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30 May 2025
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Story Prof Mikateko Mathebula
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Photo Supplied
Pictured (from left to right): Prof Faith Mkwananzi, Dr Kapambwe Mwelwa, Prof Lochner Marais, Prof Chikumbutso Manthalu, and Prof Mikateko Mathebula.
Through collaborative agreements with the University of Malawi and the University of Zambia, the University of the Free State (UFS) has established the Research Alliance for Higher Education in Africa (RAHEdA), a dynamic initiative aimed at enhancing research capacity and partnerships within Sub-Saharan Africa.
The collaborative agreements align with the UFS’s Vision 130 strategy in relation to internationalisation, emphasising the important role that intra-African mobility visits play in establishing relationships with universities on the continent. It also fosters knowledge exchange and engagement and allows for careful planning and strategy meetings.
“During these discussions, an ambitious but feasible roadmap was laid out for the next three to five years,” Prof Mkwananzi said. “These activities include online workshops for staff and postgraduate students at all partner institutions, and a new webinar series that focuses on profiling, advancing, and celebrating thought leaders, higher education scholars, and scholarship in Africa.”
The inaugural webinar was held on 21 May 2025. Speaker Prof Siseko Kumalo, Associate Professor at the University of Johannesburg’s Ali Mazrui Centre for Higher Education Studies, spoke on ‘Orality as the Bulwark of the Humanities?’, set the bar high for the webinar series through his compelling and original response to this timely question, as scholars around the world contemplate appropriate responses to the rise and influence of artificial intelligence in higher education teaching, learning, and assessment.
Funding to support RAHEdA has been generously provided by Prof Melanie Walker, Distinguished Professor and SARChI Chair in Higher Education and Human Development.
• For information on how to get involved and for updates on RAHEdA, please contact Prof Mikateko Mathebula at MathebulaM@ufs.ac.za
UFS hosts the 11th annual Registrars’ Imbizo
2014-03-14
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The University of the Free State recently hosted the 11thAnnual Registrars’ Imbizo which took place on 3 – 5 March 2014 at the Centenary Complex on the Bloemfontein Campus. Convening from across the country, up to 37 delegates affiliated to the Office of the Registrar shared their experiences and expertise. It also provided an opportunity to raise their concerns about their role in governance and academic administration.
At the opening of the Imbizo, Prof Driekie Hay, Vice-Rector: Academic Affairs, acknowledged the challenging and complex task of registrars in South African universities. Prof Hay highlighted the complexities in the history of higher education and the policy environment in particular. She raised concerns around funding for higher education, policy amendments passed through parliament and the newly-proposed reporting regulations for universities. She also referred to the introduction of a transformation oversight committee to evaluate the effectiveness of transformation at universities.
During the three-day Imbizo, delegates focused on matters such as finance and administrations, policy in higher education as well as social media and its impact on higher education. Dr Derek Swemmer, Registrar of the UFS and Chairperson, concluded the event. The visit included some sight-seeing – touring the Bloemfontein Campus and surrounds.