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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

Council votes on appointment of senior staff

2004-11-18

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) today voted on the filling of three senior vacancies, including one post at Dean level and two at the level of Vice-Dean.

The Council voted as follows:


Dr Natie Luyt will be offered the post of Dean: Student Affairs	Prof Engela Pretorius will be offered the post of Vice-Dean: Faculty of Humanities	Dr Choice Makhetha will be offered the post of Vice-Dean: Student Affairs

“There are special challenges for the UFS in the short and medium term regarding transformation of our residences, and a certain combination of management qualities and skills is desirable. As a result of the diversity of the UFS’s student community it is therefore important to us to follow a team approach to deal with the challenges. With the combination of Drs Luyt and Makhetha, I believe we will be able to manage student affairs effectively and skillfully,” says Prof Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

“It is wonderful that we are able to celebrate the outcome of this process that has brought forward such excellent candidates who reflect our country’s diversity. It shows that we can achieve the goals of quality and diversity at the same time,” says Prof Fourie.

Prof Pretorius obtained all her qualifications (BA, BA (Hons) (cum laude), MA (cum laude) and D Phil) from the UFS, except for the Certificate in Gender Policy Management (cum laude) which she obtained in 2000 from WITS. She joined the Department of Sociology at UFS in 1980 and has headed the Department since 2001. She acted as Vice-Dean: Faculty of Humanities since July 2004. She has some thirty publications to her credit, published both nationally and internationally and has delivered 20 national and international papers. She is a member of the South African Sociological Association and is a member of the Council of the association and of the Editorial Board of Society in Transition, the society’s journal. She is also a member of the South African Academy for Science and Art and the Federation of African Women Educationalists in South Africa (FAWESA). Project involvement includes the Australian Women’s Executive Development Programme and the project Executive Development of Senior Women in South African Higher Education Institutions. She is also an NRF panelist.

Dr Luyt obtained his qualifications (BA, BA (Hons) (cum laude), MA (cum laude) and D Phil) at the UFS and started his career at the same institution in 1980 as lecturer in Political Science. He was promoted to senior lecturer in 1983 and appointed as Director: Student Affairs in 1997. He has been acting as Dean: Student Affairs since 2003. Dr Luyt completed several work-related training courses, among others a course in ethnic and multiculturality at the Swiss Institute for Federalism and a course in conflict management at the South Tyrolean Economic and Social Institute.

Dr Makheta also obtained all her qualifications (BA, BA (Hons), MA in Political Science and Ph D in Political Science) at the UFS and started working as a student assistant in Political Science at the same institution in 1999. She was promoted to junior assistant in 2000, coordinator and facilitator of Political Science in 2001, assistant/acting Director: Student Affairs in 2001 and acting Director: Student Affairs in 2003. Dr Makhetha is currently a Senior Political Analyst at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The UFS Council also approved the promotion of nine professors to the rank of senior professor. They are Proff Louise Cilliers (Department English and Classical Languages), Dap Louw (Department of Psychology), Philip Nel (Department Afro-Asiatic Studies, Sign Language and Language Practice), Dirk van den Berg (Department of History of Art and Visual Culture Studies) Dingie van Rensburg (Director: Centre for Health Systems Research and Develoment), Andries Raath (Department of Constitutional Law and Philosophy of Law), James du Preez (Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology), Johan Grobbelaar (Department of Plant Sciences) and Louis Scott (Department of Plant Sciences).

This is the first group ever of senior professors at the UFS. The post level was created to provide better career and earnings opportunities for high quality academics and to increase the attractiveness of an academic career to young people.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

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