UFS

When the taps run dry, life does not simply pause. Families must find water to cook and drink. Schools and healthcare facilities struggle to operate. Businesses are disrupted, and the burden often falls heaviest on the most vulnerable. Recognising these realities, the University of the Free State’s Centre for Global Change hosted its inaugural Water-Gender-Social Vulnerability Symposium at the Qwaqwa Campus, bringing together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, students, and community stakeholders to examine one of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality’s most pressing development challenges. Read more: ufsweb.co/4fhAxxE #UFSImpact #EngagedScholarship #CentreForGlobalChange

𝗨𝗙𝗦 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗔𝗜𝗣’𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿 A lifetime of advancing physics through internationally recognised research, scientific leadership, and mentorship has earned Prof Hendrik Swart the 2026 South African Institute of Physics (SAIP) De Beers Gold Medal – the institute’s highest honour. The award recognises his outstanding contributions to materials physics, research capacity development, and the advancement of South African science over more than four decades. Read more: ufsweb.co/4fiYvZw #UFS #ResearchExcellence #Physics

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴? Speaking at the QS Africa Forum 2026 in Addis Ababa, Prof Sam Tshehla shared the UFS' perspective on using AI to strengthen teaching, research, and student success, while ensuring that its adoption remains ethical, inclusive, and responsive to African realities. During the forum, Prof Tshehla also accepted a certificate recognising the UFS' position in the QS World University Rankings: Sub-Saharan Africa 2026, where the university is ranked ninth among 69 institutions across 21 countries. Read more: ufsweb.co/3R4vRDp #UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResponsibleSocietalFutures #GlobalUFS #DigitalTransformation #Impact

The University of the Free State (UFS), through its Faculty of Health Sciences, has once again join the African Synergy Health (ASH) a non-profit organisation for the annual ASH Mandela Surgical Marathon, a major public-private healthcare initiative aimed at reducing elective surgery backlogs in South African public hospitals. The Free State leg of the 2026 initiative was officially launched at the UFS on 1 July, bringing together representatives from the University, the Free State Department of Health, ASH, CMR Surgical, and Marcus Medical. Held in honour of former President Nelson Mandela, the initiative seeks to provide life-changing surgical care to patients who have been waiting for elective procedures while strengthening collaboration between the public and private healthcare sectors. Read more: ufsweb.co/4wxw29n #MandelaMonth #LeadingWithImpact #TransformingTomorrow

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 – 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲? The University of the Free State Faculty of Law's Disability Rights Unit gathered scholars, commissioners, and innovators this June to explore exactly that. The Third International Conference on Disability Rights asked not only whether persons with disabilities can access our systems, but whether they can lead within them. Read more: ufsweb.co/4eHXtqX #UniversityOfTheFreeState #DisabilityRights #ResponsibleSocietalFutures

It's match day! Show your Kovsie pride as the @springboks take on England in the Nations Championship at Ellis Park today at 17:40. Whether you're watching from Bloemfontein or cheering from the stands in Joburg, let's get behind our boys! 🇿🇦 #UniversityoftheFreeState

Every July, South Africans mark Mandela Month by reflecting on the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, whose leadership and commitment to justice continue to shape how we understand service, dignity, and community. Across the country, it is a call to action; a reminder that change happens when people choose to give their time, resources, and care to others. At the University of the Free State, Mandela Month is being marked through the Ubuntu Giving campaign and a range of community initiatives supporting students and surrounding communities through practical action. Read more about how the UFS is marking Mandela Month: ufsweb.co/4vjxone You can also donate here – small acts make a big difference: bit.ly/4wh7GAn #MandelaMonth #UFSImpact #KovsieCare

History has been made! @bafanabafana have reached the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 for the very first time! Today, they are pushing forward, carrying a nation’s pride with them. From the University of the Free State to the stands at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, USA, we are cheering them on all the way for tonight's match against Canada. Good luck, Bafana Bafana! #UniversityoftheFreeState #FIFAWorldCup

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. In partnership with SAICA and the Free State Department of Basic Education, the School of Accountancy is hosting Winter Camps for approximately 500 matriculants across the Free State. The first camp is taking place in Qwaqwa, serving pupils from the Thabo Mofutsanyane and Fezile Dabi Education Districts, while a second camp in Bloemfontein will host matriculants from the Matjhabeng, Xhariep, and Motheo districts. Pupils receive focused academic support in accounting, commerce subjects, mathematics, and sciences, while gaining first-hand exposure to university life and study opportunities. Read more: ufsweb.co/4vv3oFx #UniversityOfTheFreeState #SchoolOfAccountancy #SAICA #ResponsibleSocietalFutures

The transition to university from school necessitates a deliberate reconfiguration of students' cognitive resources. Student well‑being functions as the transactional currency underpinning academic achievement and this currency must remain in positive balance for learning to be sustainable rather than purely extractive. The transition from 12 years of structured schooling to the complicated demands of university constitutes a profound developmental turning point. True academic success is found when intellectual growth is balanced with emotional and physical health, ensuring that the pursuit of knowledge does not come at the cost of personal well-being. Academic success is not about grades; it is a transaction. Student well-being acts as the currency that funds achievement, write UFS’ Dr Manditereza Blandina and Dr Neo Ravhuhali. Read more: ufsweb.co/4esmMgx #FromMatricToUniversity #Opinion #StudentSuccess

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 UFS’ Dr Ekaete Elsie Benedict. Read more: ufsweb.co/4ahuS9l #ResearchLed #Opinion #ResearchLed

𝗨𝗙𝗦 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 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: ufsweb.co/4uTUUH4 #UFS #StudentInnovation #IndustryLinkedLearning

𝗨𝗙𝗦 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 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: ufsweb.co/3QZyeqT #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: “The 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.” “Prof 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.” 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

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲! 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 University’s 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: ufsweb.co/3QZyeqT #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 Africa’s 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 UFS’ Dr Paul K Michael. Read more: ufsweb.co/4eCm1jT

𝗗𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜? 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆? 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 15:00–16:00 Centenary Complex, UFS Bloemfontein Campus Be part of inspiring conversations that explore the intersection of literature, culture, higher education, and society. Read more: ufsweb.co/4xLpEwr #UniversityoftheFreeState #FutureFocused #Vrystaat Arts Festival

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗬𝗮𝗵𝘆𝗮 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁. As the University of the Free State’s 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 UFS’s commitment to global partnerships, research excellence, and developing solutions to complex public health challenges. Read more: ufsweb.co/4vZkF9J #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: ufsweb.co/4eXS3rN #UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResearchLed #ResponsibleSocietalFutures

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗲𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲 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: ufsweb.co/4enmdob #UniversityoftheFreeState #ISCAGlobalTalentProgramme #ResponsibleSocietalFutures