The University of the Free State (UFS) has ushered in a new chapter by launching its new strategic Vision 130.
This was done at the Bloemfontein campus on 29 November.
Prof. Francis Petersen, rector and vice-chancellor of the UFS, explained that this resonated with the institution celebrating 130 years of existence in 2034.
He told guests at the launch, that Vision 130 articulated bold steps that would ensure that the UFS is a university for the Free State, South Africa, the continent, and the global domain. Attendees included student representatives, alumni, members of the UFS council and external stakeholders.
“The basis of Vision 130 is to reposition the University of the Free State to strengthen the institution in terms of excellence and the impact it has on society,” said Petersen.
“We will do this by providing cutting-edge research, but also by providing knowledge, re-imagining knowledge, and producing globally competitive graduates.”
Aspirations for nurturing global role players followed a report released in October of Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023.
The UFS emerged in the 801 to 1 000 range of this ranking, which includes 1 799 institutions from across 104 countries – the largest and most diverse university rankings to date.
This is the UFS’ first entry in the THE’s top university rankings, joining some of the world’s top universities.
The rankings assess institutions globally based on performance indicators such as teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
According to the report the UFS occupies the 801 to 1 000 band with international institutions such as the Chapman University in the United States, the University of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom and the Chengdu University in China.
Petersen acknowledged the university’s values of excellence, innovation and impact, accountability, care, social justice, and sustainability, and said everything was being done to provide an institutional culture that is welcoming, inclusive and diverse.
“This is so that everyone who comes to the university or engages with the university – student, staff, visitor, or stakeholder – feels a sense of belonging.”
According to Petersen, the launch marks the beginning of new and exciting things to come: “The UFS being recognised and acknowledged by its peers and society as a top-tier university in South Afrcia, ranked among the best in the world.”
The UFS was also ranked in Shanghai Ranking’s Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) for 2022. This report was published in August this year.
The university secured a spot in the 901 to 1 000 band globally, and a joint 8 and 9 position in the country together with University of South Africa (Unisa).
The ARWU rates institutions based on alumni and staff who have won Nobel prizes and Fields Medals, highly cited researchers, papers published in nature and science, papers indexed in major citation indices, and the per capita academic performance of an institution.
The UFS participated for the second time.
