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UFS and US Consulate strengthen century-long academic partnership

05 September 2025 | Story Kagiso Ngake and Dr Nitha Ramnath | Photo Stephen Collett

The University of the Free State (UFS) recently had the honour of hosting Stephanie Bunce, Consul General of the United States (US) in South Africa, and her delegation on the Bloemfontein Campus. The visit came at a significant moment, shortly after the first 100 days of Prof Hester C. Klopper’s tenure as Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

The meeting marked an important introduction between two leaders new in their respective roles: Prof Klopper at the UFS, and Consul General Bunce, who began her posting in Johannesburg in September 2024. Their discussions offered an opportunity to align the strategic ambitions of the UFS with the priorities of the U.S Mission in South Africa, while reflecting on the longstanding and fruitful relationship between the UFS and American universities.

Consul General Bunce commended the depth of UFS’s academic partnerships with the United States and expressed enthusiasm about the university’s future direction. “I’m really excited to hear what you’re looking for in the next few years and how we can continue to work together,” she said.

Advancing clinical training and collaboration

The delegation toured the world-class Clinical Simulation and Skills Unit (CSSU), where Prof Mathys Labuschagne, Head of Clinical Simulation and Skills Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences, and his team showcased how advanced simulation technologies prepare students for clinical practice. “Hands-on practice in a safe, non-threatening environment is one of the best ways to build confidence and skills,” explained Prof Labuschagne.

The CSSU was developed based on a model from Penn State University following a visit 15 years ago - a collaboration that has continued to thrive. “Collaboration with US universities opens doors for joint teaching, student exchanges, and research partnerships that drive innovation,” Prof Labuschagne added.

Deepening a century of partnership

Collaboration between the UFS and the U.S universities dates back more than a century. In the 1920s, the University of Michigan established the Lamont-Hussey Observatory on Naval Hill, and Harvard University relocated the Boyden Observatory to Maselspoort. Both observatories, now part of the UFS, symbolise a legacy of shared scientific discovery.

These historic ties have since evolved into formal agreements with universities across the United States. Between 2020 and 2024, the US was the leading country collaborating with the UFS, producing more than 929 co-authored publications across 648 institutions. Today, partnerships continue to expand through research, academic exchanges, and staff mobility programmes that leave a lasting impact on students and society alike.

Consul General Bunce highlighted the distinctive nature of these partnerships. “In many countries, academic exchange is driven by government. Here, it grows organically from strong relationships and programmes.”

Prof Lynette Jacobs, interim Director in the Office for International Affairs, emphasised the value of these ties: “Our partnership with the United States shows how a strong and mature relationship can drive diversified internationalisation, advancing our strategic goal of global engagement with real impact. We look forward to welcoming the Consul General on our other two campuses.”

Driving innovation and commercialisation

In her address, Prof Klopper outlined the university’s vision to translate research into real-world solutions and commercial opportunities. “The UFS is learning from many American universities’ innovative models, which leverage multiple income streams and strong industry partnerships,” noted Prof Klopper. Prof Klopper emphasised that diversifying income is not only about sustainability but also about ensuring research has impact. Recent spin-off companies are an example of this vision becoming reality.

Charting the future

The US delegation expressed strong interest in UFS’s areas of strength, including community engagement, entrepreneurship, and student success initiatives. They also highlighted the potential for US students to study at the UFS, with consular support services in place to assist visiting students in emergencies.

“It is wonderful to see relationships that grow and change but continue to bring in new partnerships and exchanges,” Consul General Bunce remarked.

With plans for new mobility schemes, joint research projects, and a shared commitment to innovation, the UFS and its US partners are well-positioned to shape the next chapter in their century-long story of collaboration.

News Archive

Two UFS architecture students won prestigious PG Bison 1.618 Competition

2017-10-26

At the PG Bison 1.618 competition awards ceremony
in Rosebank, were from the left:
Camrin Plaatjes from the University of KwaZulu-Natal;
Stephan Diedericks, winner of the competition;
and Margaux Loubser,
the second-place winner. Both Stephan and
Margaux are studying Architecture at the UFS.
Photo: Supplied

Food that reaches its sell-by date in supermarkets is usually disposed of, but has not yet reached its best-before date. What happens to this food? According to Stephan Diedericks, the answer to this is for this food to be repurposed.

Not only does Stephan want to prevent the waste of food – in a world where food security is a challenge – but he also won the prestigious PG Bison 1.618 Competition with his entry in which he suggests that gourmet meals be prepared from food that has reached its sell-by date, and then be served in the Delta Recycletorium.

Students introduced to park lands in urban areas
Diedericks is a student in the Department of Architecture at the University of the Free State (UFS). Second-place winner in this competition was Margaux Loubser, also a UFS student. Another UFS student, Dehan Kassimatis, was a finalist. They received their awards at a ceremony in Rosebank, Johannesburg, earlier this month.

The competition, now in its 24th year, was created to recognise the future interior and industrial designers, architects, and key decision-makers in the South African construction industry. It is known not only for the prestige it offers its winners, but also for the tradition-defying brief given to the students each year.

According to lecturers Kobus du Preez and Zak Wessels, in the Department of Architecture, the competition introduced the students to parklands in urban areas. He quotes the competition brief: “Rural to urban migration with the development of commercial and residential property elevates the importance of parklands within cities, in creating a refuge from the hustle of daily life. These areas are leveraged to encourage healthier living, community interaction and environmental awareness.”

Learning experience more important than prizes
The site that was the focus of the competition is the Environmental Centre, Delta Park Heritage Precinct in Johannesburg. Students needed to transform this old building into a vibrant gastronomic restaurant. “The theme and style of the restaurant was for the student to choose,” said Du Preez.

Loubser called her restaurant Rooted – a wholefood restaurant. She was influenced by the geometries of the original Art Deco building. Rooted articulates and integrates the space between nature and the building. Similar to an Art Deco painting or poster, the landscape is abstracted into terraces which are used to grow vegetables organically. Vertical green screens soften the divide between the building and its surroundings and it provides shade.

“Our students took their clues from the existing environment and integrated it with a single idea, an abstract concept, which impressed the judges,” Du Preez said.

Although this is a competition that is well reported in the industry press, Du Preez and Wessels agree that the learning experience for students is much more important than winning the contest. The competition’s brief aligned well with the Department of Architecture’s learning content with its urban focus.

Jacques Steyn, a UFS architecture student, came third in the competition in 2015.

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