When people think about why entrepreneurs want to grow their businesses, the answers usually seem obvious: more profit, a larger customer base, or a bigger market share. Sometimes, the spark that drives growth is not profit. It can simply be the excitement of what might be possible, writes the UFSโ Dr Ekaete Elsie Benedict.
Read more: https://t.co/gbKgAaBH0Q
#ResearchLed #Opinion #ResearchLed
๐จ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น-๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Students from the UFS Department of Computer Science and Informatics put their skills to the test during the Beat the Banker Hackathon, developing innovative software solutions to real-world challenges in South Africa's banking and financial-services sector.
From fintech platforms that support township businesses to financial-management tools designed by second-year students, the event showcased the creativity, resilience, and problem-solving abilities of UFS students.
Read more: https://t.co/0ucvYfaSbY
#UFS #StudentInnovation #IndustryLinkedLearning
๐จ๐๐ฆ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐
The University of the Free State Department of Zoology and Entomology has strengthened its research infrastructure with the official opening of an upgraded Nematology Laboratory and the unveiling of Africa's first Leica LMD6 laser microdissection microscope.
These developments expand opportunities for agricultural, biological, and molecular research while supporting postgraduate training, industry collaboration, and scientific innovation.
Read more: https://t.co/wL9ytMicjG
#UFS #ResearchExcellence #ScientificInnovation
Today, as colleagues, students, alumni, partners, friends, and the broader higher education community gather to honour the life of Prof Tandi Matsha-Erasmus at her memorial service, the University of the Free State joins the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) community in remembrance.
Reflecting on her passing, our Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Hester C. Klopper, noted: โThe true measure of a life is not found in the positions we hold, but in the lives we uplift and the possibilities we create for others. Prof Matsha-Erasmus did both with distinction.โ
โProf Matsha-Erasmus was a respected scientist, scholar, and higher education leader whose commitment to health sciences education and academic excellence made a lasting impact on countless lives. She understood the transformative role universities play in expanding opportunities, nurturing talent, and contributing to the well-being of society.โ
As the SMU community gathers to celebrate her life and legacy, the University of the Free State remembers a leader who served with purpose and conviction and whose contribution to South African higher education will endure through the students, scholars, and institutions she helped shape.
Our thoughts remain with her family, loved ones, colleagues, students, and the entire SMU community.
May her memory continue to inspire future generations.
#UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResponsibleSocietalFutures #Care
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ!
In the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Rankings 2026, the UFS has been ranked among the top 200 universities in the world for reducing inequality and improving access to opportunity.
This is a global recognition of the Universityโs work in opening doors to higher education, supporting students who are the first in their families to study, and strengthening inclusion for students and staff across all areas of university life.
We celebrate this achievement and the progress it represents for a more inclusive future.
Read more: https://t.co/wL9ytMicjG
#SDGsAtUFS #InclusiveExcellence #TimesHigherEducationSustainabilityImpactRankings #THESustainabilityImpactRankings
As South Africa commemorates yet another youth month and the challenges facing its youth persist or worsen 50 years after, it is time again to reflect even deeper on the nature and uniqueness of these challenges. South Africaโs youth unemployment ranks the highest in Africa and one of the highest in the world. Its youth-related crime and violence are at a high rate.
Despite the constraints of the coloniality of youth, South African youth must also be agentic in charting the course of their lives towards meaningful achievements. The youth must begin to develop the capacity to bring about positive changes in their own communities and society by making the right decisions and taking right action in the interest of the country, writes the UFSโ Dr Paul K Michael.
Read more: https://t.co/6woH7IYTz8
๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐? ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐?
Join the University of the Free State and the Vrystaat Arts Festival for two thought-provoking panel discussions exploring the enduring value of reading, creativity, and artistic expression in contemporary society.
7 July 2026 | Reading still matters
8 July 2026 | Reimagining the role of the arts in universities and society
15:00โ16:00
Centenary Complex, UFS Bloemfontein Campus
Be part of inspiring conversations that explore the intersection of literature, culture, higher education, and society.
Read more: https://t.co/TnUpIg1FP8
#UniversityoftheFreeState #FutureFocused #Vrystaat Arts Festival
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ, ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ต๐๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ปโ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ท๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ, ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐.
As the University of the Free Stateโs first Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholar, Yahya is pursuing a Master of Public Health (Research) degree while investigating the impact of drinking water contaminants on gut health in rural communities.
His story reflects the UFSโs commitment to global partnerships, research excellence, and developing solutions to complex public health challenges.
Read more: https://t.co/nAKV9Bikyd
#UFS #IAmInternational #StudentSpotlight #GlobalEducation #QECS #PublicHealth #Internationalisation #ResearchForImpact
Research and community partnerships are helping to restore rangelands, strengthen biodiversity, and create new opportunities for livestock owners in the Maloti-Drakensberg. Through projects led by the Afromontane Research Unit, conservation science is supporting healthier ecosystems and more sustainable livelihoods.
Read more: https://t.co/NYLMI23S6K
#UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResearchLed #ResponsibleSocietalFutures
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐น๐ผ๐ฒ๐บ๐ณ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ
University of the Free State accounting student Tshepang Lesufi has been selected as one of just 16 final candidates for the ISCA Global Talent Programme, earning the opportunity to compete alongside the best young accounting professionals in the world.
"Setbacks are not final destinations. They are simply the fire that refines your drive."
Read more: https://t.co/bdF0knyExY
#UniversityoftheFreeState #ISCAGlobalTalentProgramme #ResponsibleSocietalFutures
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ #๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐๐ฑ๐ฌ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐.
