𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝙚𝙪𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝙈𝙢𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙚 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀? At the University of the Free State’s (UFS) 2026 Words Without Borders Spelling Bee, students from three campuses, six faculties, and four language groups took on words drawn from different academic fields and languages. The first UFS spelling bee to combine multilingual and multidisciplinary categories brought together students from Afrikaans, English, Sesotho, and isiZulu, with disciplines ranging from Law and Health Sciences to The Humanities and Natural and Agricultural Sciences. More than a spelling challenge, it gave students the chance to step outside their usual classrooms and compete alongside peers with different academic and language experiences. Read the full story: ufsweb.co/4yetuxX #UniversityOfTheFreeState #ProudlyKovsies #ResponsibleSocietalFutures

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱? The University of the Free State hosted the third WoRiTH Conference, bringing together women scholars to explore academic agency, mentorship, leadership, resilience, and the power of lifting others as we climb. Read the full story here: ufsweb.co/4xPTQVY #UniversityOfTheFreeState #InclusiveExcellence #FutureFocused

During a recent gala dinner in Beijing, China, Prof John Carranza received the Silver Medal from the Association of Applied Geochemists (AAG) for 17 years of dedicated service. His journey includes early exploration work in the Philippines, advanced study and academic work abroad, and a long commitment to teaching and research. He has spent decades helping others understand mineral systems more clearly. Read more here: ufsweb.co/3VaEm1r #UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResearchLed #ResponsibleSocietalFutures

Today, we celebrate the heritage that shapes us – from the languages we speak and the stories we inherit, to the food we share, the music we make, and the traditions that bring us together. In South Africa, our cultures are part of the everyday, passed down through generations and continually shaped by the people who carry them forward. #HeritageDay #InclusiveExcellence #UniversityOfTheFreeState

A call for the preservation and protection of indigenous healing knowledge emerged from the University of the Free State’s 2026 Heritage Day Lecture on the Qwaqwa Campus, which brought academics, students, traditional practitioners, and community representatives together to examine the role of indigenous medicines and healing practices in Southern African heritage. The discussion considered questions of community ownership, informed consent, and the responsible sharing of culturally sensitive knowledge, while Profs Grey Magaiza and Prince Ngobeni reflected on how universities can engage more meaningfully with communities and knowledge systems beyond formal academic institutions. Read more: ufsweb.co/46B2lt9 ##UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResponsibleSocietalFutures #SocialJustice #HeritageDay

Qwaqwa housekeeping staff demonstrate Ubuntu through food parcels for students Qwaqwa Campus housekeeping staff have demonstrated care and Ubuntu by donating food parcels to students facing food insecurity. Inspired by their close relationships with students, the team says the gesture is about more than food- it offers hope, dignity and reassurance that students are not alone. Student Representative Council Deputy President Mokgadi Sathekge welcomed the initiative, highlighting its meaningful contribution to student wellbeing and helping students remain focused on their studies. Read more: ufsweb.co/4iJMMGS #UFSImpact #KovsieCare #WellBeingAtUFS

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁. This was the focus of the latest EMS Debate Series at the University of the Free State, where students, academics and industry voices came together to explore graduate employability, practical experience, digital skills and the realities of South Africa’s formal and informal economies. The discussion highlighted the evolving role of universities in preparing students for a changing world of work - one where adaptability, practical experience and digital skills are becoming increasingly important alongside academic knowledge. At the heart of the conversation was the need to ensure that students are not only prepared for the jobs of today, but equipped with the knowledge, skills and resilience to navigate the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow. Read more: ufsweb.co/4h97L4x #UniversityOfTheFreeState #FutureReady #ResponsibleSocietalFutures

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀. At the 2026 Future of Education Summit, UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Hester C. Klopper, joined higher education leaders to explore what this means for African universities. Her contribution placed students at the centre of the conversation by connecting ‘access with success’ to the development of graduates who are capable, skilled, and able to exercise judgement in changing environments. Read more: ufsweb.co/4dznDef #UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResponsibleSocietalFutures #StudentSuccess

