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One-room magic: UFS' immersive classrooms redefine learning

29 August 2025 | Story Igno van Niekerk | Photo Stephen Collett

The university is transforming education across its Bloemfontein, Qwaqwa, and South campuses with its pioneering one-room spaces, mirrored across all three locations to deliver cutting-edge, immersive learning. Research for these innovative spaces began in 2023, sparked by a photo from the University of Leuven in Belgium, which the university identified as showcasing Leuven’s advanced classroom setup. Prof Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, leveraging a connection there, led a team to explore this technology globally, collaborating with Canada’s X2O OneRoom to make the UFS the first in South Africa – and one of (as far as we know) two in Africa, alongside Kenya – to offer such immersive classrooms.

Unlike Zoom or Blackboard, where online students were often overlooked as small icons, one-room spaces ensure that everyone feels included. Designed for postgraduate training and PhD interactions, these rooms accommodate up to 40 in-person and 40 online participants, with large video camera feeds on screens, reminiscent of the TV programme Small Talk, where children’s faces lined the wall for engagement. Directional audio and personal cameras create a sensory experience, with sound coming from the speaker’s direction and eye contact feeling natural. Angelique Carson-Porter from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics shared her excitement about a postgraduate session led by Prof Aletta Olivier, Lecturer in the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies: “It feels like you’re right there, even from Pretoria or Ghana. You see everyone, interact, and never miss a beat.”

Gavin Coetzer at ICT Services, a key project leader, highlighted how lecturers struggled with older platforms’ limitations, often only addressing online questions at the end, disrupting the flow. The UFS’ one-room spaces, implemented in the UFS Business School, the Clinical Skills Unit, South Campus teacher training, and Qwaqwa, solve this with breakout sessions and global conference support. While other universities rely on Teams, the UFS’ user-friendly tech, with around 24 screens and ceiling microphones, allows lecturers to focus on teaching.

Staying ahead of tech trends is challenging, but the university is excelling, making education inclusive, engaging, and truly global.

News Archive

SRC President to advocate for all students during term

2017-04-10

Skhululekile Luwaca, the newly elected SRC President
on the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Johan Roux

With a grateful heart, Sikhulekile Luwaca takes up his position as Student Representative Council (SRC) President on the Bloemfontein Campus, after the results of the election were announced on 29 March 2017.

An integrated leader

Sikhulekile, known as SK among his peers, said that as a leader, he needed to integrate himself with the student community, and from there he would have the influence to make an impact on society. “I believe in being an open-minded leader who is open to engagement and peaceful resolutions.”

SK said he would like to represent the interest of all students and invited them to raise their concerns. By the end of his term, he wanted to have achieved a number of goals, which include the integration of off-campus students and to provide a shuttle service for them. He said he also wanted to establish and launch an SRC fund. Furthermore he plans to make sure that all structures of student governance are functional, to name but a few.

2017 SRC candidates

The SRC members at the Bloemfontein Campus are:

President: Sikhulekile Luwaca
Vice-President: Surprise Manyaiyi
Secretary: Nothando Hlophe
Treasurer: Ntombi Nhlapo
Student Development and Environmental Affairs: Silindelokuhle Mthethwa
Transformation: Mathlodi Leteane
Arts and Culture: Joseph Ntebele
Sport: Nombulelo Booi
Media and Marketing: Refilwe Motsumi
Student Accessibility and Support: Donald Litsoane
Legal and Constitutional Affairs: John Modukanele
First Generation Students: Mohau Lesebo
Academic Student Council: Sekese Rasephei
Rag and Community Service: Gert Jan van der Walt
Day Residence and Commuter Student Council: Gontse Choane
Postgraduate Student Council: Mpoi Makhetha
International Student Council: Takudzwa Nyamunda
On Campus Residence Council: Natasha Kabaso
Dialogue and Associations Council: Asive Dlanjwa
Student Media Council: Puseletso Mashego

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