As we reflect on the journey of South Africa's youth over the past 50 years, we asked our students:
What would you like to reset for the future?
From education and innovation to social development and opportunities for young people, their responses offer a glimpse into the future they hope to help shape.
Here is what they had to say.
#YouthMonth #ResetAt50TheFutureCalls #UFS #Kovsies #YouthMonth2026 #TheFutureCalls
The difference between the youth of 1976 and todayโs youth is that the former had a clear and common enemy: apartheid. Today, youth challenges are rooted in institutional and structural inequalities within both the public and private sectors. The frustrations experienced by young people are growing and are increasingly shaping public dissatisfaction with governance in South Africa.
As the country commemorates 50 years since the 1976 uprising, Youth Day should not be about remembering the past alone. It should also be about confronting the realities facing young people today and building a future where freedom is matched by dignity, opportunity, and hope, writes UFSโ Thabang Mokoena.
Read more: https://t.co/LxgfpEnXcQ
#Opinion #YouthMonth
As we continue to celebrate Youth Month, we celebrate young innovators like Lebakeng Mokhele, a masterโs student at the UFS Qwaqwa Campus, who is running a 1,300-hectare farming enterprise while working directly with emerging farmers to improve their access to agricultural markets.
Many farmers can produce food but remain outside the systems that allow them to sell it sustainably. His work focuses on closing that gap through practical support, planning tools and market access pathways.
The result is work that connects farming production to real income opportunities for farmers who are often left on the margins of formal agriculture.
Read more: https://t.co/drzu8Sx6Ys
#YouthMonth #YouthInAction #UFSImpact
๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น-๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐ณ๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ
What happens when classroom learning meets real-world disaster response?
Master of Disaster Management students at the University of the Free State recently developed recovery plans for a flood disaster scenario based on events in Limpopo, presenting their solutions to disaster management practitioners and industry leaders.
The practical examination, hosted by the Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC), gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge to real challenges while developing the skills needed to lead and serve communities in times of crisis.
Read more: https://t.co/jNCWpUeg56
#UFS #StudentSuccess #DisasterManagement
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐ ๐ท๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ด๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ป๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ธ๐ (๐จ๐ฆ๐ง๐ ) ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง๐ โ๐จ๐๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐บ, ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐.
The symposium brought together academics, researchers, and university leaders committed to advancing research, innovation, and knowledge exchange across Africa. It also highlighted how collaboration across borders, languages, and disciplines can strengthen research capacity, create new opportunities for scholars, and contribute to knowledge that serves African communities.
Read more: https://t.co/8P8ObWKV9R
#ExcellenceInEducation #AfricaRisingWithUFS #UFSPartnerships
๐๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ป๐ฎ.
For the first time, the University of the Free State Faculty of Law fielded an all-women team at the prestigious 33rd Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria.
Representing the UFS on the global stage, the team competed against universities from around the world while continuing a proud tradition of excellence in international legal advocacy.
Read more: https://t.co/XZlHyvyKcI
#UniversityoftheFreeState #VisMoot2026 #ResponsibleSocietalFutures
๐๐ถ๐ณ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ผ, ๐ฆ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐๐ณ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ต๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐. ๐ง๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐, ๐ฎ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐.
This Youth Day, the University of the Free State honours the legacy of June 16 not only through remembrance but also through meaningful action โ supporting student wellness, fostering leadership, and creating opportunities for young people to thrive.
The challenges may have changed, but the urgency remains.
Read more: https://t.co/hGq4gkjANq
#YouthDay2026 #June16 #YouthInAction #UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResponsibleSocietalFutures #ProudlyKovsies
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ (๐จ๐๐ฆ) ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฑ๐น๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฒ, ๐๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐, ๐ผ๐ป ๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐น (๐ก๐๐๐).
The appointment reflects Mestileโs growing national influence within the archives and records management sector. It follows shortly after serving on the National Executive Committee of the South African Society of Archivists (SASA) in 2025.
His appointment positions him and the UFS at the forefront of advancing ethical governance, knowledge stewardship, and the preservation of South Africaโs documentary heritage for future generations.
Read more: https://t.co/wuC4s3Lsng
#UniversityOfTheFreeState #KnowledgeStewardship #ResponsibleSocietalFutures
As South Africa celebrates Youth Month this June, we honour the 1976 Soweto Uprising and the youth who demanded a brighter future. Today, that future is threatened by persistent high unemployment. Millions of young South Africans, especially those aged 16-20, are NEET, i.e., not in employment, education, or training. They face limited qualifications, weak networks, family pressures, and transport challenges, despite being tech-savvy, resilient, and entrepreneurial.
Youth Month should not only highlight problems, but champion solutions. We must actively support and train more youth mentors. Corporates, professionals, universities, and communities should partner with such initiatives, writes the UFSโ Dr Vongai Sarah Ruzungunde.
Read more: https://t.co/8PkZjHXi9L
#YouthMonth # Youth Mentorship #KnowledgeForChange
As University of the Free State staff, students, and alumni participated in, supported, and followed the 2026 Comrades Marathon, UFS alumna Gerda Steyn delivered another historic performance by claiming her fifth title in the iconic ultramarathon.
Her remarkable achievement continues to inspire the Kovsie community and showcases the power of dedication, resilience, and perseverance.
Read more: https://t.co/IP8hP60YYH
#UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResponsibleSocietalFutures #UFSAlumni #Impact #ComradesMarathon2026