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UFS welcomes 2025’s new student cohort at two campuses

20 February 2025 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Kaleidoscope

Dream Walk 2025 — First-year students celebrate the start of their academic journey at the University of the Free State (UFS) during the 2025 FTEN Welcoming event.

The University of the Free State (UFS) officially welcomed its 2025 cohort of first-time entering students (FTENs) at ceremonies held at its Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses on Saturday 15 February.

The events marked the culmination of the university’s FTEN Welcoming and Orientation Programme, which began with a Parents Information Session in December 2024.

The Institutional VC Welcoming and Dream Walk ceremonies at the Qwaqwa and Bloemfontein Campuses were attended by Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS; Prof Prince Ngobeni, Qwaqwa Campus Principal; the UFS’s executive and academic leadership; and members of the Student Representative Council (SRC) alongside the vibrant class of 2025.

The FTENs participated in a series of activities, including dance challenges that could win them prizes. “I felt overjoyed, and I also felt welcomed,” said first-year BCom Accounting student Omphile Khomari. “The entire experience was enlightening in a lot of aspects as far as the UFS is concerned.”

Words of wisdom

Gerben van Niekerk, Head of Student Experience at the UFS and host of the ceremony at the Bloemfontein Campus, encouraged the students to reflect on the significance of this moment. “See the sacrifices you’ve made to be a part of this community, see the late-night study sessions, feel the determination that fuelled your efforts, and acknowledge the strength that resides in you,” he said. Van Niekerk also encouraged the students to envision the type of people they want to become as part of the UFS community.

The first-time experience for the new students was also a first for Prof Klopper, who became the UFS’s new Vice-Chancellor from 1 February. In her speech at both events she highlighted that the ceremony was a special moment for both her and the students. “I want to congratulate all of you, because by choosing the University of the Free State for your higher education studies, you have joined the winning team,” she added.

Prof Klopper encouraged students to work hard and persevere through all the challenges of university studies and urged them to follow three key steps to ensure their personal success: take advantage of the opportunities provided by the UFS beyond the lecture halls, such as the university’s cultural and sporting offerings; lean on the UFS support structures such as the Student Counselling and Development Office (SCD) and the Food Environment Office; and embrace and embody the UFS values contained in the university’s Vision 130 strategic plan, including ‘excellence’, ‘innovation and impact’, ‘accountability’, ‘care’, ‘social justice’, and ‘sustainability’.

Prof Ngobeni echoed the Vice-Chancellor’s sentiments in a heartfelt address in which he also urged students to make use of the support structures available on campus.

At the end of the ceremonies, students wrote their dreams and aspirations for their time at the UFS on dream cards.

The students at the Bloemfontein Campus hung their cards on railings along the way, as they took part in the UFS’s iconic ‘Dream Walk’ tradition, in which the new students and the university leadership walk together from the Callie Human Centre to the Main Building. Students at the Qwaqwa Campus handed their cards in as they walked from the Mandela Hall to the sports field. These walks symbolise the beginning of the FTENs’ journeys at the UFS. “I’m really looking forward to learning new things, meeting new people and having fun as a member of this community,” said first-year BCom Accounting student Enzo Ernest.

News Archive

Number of NRF-rated researchers increases in 2012

2012-10-29

29 October 2012

Three researchers at the University of the Free State received B-ratings for 2013 from the National Research Foundation (NRF). Prof. Johan Henning, Dean of Law, obtained the highest rating in his field of mercantile law in South Africa, a B1.

Prof. Jackie Naudé from Classical and Near Eastern Studies and Prof. Dingie Janse van Rensburg, Professor Extraordinary at the Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, also obtained B3-ratings. Prof. Naudé is the first B-rated researcher in the Faculty of Humanities.

Prof. Helene Strauss obtained the highest rating (Y1) for a UFS young scholar in the Humanities.

In total, the NRF rated researchers at the UFS grew from 95 in 2011 to 109 in 2012, a growth of almost 15 percent.

The NRF ratings committee consist of three reviewers from South Africa and three from abroad. A rating is valid for six years and researchers must reapply for rating before the end of that period.

For a B1-rating all reviewers must be firmly convinced that the applicant enjoys considerable international recognition for the high quality of the researcher’s recent output, with some indicating that the researcher is a leading international scholar in a field. For a B3-rating most of the reviewers must be convinced that the researcher enjoys international recognition for the high quality and impact of the research.

Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, said in the UFS Research Report “The UFS now has among the highest number of NRF-rated scientists per size of the academic faculty and we have seen the productivity graph bear witness to a record growth in our funded research outputs; we have won our first-ever NRF/DST Research Chairs. In each of these achievements, the excellence we seek comes with and through the diversity we celebrate.”

More ratings and renewals were expected by the time of Bult went to print.. More than 35 researchers applied for ratings or renewal of ratings.

Colleagues who were admitted to the prestigious Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) are Profs. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Driekie Hay, Heidi Hudson, Lodewyk Kock, Odireleng Ntwaeaborwa, Hugh Patterton, Ian Phimister and Melanie Walker. ASSAf was established in 1996 with the mission of using science for the benefit of society. New members are elected after nomination by four existing members (at least two of whom do so from personal knowledge of the candidate). ASSAf has some 350 members and represents South Africa in the international community of science academies.
Dr Marieka Gryzenhout of Plant Sciences became a member of South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS). SAYAS celebrated its first year in 2012. It was launched as a means to enable South Africa’s young scientists to fully participate in locally and internationally relevant research and development agendas. Prof. Aldo Stroebel, Director: Internationalisation, is also a member of SAYAS.

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