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UFS Researcher expands global reach through prestigious Fellowship at Ghent University

25 June 2025 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath | Photo Lunga Luthuli

Dr Omololu Aluko, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biostatistics in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), recently completed a prestigious short research stay at Ghent University in Belgium. The fellowship, hosted in April 2025, was awarded through the highly competitive Africa Platform of Ghent University Association (GAP) funding scheme, with additional support from the UFS International Office.

A recognised expert in infectious disease modelling, particularly HIV/AIDS research in low-resource settings, Dr Aluko has devoted his academic career to using biostatistics to address pressing health challenges. His selection for this fellowship marks a significant achievement both for his individual research trajectory and for the broader ambitions of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the UFS.

Strategic steps towards international collaboration

The opportunity for the fellowship was first announced in the UFS Digest Newsletter. Motivated by the potential for international collaboration, Dr Aluko began seeking a host at Ghent University whose interests aligned with his own. After several weeks of correspondence with various departments and researchers, a suitable academic collaborator agreed to host him.

With a host confirmed, Dr Aluko submitted his application, which underwent a rigorous review and selection process. His proposal was shortlisted and ultimately approved. While Ghent University provided partial funding, supplementary financial support was secured through the UFS International Office. Dr Aluko credits the office’s assistance – especially the guidance of Mr Kagiso Ngake, Senior Officer: Partnerships – for helping him successfully secure the necessary resources.

Advancing research in health data science

During his time at Ghent University, Dr Aluko focused on the application of machine learning algorithms to address public health challenges – an increasingly important field within the Faculty of Health Sciences. His research demonstrated how advanced data analysis techniques can improve health outcomes and optimise treatment strategies, especially in resource-constrained settings.

Beyond the immediate research achievements, the fellowship laid a foundation for long-term collaboration between the UFS and Ghent University. Key outcomes include:

Opportunities for joint PhD supervision, allowing UFS students to conduct part of their research at Ghent University
Prospects for publishing collaborative research in leading international A1-rated journals
The identification of a promising young research collaborator, paving the way for future academic partnerships
Plans to explore future staff exchange programmes, as new funding calls are announced

A growing partnership in a new academic field

Dr Annelies Verdoolaege, Coordinator for the Africa Platform at Ghent University, emphasised the broader vision behind the initiative:

“The purpose of these fellowships is to foster structural academic collaboration between Ghent University and partners in Africa. We offer a dedicated amount of seed funding to support short-term mobility, with the aim of building long-term partnerships – through student exchange, joint PhDs, joint funding proposals, and collaborative research publications.

The UFS is a long-standing partner of Ghent University, especially in Education, Linguistics, and Agriculture. We are delighted that this fellowship has taken place in the field of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling - a scientific domain still to be fully developed between our institutions.”

Enhancing UFS’ global research impact

Dr Aluko’s successful fellowship reflects the high calibre of researchers at the UFS and illustrates the importance of international academic mobility. By securing this competitive opportunity, Dr Aluko not only advanced his own work but also strengthened the UFS’ global research footprint - opening new collaborative avenues and reinforcing the university's growing reputation in health sciences and data-driven research.

The UFS expresses its sincere gratitude to the Africa Platform of Ghent University and the UFS International Office for their critical support in enabling this milestone. Partnerships such as this are key to fulfilling the UFS’ mission of producing world-class research and fostering meaningful global engagement.

News Archive

UFS takes 70 first-year students to the USA

2010-08-20

Mr Rudi Buys (middle, with tie) with some of the students selected for the F1 Programme
Photo: Gerhard Louw

The University of the Free State (UFS) has announced the names of the first ever group of 70 first-year students that will travel to the United States of America (USA) as part of the university’s Student Leadership Development Programme.

This group of students will spend two weeks at universities in the USA to experience student life and learn about leadership and diversity at these universities.

“This is a first for not only the UFS, but also for South Africa and we are incredibly proud. The programme is unique to any other student leadership development programme in the country. We are leading the way and are taking students to live and learn amongst students at various universities across the USA,” said Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs at the UFS.

The programme was one of the goals of Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, which he aimed to realise when he was appointed by the UFS in 2009.

“With the programme we want to develop participants’ thinking and capacity to lead in the contexts of diversity and change and we hope to direct them to programmes leading change in student life in general upon their return,” Mr Buys said.

The 70 students will leave for the USA on 22 September 2010. After spending some time there and learning more about their American peers’ lives and culture, they will return to the UFS on 7 October 2010.

“We took great care in selecting the 70 participants. They are representative of all our students, as well as students from our Qwaqwa Campus,” said Mr Buys.

A rigorous selection process was followed, which focused on the students’ academic excellence, their participation in student- and residence-life programmes and their interest in growing in the areas of, amongst others, leadership, diversity and citizenship. Each candidate had to undergo a pre-selection process, followed by a panel interview consisting of staff from various faculties and divisions at the UFS.

The students will stay in groups of about ten at the various universities, which include universities such as Cornell University, New York University, the University of Massachusetts, the Appalachian State University and Virginia Polytechnic University. “These universities will provide our students with accommodation and will present various academic and cultural programmes which our students will participate in and learn from,” said Mr Buys.

“We have also put a programme in place to prepare our students thoroughly for the trip. Because some of them have never travelled on an aeroplane, let alone travelled to a foreign country, we have made arrangements with the Department of Home Affairs for assistance with travel documentation, as well as special arrangements with the USA Embassy for assistance with visas. They will also be attending workshops focusing on, amongst others, research, leadership and diversity before their departure on 22 September 2010.

“Upon their arrival in the USA the group of students will firstly be taken to Washington DC where they will be briefed about American customs, etc. From there they will be placed at the various universities,” said Mr Buys.

Upon their return the students must be involved in student-life programmes on campus, establish volunteer programmes and initiate and establish mentoring programmes for their fellow students. “We want them to give back what they have learnt and experienced,” said Mr Buys.

“We are planning on implementing the Student Leadership Development Programme as an annual programme and are looking forward to this incredible programme through which this group of first-year students will have the opportunity of a lifetime to be true ambassadors of South Africa and, in particular, the UFS, as they leave for the USA,” he said.

Media Release:
Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za
20 August 2010

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