Across the country, and right here at the UFS, women and men have been showing up at vigils, marches, and moments of silence – to say that gender-based violence and femicide have to stop. Recently, that solidarity reached our Bloemfontein, South, and Qwaqwa Campuses, where staff and students gathered to honour the lives lost and to stand with survivors. But a single day of protest, however powerful, is not where this work ends. Nine women have been found dead across Ekurhuleni since mid-July. More than a third of South African women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. And ten months after GBVF was declared a national disaster, the question is not whether we are angry enough; it is whether that anger is translating into real accountability, especially among men. This is the conversation we are opening: what does meaningful, sustained change actually look like once the candles are out and the placards come down? Read more: ufsweb.co/4h75Ddz #UFSUbuntu #GBVF #TransformingTomorrow

UFS gamer Kananelo Mohlabane is through to the EAFC semi-finals of Varsity Esports and will represent the university in Pretoria in October. The Varsity Esports competition brings universities from across South Africa together, with more than 18 universities competing for a place in the Grand Final and a share of the R90 000 prize pool. Read also about the growth of esports at the UFS since it became an official sporting code in 2025, and the growing interest among students. Read more here: ufsweb.co/3UWI4vq #UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResponsibleSocietalFutures #UFSStudentLife #Impact #FutureReady

Learners from Bartimea School for the Deaf and Blind spent a day exploring science, healthcare and university life at the University of the Free State (UFS). Through hands-on activities, meaningful engagement, and exciting discoveries, the 2026 Deaf Awareness Initiative gave learners the chance to experience university life, explore new possibilities, and imagine themselves pursuing their future aspirations. Read more: ufsweb.co/46zGMsQ #DiverseByDesign #DeafAwarenessMonth #InclusiveExcellence

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲! We’re excited to introduce this year’s MCs, who will be guiding us through a celebration of culture, diversity, music, food and the many identities that make our Kovsie community so vibrant. Get ready for an unforgettable experience as our MCs bring the energy, keep the programme moving and help us celebrate International Cultural Diversity Festival 2026 in true Kovsie style! 📍 Bloemfontein Campus 📅 23 September 2026 Come celebrate with us and experience the world through the diverse cultures that make up our UFS community. #InternationalCulturalDiversityFestival #DiverseByDesign #KovsieCulture #UFS

For 16 years, the UFS’ Family Math and Family Science programmes have been helping create learning environments where children can build confidence in mathematics and science, while giving teachers and families meaningful ways to support their learning. The programmes, led by the Faculty of Education’s Science-for-the-Future (S4F) unit, have grown from work in the Free State into a national initiative involving teachers, learners, parents, nine partner universities, and longstanding partners including SANRAL and South32. Between 2018 and 2026, S4F reached more than 669 385 participants, including more than 9 059 teachers, 495 977 learners, and nearly 154 922 parents. At the 16th annual Family Math and Family Science Summit, the UFS and its partners reflected on the progress made and the work still needed to ensure that more children experience mathematics and science as subjects in which they can participate and succeed. Read more: ufsweb.co/4As0C6Q #UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResponsibleSocietalFutures #ResearchImpact #Impact

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗞𝗼𝘃𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲! University of the Free State (UFS) student-athlete Reamogetswe Plaatjies continues to make her mark in South African basketball. After representing UFS at the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Basketball Championships for three consecutive years and competing for the Free State Warriors in the Basketball National League (BNL), Plaatjies has been recognised as one of the BNL 2026 Top 4 Rookies. Kovsie Basketball is behind you, Reamogetswe! Read more: ufsweb.co/4Aqk1VV

