13 July 2020

CONTINUATION OF SERVICES TO SCHOOLS AND GRADE 12 LEARNERS

Dear School Principal

The Department of Student Recruitment Services of the University of the Free State (UFS) hopes that you have settled into a new normal and that the return of your learners is going well.

Thank you for your hard work in ensuring that the teaching and learning of the school curriculum continuous.

In my previous two letters and the letter from the Office of the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, the UFS assured you of our caring support in preparing your learners for post-school education. I would like to extend the invitation once again to contact the Department for Student Recruitment Services and to confirm that our commitment to you remains steadfast in these uncertain times. You are the most important stakeholder in the student recruitment landscape and our relationship is of paramount significance. Therefore, it is with pride that I am informing you of the developments at the UFS that will strengthen our relationship. These developments are:

• Virtual engagement with the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen You are invited to virtually engage with the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen on 27 July 2020 at 17:00 regarding all matters UFS. This is your opportunity to discuss matters of interest or concern with him personally. In order to manage this engagement effectively, you are kindly requested to forward your questions to Ilze Bakkes at bakkese@ufs.ac.za. There will also be an opportunity to take questions from the floor. An invitation will be sent to you in the coming week.

• UFS Virtual Open Day 2020 We are doing things differently in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent national lockdown restrictions created in many ways exciting opportunities for innovation. I am very happy to announce that the first ever Virtual Open Day of the University of the Free State will be launched on 31 July 2020. Your learners, and it includes all grades, are invited to visit www.ufs.ac.za and get all the in-depth information about undergraduate studies you are interested in, how to apply, facilities, and off course, the vibrant KovsieLife. Not only will your learners obtain valuable information, but your teaching staff as well. We developed the Virtual Open Day with the current anxiety levels of your learners and staff in mind, with the purpose to create a hassle-free experience with access to as many academic, administrative and social resources that will calm those anxieties.

Visitors can experience the Kovsie vibe from the comfort of their own homes, whenever they want, and wherever they are from 31 July until 30 September. Kindly inform your learners and staff, but also keep an eye on social and traditional media in the next three weeks for information on the UFS Virtual Open Day 2020.

• Kovsie2B ChatBot If that is not enough, the good news keeps getting better. The UFS is also launching the Kovsie2B Chatbot on 31 July, which is one more way for your learners to get information at the fingertips. Any questions can be sent via the WhatsApp platform to 087 240 6370. In cases where the Kovsie2B Chatbot is unable to answer a question, it will be escalated to a human handle for a speedy reply.

• Social media connectivity Since the national lockdown in March, the school marketing team was unable to visit your schools to facilitate application to the UFS and to answer questions. As a means to circumvent these restrictions, we need to do an assessment of your school’s presence on social media platforms. As all the information regarding tertiary studies at the UFS is disseminated via Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, we urge you to activate social media platforms where they do not yet exist or to engage with us via your school’s social media platforms where they do exist. For assistance in this regard, kindly contact Teli Mothabeng at mothagengti@ufs.ac.za.

• Learners’ information As indicated above, the national lockdown has forced the UFS to investigate alternative methods to engage with your learners. We are aggressively encouraging learners to remain in the Free State province for their post-school education. The reality is learners who move beyond the borders of our province, never return back to start their careers in the province. This ‘brain drain’ results in the decline of the economic and intellectual capital of the province and improves the socio-economical prosperity of other provinces. Studying close to home, also provides many advantages such as access to quality education, affordable tuition fees, lower cost of living, academic support, improved emotional wellbeing, and access to financial support. In order to promote the UFS as an academically strong and socially engaged university, we require access to the Grade 11 and 12 learner information in terms of their results and contact detail. Our aim is to personally engage with them and to provide them of the services they deserve. We undertake to keep all information confidential and to not share it with other UFS departments and other external parties. If you are willing to share that information, you can send it to me directly at mbadin@ufs.ac.za and I undertake to share it with only the school marketer who services your school. Alternatively, learners can be directed to complete the enquiry form available at https://apps.ufs.ac.za/leads.

