In a time of increasingly complex social challenges, it has become essential to join forces across a wide range of sectors and disciplines to find effective, lasting solutions.
The month of July is traditionally an opportunity for us as South Africans to get involved in making a real positive difference in our society — in the spirit of selfless giving, exemplified by our esteemed former president, Nelson Mandela.
A good example of this type of collaboration was during the Free State’s vaccination drive last year. The University of the Free State assisted the provincial Department of Health not only through infrastructural support, in the form of computer equipment and furniture at vaccinations sites in Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa but providing high-level mathematical modelling information and guidance on the spread and the identification of high-risk areas in terms of infections.
Our function nowadays is very much a society-focused one, where we concentrate on applying our skills and knowledge to make a real difference in the societies we serve and draw our students from. That role also extends to getting involved in our students’ lives to ensure their academic success. This is why most South African universities have a range of holistic student support initiatives in place — encompassing not only academics but mental and social support as well.
An important component of this support is academic advising, where we make sure that students’ career aspirations and aptitude line up with their study fields, preventing them from ending up in courses that do not fit their interests and natural talents. In terms of research, our various collaborations with individuals, institutions, and organisations across the globe assist us in conducting research that has high industry value and real-world application. Most universities also have some form of community outreach or engaged scholarship strategy, which sees us applying the knowledge we produce in the quest to foster development and innovation, as well as advancing citizenship and service for the public good.
This merging of different specialist fields also often evolves into a transdisciplinary approach which integrates the natural, social, and health sciences in a humanities context, and transcends their traditional boundaries. These approaches have become not only useful but essential in order to address complex modern-day issues.
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