Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
04 April 2025 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Supplied
Robson Nkosi
Robson Nkosi in his academic regalia at the graduation for his honours degree.

Robson Siphosihle Nkosi's journey is a compelling narrative of resilience, determination, and academic achievement – a story that resonates deeply within the University of the Free State (UFS) community. Born in Mpumalanga and raised under challenging circumstances, Nkosi's path to academic success is a testament to his unwavering spirit.

 

Unwavering determination

His early life was marked by significant loss, having been raised initially by his grandmother, and subsequently by his mother, who tragically passed away just before his final year of high school at Bee Maseko Secondary School, a quintile 1 school in Sheepmoor, Mpumalanga. Facing financial hardship, he relied on the support of friends to complete his matriculation.

Despite these adversities, Nkosi's determination shone through. With the invaluable assistance of his high school teacher, Mokoena Libakiso – whom he now considers his mother – he applied to the UFS to pursue a teaching degree. Although initially accepted, funding delays resulted in his offer being withdrawn. Securing funding later, he enrolled in a BSocSci degree, majoring in Communication Science and Sociology, demonstrating his adaptability and commitment to higher education.

Nkosi’s initial aspiration to switch to a Bachelor of Education degree was redirected by the NSFAS N+1 rule. However, he refocused his goals, setting his sights on a PhD and a career in higher education lecturing. This strategic vision fuelled his academic pursuits.


Leadership. Excellence. PhD.

His leadership skills were honed during his final undergraduate year, serving as the Qwaqwa Campus SRC Deputy President and ISRC Treasurer General. His academic excellence was consistently recognised through academic merit bursaries and the UFS Partial Tuition Fee Bursary, which supported his honours studies. Living in Botshabelo and commuting to Bloemfontein, Nkosi demonstrated his dedication.

During his honours year, he not only excelled as a student, but also as a tutor and Career Ambassador. His academic prowess led to an invitation from his honours lecturer, Yzelle Du Plessis, to facilitate Communication Science classes. He completed his honours degree cum laude, specialising in Leadership Communication.

Nkosi's academic journey continued with a master’s in communication science, funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF). Simultaneously, he gained practical teaching experience as a junior lecturer. He recently completed his master's degree and is now pursuing a PhD in Communication Science, while continuing to teach final-year and honours students on the Bloemfontein Campus.


A life dedicated to education and leadership

His short-term goal is to secure a permanent lecturing position, while his long-term ambition is to become a professor of Communication Science and potentially assume a leadership role in higher education, the public sector, or civil society.

Robson Nkosi's story is a powerful example of resilience, academic excellence, and the transformative impact of education. His dedication and gratitude to those who supported him underscore the importance of community and mentorship. He stands as an inspiration to the UFS community, demonstrating that with determination and perseverance, even the most challenging circumstances can be overcome.

News Archive

Strategic Plan for 2012-2016 launched
2012-06-07

Strategic Plan: 2012 - 2016

 
Message from Prof. Jonathan D. Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector (video clip)


University of the Free State: Strategic Plan for 2012 - 2016 (pdf format)

Vision
A university recognised across the world for excellence in academic achievement and in human reconciliation.

Mission
The university will pursue this vision through its mission:

  • Setting the highest standards for undergraduate and postgraduate education.
  • Recruiting the best and most diverse students and professors into the university.
  • Advancing excellence in the scholarship of research, teaching and public service.
  • Demonstrating in everyday practice the value of human togetherness and solidarity across social and historical divides.
  • Advancing social justice by creating multiple opportunities for disadvantaged students to access the university.
  • Promoting innovation, distinctiveness and leadership in both academic and human pursuits.
  • Establishing transparent opportunities for lifelong learning for academic and support staff.

Values
The following five core values represent deeply-held commitments that inform every policy and steer every action. These values underpin both the Academic Project and the Human Project of this university.

  • Superior Scholarship
  • Human Embrace
  • Institutional Distinctiveness
  • Emergent Leadership
  • Public Service

Motto
IN VERITATE SAPIENTIAE LUX
(In Truth is the Light of Wisdom)

 

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept