The University of the Free State (UFS) boasts a diverse, inclusive, and equitable university. Some of the achievements include:
Student success and well-being:
Comprehensive strategies around student support transpires in our students’ success. Innovative initiatives range from academic support in the form of tutorial programmes, writing and language support and academic advising, to providing for students’ most basic needs through the No Student Hungry bursary programme. We also place great emphasis on students’ mental health and well-being. A vibrant, active student life combined with stringent safety and security initiatives ensure social cohesion and an outstanding university experience.
Graduate employability:
We enhance our students’ employability with the systematic mapping of graduate attributes in our curricular and co-curricular offerings. This ensures that graduates display the relevant skills, competencies, knowledge, and attitudes essential for success in the global workplace. The UFS is a beneficiary of the esteemed Kresge Foundation, sponsor of the Siyaphumelela project, which harnesses data analytics to promote student success. The university is also a proud grant recipient of the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, which enables it to scale its virtual services to reach a maximum number of students.
Developing young academics:
We place a strong emphasis on developing the careers of young scholars, with focused initiatives for providing peer mentorship and reviewing opportunities for junior staff members. Among these initiatives are the Prestige Scholars programme and the Transforming the Professoriate mentoring programme, where emerging scholars get tailor-made, comprehensive, and holistic development opportunities in preparation for their future roles as professors and academic leaders. During April 2024, the university will be launching its Women’s Academic Advancement programme to facilitate excellent academic leadership among women academics.
Innovative approaches to energy and water management:
We use our strategic position to drive sustainability issues through the establishment of green campuses and the adoption of sustainable built environment practices. This has taken the form of establishing energy-efficient buildings, extensive solar energy plants, waterwise landscaping, as well as water-saving initiatives such as greywater systems, water restrainers, and pressure control systems.
Internationalisation strategy:
As a highly internationalised university with a proud history of international engagements, we prioritise the preservation and growth of staff and student diversity and attract the most brilliant minds from across the globe. As a responsible global citizen, the UFS uses the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a primary lens to assess and expand its global impact.
Achievements in research:
We are steadily increasing the number, quality, diversity, and output of our research scholars, making significant contributions to global knowledge in various fields in line with our aspiration to be a research-led university.