• Co-conversations with school principals The UFS regards our schools as a key partner with regards to the role that the UFS plays in addressing the needs of its communities through the generation of new knowledge, the sharing and application of new and existing knowledge and also the forward integration of knowledge into the industries locally and beyond South Africa. Therefore, the UFS would like to create co-conversations with you, our school principals to reflect on the changing business and education model and to identify and articulate areas of synergy as well as to play a reciprocal role in your thought process and business models during COVID-19 and moving towards post COVID-19. Your processes have a direct impact on the teaching and learning model of the UFS and our aim is to play an active role in creating a new business model for teaching and learning at secondary school level. Since we are key partners, we can share experiences, insights, reflections and knowledge that will direct and influence the education landscape in South Africa. My office will set up the co-conversation engagements in the near future.

• Applications are open Applications to study an undergraduate programme, opened on 1 April and close on 30 September. Learners are encouraged to apply even though they do not meet the requirements with their November grade 11 final results. They have a second opportunity with their September grade 12 results to ensure they qualify for University. For more information, kindly contact the school marketing team or send an email to ufsmarketing@ufs.ac.za or studentadmin@ufs.ac.za or send a message to the Kovsie2B ChatBot at 087 240 6370 (only from 31 July). Our friendly agents are ready to answer any questions.

In these difficult times and future uncertainty, one thing that remains constant that you can rely on, is that the UFS cares about you, your staff and your learners.

I would like to make use of this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to do everything we can to keep your Grade 12 learners on track in their preparations for post-school education.

Our team remains ready and committed to re-assure and assist you, your staff and learners with any information and guidance, especially to limit the levels of distress and anxiety among the Grade 12 learners.

We once again invite you, your staff and Grade 12 learners to make use of our guidance, advice and various services through the following platforms:

• WhatsApp or email • Calls • Kovsie2B Facebook • Website – www.ufs.ac.za/prospective • Chat to us facility: Complete the information required at www.ufs.ac.za/leads and we

will get back to you • UFS Call Centre: T: +27 51 401 9666 or E: studentadmins@ufs.ac.za • School marketing team contact list:

Name and Surname Contact no Email Address

Ms Nomonde Mbadi 072 613 7104 MbadiN@ufs.ac.za

Mr Teli Mothabeng MothabengTI@ufs.ac.za

Mr Thato Phakoe 083 635 2458 PhakoeTKW@ufs.ac.za

Mr Tshidiso Masakala 060 583 4592 MasakalaT@ufs.ac.za

Mr Samson Masoka 078 789 2339 MasokaNS@ufs.ac.za

Mr Louis Lucas 082 928 6276 LucasLC@ufs.ac.za

Mr Rynhardt Smidt 060 993 5820 SmidtR@ufs.ac.za

Ms Leandré Barlow 066 485 0863 BarlowL@ufs.ac.za

Ms Alzena Brink 076 021 4570 BrinkAT@ufs.ac.za

Ms Marieta Landman 051 401 3000 MLandman@ufs.ac.za

Ms Mamello Masithela 051 401 3000 MasithelaM@ufs.ac.za

Mr Vusi Mkhwanazi 076 760 2006 MkhwanaziVV@ufs.ac.za

Ms Qaqamba Mhlauli 071 190 8597 MhlauliQS@ufs.ac.za

Ms Cindy Hack 060 501 2146 HackCJ@ufs.ac.za

Mr Molebatsi Mosimanegape 051 401 3000 MosimanegapeMP@ufs.ac.za

Your health and safety is paramount to us. We promise to keep you informed of any information or changes that can impact you.

Take care of your health, your family and stay safe. Together we are stronger.

Kind regards

……………………..

Ms Nomonde Mbadi and team

Director: Student Recruitment Services