The University of the Free State’s (UFS) efforts to break down the barriers in education, enabling students with disabilities to complete their studies, culminated with 49 graduating at 19 ceremonies which ended on Saturday (22/04). They were enrolled at the UFS Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS).
The graduates include three deaf students (sign language users), 19 students with learning difficulties, 14 with mobility impairments, and 12 with visual impairments of whom two are completely blind. They are part of the 8 628 graduates who walked the red carpet during the seven-day graduation events.
The highlights saw Londiwe Mabaso get a feather in her cap, being presented the prestigious Dean’s Medal on Thursday (20/04), and the all-conquering athlete Louzanne Coetzee attained a postgraduate diploma in Business Administration (with distinction) on Wednesday (19/04). Mabaso’s recognition was for achieving the best results for a first degree in the Faculty of Education.
This is Coetzee’s fourth qualification from the UFS. Born blind due to a hereditary condition called Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), Coetzee has a BA degree in Integrated and Corporative Marketing Communication, a BA honours qualification in Integrated and Corporative Marketing Communication, and a master’s degree in Social Cohesion and Reconciliation.
“This is the first time a student with a disability received a Dean’s Medal,” said Lacea Loader. Loader explained that Mabaso overcame many barriers as a deaf student to accomplish her goal by attaining her education qualification with distinction.
The proud graduate from the Eastern Cape explained that a yearning to help hearing-impaired learners in the classroom is what convinced her to pursue the programme.
“I could not believe that I was the one receiving the Dean’s Medal, I was so excited. Seeing everyone in the Callie Human Centre praising me for my achievement gave me such confidence. I felt like the star of the day, as some people asked to take pictures with me,” said Mabaso.
She credits the university’s CUADS centre for providing sufficient support to assist with her studies. “The centre ensured that I had access to everything I needed, including financial support, interpreters, and tutors,” said Mabaso, adding that the achievement has motivated her in her plans to enrol for her honours degree in 2024 and become a lecturer one day.
The following is the list of qualifications attained by the 49 graduates, during the 19 separate ceremonies:
Natural and Agricultural Sciences
- B. Agric (Hons) Irrigation Management
- B. Sc. Extended Programme (Mathematics and Finance)
- Introductory Programme in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management and Project Management
- B.Sc Agric
- B. Sc (Hons) Information Systems
- B. Agric (Hons) Animal Production Management
- 2 x B.Sc Actuarial Sciences
- B. Sc (Hons) Quantity Surveying
- B. Sc
- B. Sc IT
Humanities
- Higher Certificate in Humanities Communication Studies and Psychology
- BA Language Practice
- BA (Extended)
- B. Soc. Sc. Extended Programme
- 4 x B.Soc.Sc.
- B. Soc. Sc (Criminology and Psychology)
- B. Soc. Sc. (Sociology & Criminology)
- B.A (Geography and Sociology)
- B.A (Hons) Languages
- PG Dip. Governance and Political Transformation
Education
- 5 x B. Ed
Law
- LLB Extended programme
Economic and Management Sciences
- PG Dip Financial Planning Law
- B. Acc
- 3 x B. Acc (Hons)
- 5 x B. Com (Hons) Accounting
- B. Com
- B. Com (Hons) Management Accounting
- B. Com Accounting
- B. Com Entrepreneurial Management
- 2 x PG Dip Chartered Accountancy
Theology
- B. Th (Hons) Practical Theology
Health Sciences
- B. Occupational therapy
- B. Physiotherapy
