Die - University of the Free State

Alumni
Graduates have role to play
at UFS, South Africa
Dr Ezekiel Moraka, Vice-rector: Student
Affairs at the University of
the Free State, called on graduates
to plough back into their communties. He
was one of the speakers at an alumni function
in September in Bloemfontein.
He said: “I hope that you are organising
yourselves within the context of ploughing
back to communities by way of continued
strategic interventions such as:
• Engaging in skills development in communities
and doing other relevant community
projects,
• Initiating business networks and new
venture partnerships,
• Having capacity development activities
for our people and students of the
University of the Free State,
• Being a center of influence, thus producing
role-models for our learners
and students to look up to,
• Engaging in the affairs of South Africa.
“When you came to the UFS, it was for
a particular purpose, to acquire a specific
qualification, a skill. Today you have realised
that dream. Now the skill you have acquired
is for your interest, for the university’s
interest, and for the interest of the
broader South Africa.
“I think, for your skill to be relevant,
you need to use it within the context of the
challenges that South Africa is faced, namely
a leadership crisis, the HIV/Aids
scourge, politics, diversity, stereotypes, prejudices
and racism, transformation, unemployment,
poverty, job-losses, student
funding, government subsidy for higher education,
globalisation.
“This reality requires skilful and morally
upright people to address it adequately
and effectively. You are part of those skillful
people who can make a difference in
the lives of our people. You have a very
critical role to play. It is about time for
graduates to take stock of their role and
take their rightful position in the reconstruction
and development of our country
and the education sector in particular.
Mr Gayton McKenzie, well-known motivational speaker and writer of the novel The Choice, addressed
alumni on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein. From the left are: Mr
McKenzie, Dr Ezekiel Moraka (Vice-Rector: Student Affairs), Dr Choice Makhetha (Vice-Dean: Student
Affairs) and Dr Ivan van Rooyen (Director of UFS Marketing).
“The University of the Free State exists
in these circumstances. It is equally affected
by these challenges. As a societal
structure, the university is dependent on
the society because of being accountable to
and economically dependent on society.
Thus, the university prepares people out of
the society, for the society and for the university
as a societal institution. Therefore,
even if you are no longer here, do not forget
the university. We cannot go it alone
without your inputs. This is your institution.
For instance, the university has embarked
on the next phase of transformation.
We need your full participation in this
process so that we can together ensure the
relevance of the University of the Free
State as a true South African university.”
He said: “If the University of the Free
State fails, we all fail. When the University
of the Free State succeeds, we all succeed.
What I am trying to communicate to you is
that managing the University of the Free
State is not an exclusive process. It is not
the sole responsibility of the Council and
the university executive. The University of
the Free state is a national and public asset
of South Africa. We are in partnership as
far as the management of the University of
the Free State is concerned. The government,
public, council, university executive,
students, deans and directors, staff, alumni,
all of us, are in partnership.
“I would further suggest that your role
in relation to our country should be understood
in the same context of partnership.
As graduates, you should always make contributions
towards addressing challenges
that I earlier alluded to. South Africa is
ours and we should have ownership of the
South African society. Shaping and directing
the future of our country should be
central and close to your heart as a graduate,”
he said.
Bult •November 06
30