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺? Speaking at the 2026 Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, UFS Associate Professor Hlamalani Ngwenya highlighted the 238 million 'invisible intellectuals' whose knowledge and daily work help shape African agriculture. Discover how UFS research is championing human-centred AI for sustainable agricultural futures: ufsweb.co/4dflF2T #UFS #KovsieExcellence #Vision130 #ResponsibleSocietalFutures #AIinAgriculture #AFSF2026 #CommunicationForInnovation

𝗞𝗼𝘃𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗛𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗔 𝗨𝟮𝟭 𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱! A proud moment for the University of the Free State as Kadin Jenkins and Luke Mosala, members of the UFS Men’s Hockey team, have been selected for the South African U21 team. @SA_Hockey The achievement is a testament to their talent, discipline, resilience and commitment, while also reflecting the strength of our University's high-performance hockey programme and our dedicated role in developing student-athletes who excel both on and off the field. Congratulations, Kadin and Luke! We are proud to see you take your Kovsie journey to the national stage. #UniversityoftheFreeState #KovsieSports #ProudlyKovsies

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻, 𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗺? Prof Lyudmila Moskaleva’s inaugural lecture takes us into a world too small and too fast for the human eye to see. Through computational chemistry, her research uses quantum mechanics, mathematics, and powerful computers to explore how atoms move, bonds form and break, and catalysts make chemical reactions happen. Her research shows how scientists can use models and ‘molecular movies’ to make the invisible visible, revealing what is happening on the atomic scale, and helping us understand how better, more efficient catalysts could be developed. Read more about the science behind If Molecules Could Talk: Adventures in Computational Chemistry. Read more here: ufsweb.co/4cSbuB3 #UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResponsibleSocietalFutures #ResearchImpact #InnovationInAction

Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo went for a run after work. It is one of the most ordinary freedoms. To leave your home, to move through your own neighbourhood, to come back. She did not come back. Her eight-year-old daughter raised the alarm. Her body was found behind a hotel in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park. Since mid-July, women’s bodies have been found across Ekurhuleni beside the R21, in the veld at Olifantsfontein, in a river at Clayville, and on a roadside in KwaThema and in Dawn Park – bringing the total to nine. Only three of these women have been identified. Police say four were sexually assaulted. The Acting Minister of Police called the thought of someone leaving for a run and never returning “too unbearable to think about”. It is. So stop asking women to carry it. The question is not whether women should run in groups. It is what kind of society requires them to do so. Until a woman can go for a run after work and come home to her daughter, we have not answered the disaster we declared. We have only described it, writes Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller. Read more: ufsweb.co/3VkDnvv #Opinion #FlourishingDenied

Graduate unemployment is a serious socioeconomic problem. When graduates cannot find work, something has clearly gone wrong. Yet our concern may conceal a deeper assumption: that the ultimate purpose of education is employment. Education certainly has an economic function. Employment generates income, taxes and participation. But a developing society must surely expect more from education than employable people. Suppose South Africa created enough jobs tomorrow for every unemployed graduate. It would be a major achievement. But would South Africa necessarily become substantially more developed? Not necessarily. We should remain deeply concerned about graduate unemployment. But after three decades of expanded higher education, we must ask a bigger question than simply where the jobs are: What is South Africa doing with all the knowledge it has produced, asks UFS Prof Mpumelelo Ncube? Read more: ufsweb.co/4j93oYx #Opinion #KnowledgeForChange #UnemployedGraduates

The University of the Free State invites you to a thought-provoking Heritage Day Lecture exploring the rich knowledge systems and healing traditions of South(ern) Africa. Indigenous Medicines and Healing Heritages in South(ern) Africa Presented by the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies, in collaboration with the Directorate for International Partnerships and Relations, the lecture will explore indigenous medicines, healing practices and their place within the region’s heritage. 📅 Monday, 21 September 2026 🕛 12:00–14:00 📍 E0014, Sedibeng Building, Qwaqwa Campus Join us as we engage with the knowledge, traditions and practices that form an important part of South(ern) Africa’s heritage. #UFS #HeritageDay #IndigenousKnowledge