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17 October 2025 | Story Lacea Loader

Academic activities at the University of the Free State (UFS) will continue on Monday 20 October 2025.

The Executive Committee of the university appreciates the understanding and cooperation of all staff and students during this time. 

The academic calendar has been amended to ensure the successful completion of the 2025 academic year. 

 

1. Academic calendar

The end of the fourth quarter will be postponed, and the start of the main end-of-year examinations will be moved from 3 November to 10 November 2025.

This decision applies to all students, except final-year students in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Final-year students in the Faculty of Health Sciences will commence their year-end examinations on 3 November 2025 to enable them to graduate in December 2025 and begin their community service/internships in January 2026.

Information to support the continuation and completion of lectures and assessments will be communicated by the respective lecturers.

Our students are encouraged to consult their lecturers or programme coordinators with any queries.

 

2. Qwaqwa Campus

The Qwaqwa Campus will reopen on Monday 20 October 2025, with staff and students returning as follows:

  • Monday 20 October 2025: University Estates staff
  • Tuesday 21 October 2025: Academic staff and professional and support services staff
  • Wednesday 22 October 2025: Residence students
  • Thursday 23 October 2025: Resumption of all academic activities

The university extends its appreciation to staff and students for their patience, commitment, and resilience.

 

Issued by:
Lacea Loader 
Senior Director: Communication and Marketing
University of the Free State 

News Archive

Professor awarded by Cardiff University for exceptional teaching and research record
2015-10-20

Prof Pieter Duvenage
Cardiff University is one of the best research universities in the United Kingdom (UK) and the world. In 2014, Cardiff was ranked number 2 and 5 among UK universities in the Research Excellence Framework for impact and quality, respectively.

Annually, Cardiff selects and recruits the most outstanding teachers and researchers from across the globe. This year, this institution bestowed on Professor Pieter Duvenage the title of Honorary Professorship in Political Philosophy for his contribution and commitment to philosophical research in South Africa and internationally. Prof Duvenage is Head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Prof Duvenage has authored and co-authored four books, publishing almost 40 accredited articles in journals and books. As a distinguished scholar, he displays immense dedication to the investigation of the political implications of intellectual traditions.

Since 1997, Prof Duvenage has been lecturing philosophy as an associate professor, full professor, or visiting professor at various South African and Australian universities. He was appointed as Head of the Department of Philosophy in 2011, where he continues to explore his interests in Phenomenology, Critical Theory, and South African Intellectual History.

His rich academic history had earned him the prestigious five-year Honorary Professorship at Cardiff’s Department of Politics.  In 2014, the same university invited Prof Duvenage to be a Professorial Fellow of the Collingwood and British Idealism Centre for an indefinite period.

Professor David Boucher, Director of the Collingwood and British Idealism Centre, has played a crucial role in initiating both processes. According to Prof Duvenage, “Professor Boucher is a respected British academic and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg.”

When Boucher announced the good news, Prof Duvenage was very surprised. “The appointment came as a total surprise. I never studied there [at Cardiff University], therefore it was purely through academic networks.”

Considering Cardiff’s reputation and Prof Duvenage’s exceptional skill sets and values, his relationship with the world-leading university in research is bound to blossom.

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