Youth Month in South Africa is more than a commemoration. It is a reminder of courage, resistance, and the power of young people to drive change. Rooted in the memory of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, this month honours the students who stood up against an unjust system, demanding better – and who, in doing so, shaped the path of a nation.

This year’s national Youth Month theme, ‘Skills for the Changing World: Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation’, invites us to focus not only on remembering the past but also on reimagining the future.

At the University of the Free State (UFS), it’s a reminder of our shared responsibility: equipping Kovsies for a changing world.

The future starts here

At UFS, this call is being taken seriously. As a university community, we continue to explore how we equip students not only with academic knowledge, but with the practical, creative, and adaptive skills needed in a world that is shifting fast. This is done through work-integrated learning, innovative teaching, and skills-focused initiatives across faculties and departments – all aimed at equipping Kovsies for a changing world.

From programmes like the Kovsie Phahamisa Academy for Short Learning Programmes to the UFS Business Incubator and Career Hub, these interventions provide students with opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. Through practical teaching sessions in the Faculty of Education, the In the Shadow of the Prosecutor initiative in the Faculty of Law, and many other examples across disciplines, the university is building a culture of learning that prepares students to enter and influence the world of work with confidence.

For Thembeka Malo, a final-year Bachelor of Arts student in Integrated Organisational Communication, developing these skills is about more than just academic growth.

“The most crucial skills we need today are adaptability, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. The world is changing fast, and being able to adjust, think independently, and maintain good relationships is key. I also believe lived experiences – like volunteering and being involved in your community – teach resilience, leadership, and purpose.”

Kingsley Alagbaoso, Chairperson of the Faculty of Humanities Student Council, reminds us that transformation is as important as adaptation: “The future belongs to youth who are equipped with relevant skills, digital literacy, and the courage to challenge norms. We are not just preparing ourselves; we are preparing the world to receive a new kind of youth leadership.”

In May, the university hosted its annual Senate Conference under the theme ‘A Call for Innovation: Reimagining Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) at the University of the Free State.’ There, Prof Hester C. Klopper, UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal, emphasised that preparing students for the future of work requires a different approach:

“Work-Integrated Learning is not additive – it is integral and must be integrated into our teaching, learning, research, and engaged scholarship,” she said. “We must challenge ingrained – and received – assumptions, break down traditional silos, and work collaboratively to build a work-integrated learning ecosystem that truly prepares all our students for the complex, changing world of work.”

“We are preparing students for a world that is transforming faster than we can imagine, using methods designed for a world that no longer exists. The question before us is not whether we will adapt – it is whether we will step up and lead this transformation or be swept aside by it.”