University of the Free State

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆.

The Annual UFS Women’s Breakfast brought together Professional and Academic staff and University leadership for one of the institution’s flagship Women’s Month celebrations. It was a morning of laughter, conversation, reflection, and well-deserved recognition, reminding us that behind every lecture, every student success story, and every milestone are women whose work continues to shape our University.

Read more: https://ufsweb.co/4gjryh2

𝗨𝗙𝗦 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗲

The University of the Free State’s Qwaqwa Campus and the Bakoena Traditional Council are strengthening access to higher education in Matatiele through a partnership that is already delivering encouraging results.

Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding in 2025, 210 learners from seven schools have applied to study at the UFS in 2027, with 117 currently meeting the University’s minimum admission requirements.

The latest engagement brought together the University, traditional leadership, schools, and education stakeholders, demonstrating how collaboration can create meaningful pathways to higher education for learners in rural communities.

Read more: https://ufsweb.co/4hDCJCH

Naledi Nhlapo recently walked away with three major awards for Boccia, a sport designed for athletes with severe mobility impairments. A first‑year BA student at the UFS, her story is one of determination, balance, and joy.

Read more about how she discovered the sport and what she hopes to achieve next: https://ufsweb.co/3TGZoEc

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼-𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸.

Bringing together women leaders from the judiciary, academia, government, and civil society, the conference creates an opportunity to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and inspire action towards a society where justice, dignity, and opportunity are experienced by all. This gathering reminds us that meaningful change begins when women support, inspire, and create opportunities for one another.

As we approach Women's Day, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Hester C. Klopper, shares a heartfelt message with the University community – and with women and girls everywhere – about leading with courage, opening doors for others, and creating a future where every woman can thrive. It is through this kind of leadership that we contribute meaningfully to responsible societal futures.

Watch the full message: https://ufsweb.co/4hkn4YC

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲'𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿!

The wait is over. It's time to rally behind our defending champions as they begin their title defence in the Varsity Football season.

Shimla Park
17:00

Join us as the University of the Free State takes on the University of Pretoria in what promises to be an electrifying season opener.

Bring your friends, wear your red and blue with pride, and let's fill the stands as we defend our title. See you at Shimla Park!

Tickets: https://bit.ly/4z1KqbO

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗼-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗮, 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿: 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀.

For many students, residence is more than a place to sleep. It is where they learn to live away from home, navigate failure, celebrate success, and discover who they are. Every day, Masapo-Changwara helps create an environment where students, especially young women, feel supported through those moments. “Simply having a seat at the table is not the final goal. It is just the beginning. True empowerment requires us to reach back and pull others up with us,” she says.

Her work reflects the University’s Women’s Month message that empowerment is measured not only by the opportunities we receive, but by the opportunities we create for others. Long after students leave residence, they carry with them the confidence, encouragement, and sense of belonging they found there.