senior students to register online, the UFS offers 20 laptops as incentives for the senior students who successfully register online from 1 November 2010. These laptops will be handed over to the winners after the registration process in 2011.

Registration of first-year students:

The Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jonathan Jansen, will welcome first-year students on Friday, 14 January and Saturday, 15 January 2011, respectively, in the Callie Human Centre. The Faculties of Economic and Management Sciences, the Humanities and Education will be welcomed on 14 January 2011 and the students of the Faculties of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Law and Theology shall be welcomed on 15 January 2011. The compulsory orientation programme for new first-years will also then commence.

From 17 to 21 January 2011 first-year students will receive academic advice at the Callie Human Centre, whereafter they will be referred for self-registration. These processes will take place according to the set timetable. This timetable is available in the Kovsie Guide that will be sent to learners as soon as we have received their applications, as well as on the web site of the UFS at www.ufs.ac.za/register2011.

First-year students’ fees must be paid prior to arrival on 14 and 15 January 2011.

Registration of senior students:

Senior students who experience problems with the electronic on-line self-registration process have the opportunity to resolve problems within a programme on campus from Wednesday, 5 January until Wednesday, 12 January 2011. This programme will be sent out to students and is also available at www.ufs.ac.za/register2011. The specific scheduled day for senior students to resolve problems is the last and only day to resolve the problem.

Senior students can also contact 051 401 9111 for more information in this regard.

Students may register for prescribed modules for 2011, even though the November 2010 examination results are not yet available. Changes resulting from examination results that are made available later can be done up to and including 28 January 2011.

In terms of applications for senior students, only students who have interrupted a calendar year of study need to re-apply for admission.

Registration of students at the UFS’s Qwaqwa Campus:

Senior and first-year students of the UFS’s Qwaqwa Campus register from Wednesday, 12 January until Friday, 28 January 2011 in the Nelson Mandela Hall on this campus.

Registration of students at the UFS South Campus:

First-year students from the UFS’s South Campus in the University Preparation Programme and the Extended Programme (only Natural and Agricultural Sciences) register from Monday, 24 January till Friday, 28 January 2011 in the Arena Hall on the South Campus.

Students who have successfully completed the University Preparation Programme register with the first-year students on the UFS Main Campus on Friday, 14 and Saturday, 15 January 2011 – according to faculties (cf. paragraph 6).

Lectures for all students shall commence on Monday, 24 January 2011.

MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication (actg)
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za
26 October 2010

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