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07 January 2025 | Story Gerda-Marie van Rooyen | Photo Supplied
KovsieX
KovsieX offers a comprehensive digital experience through podcasts, video content, and social media. This initiative is set to transform the student experience, creating a strong sense of belonging and collaboration across campuses.

Optimising student experience while providing students with multimedia training using state-of-the-art equipment and aligning with Vision 130, KovsieX is set to become a great asset to the university, its students, and the community. 

This initiative, approved by the UFS Rectorate on 29 November 2023, combines various student media brands on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa campuses (KovsieFM, Q-Lit, KovsieTV, KovsieCAST) into a unified brand consisting of three student-driven sub-departments. This includes audio (radio and podcasts), video (long and short form), and social media (including TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube). 

An all-digital approach 

Gerben van Niekerk, Head of Student Experience (KovsieX), explains: “This all-digital approach leverages digital radio, podcasts, and social media platforms to create a sense of belonging among students by reflecting on and leading student life across the campuses.” KovsieX has achieved remarkable success, reaching an audience of more than 1,2 million in the first semester alone, with multiple TikTok videos surpassing 100 000 views. 

“Recognising the evolving radio landscape, our approach integrates a comprehensive digital strategy to adapt to changing media consumption preferences and provide students with hands-on experience on emerging platforms, strengthening their market relevance. KovsieX (previously KovsieFM) moves away from traditional FM broadcasting and has enabled the students to cover a wider range of topics that affect the Kovsie community,” says Van Niekerk. He adds, “The essence of KovsieX can be summarised in our one-word slogan: IMAGINE.”  

KovsieX supports Vision 130, as it leverages emerging technologies to enrich academic and non-academic student experiences. Furthermore, it also provides students with the opportunity to gain on-the-job and leadership experience in the KovsieX executive committee (KovsieXco), comprising a small group of ‘dynamic and highly talented students’, with their first objective: to decide on a brand name and setting on KovsieX – with the ‘X’ referring to experience. 

A mobile app provides students with easier access to KovsieX’s content. This initiative is set to increase students’ experience even more, as possible partnerships are in the pipeline to deliver a year-long dialogue series on themes pertinent to students. “This initiative will engage students on key issues such as leadership, mental health, heritage, and anti-discrimination through a blend of digital content – including interviews, social media posts, and expert discussions – and live on-campus events.”  

State-of-the-art facilities 

The construction of the KovsieX Pod on the Bloemfontein Campus allows students to produce content in a state-of-the-art podcast and video studio with Apple Mac workstations and a meeting room. A similar space in the current Student Media Building on the Qwaqwa Campus, named the KovsieX Q-Pod, is on the cards, as is the integration of KovsieX across the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa campuses. “KovsieX will be broadcast from two locations and will, therefore, allow students from both campuses to interact with one another live on air. Both radio studios will be rebuilt to allow students to stream directly on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok from both campuses simultaneously. This is made possible by cutting edge cloud-based software – popular in Europe – but KovsieX will be the first to leverage this technology in the country,” shares Van Niekerk.

News Archive

Digital Storytelling empowers and liberates students
2014-10-17

In January 2014, Jode Brexa, an American Fulbright scholar, came to our university and moved into the guest room at Welwitschia residence.

It so happened that Brexa and Elize Rall, residence head of Welwitschia – better known as Wel-Wel – started talking about digital storytelling. Brexa’s Digital Storytelling project captured Rall’s imagination. Shortly thereafter, Brexa convinced the RC members of Wel-Wel to participate in the project.

Digital storytelling is, on the most basic level, the use of computer-based resources to tell stories. The idea is to combine the art of storytelling with multimedia – including graphics, photos, text, audio, image and/or music.

The Wel-Wel students were taught storytelling skills and each student’s unique story was recorded and edited. It was so successful that they then showed their stories to the Rector and Dean of Students. Brexa will now – with their permission – take their stories to America with her, where she will share it with her community.

During the weekend of 10–12 October 2014, the RC of Wel-Wel introduced 12 learners, who are currently in Grade 10 at the Christiaan Liphoko School, to the project. The learners stayed in the gazellie for the weekend and, in the course of a few days, learned how much power is locked up in their personal stories. They learned that everyone’s story has the power to inspire and empower.

Wel-Wel has been involved in various outreach projects to the community. However, this was the first time that Wel-Wel literally brought the community to their doorstep. This is also not a charitable project. It is uplifted students reaching out to the youth to empower them in order to empower others in turn.

Meanwhile, Brexa also linked the project to the university’s Schools Partnership Project. The programme works through mentorship programmes to uplift previously disadvantaged schools. Hands were also taken with Columba Leadership NGO – financed by Old Mutual.

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