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Sunday, June 8, 2025

16 Days of Activism: Why attitude is key

The international awareness campaign on 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence which is taking place from 25 November to 10 December 2019 provides an appropriate opportunity for higher-education institutions to reflect on a crucial issue that is touching the lives of so many women – including students and staff members – across the country, and the world.

News
Professor Francis Petersen|Published

The Youth Vote: Political Patronising Must Fall

The youth must vote, and political patronising must fall; or else our calls for young people to exercise their hard-won right to vote, will continue to be ignored. South Africa’s youth does not have a culture of voting. And it is getting worse – that much is clear from statistics. Earlier this year, the Electoral Commission of South Africa indicated that young people aged 18-19 make up only 16% of the voters’ roll.

News Education Matric
Professor Francis Petersen|Published

Are South African universities under siege?

2019 is the year of the national general elections in South Africa – 8 May is when South Africans will have an opportunity to vote and to impact change, hopefully for the better. But the beginning of 2019 saw the resurfacing of student protests, mainly driven by issues of registration, challenges associated with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), student accommodation, safety of students (off-campus), insourcing, and various other issues influenced by local institutional conte. . .

News Education Matric
Professor Francis Petersen|Published

South Africa’s big mining challenge

The 25th Investing in African Mining Indaba convenes investors, mining executives, and high-level government officials (and hopefully human-rights and environmental advocates, community representatives, and faith-based organisations) in Cape Town in early February, and it is an opportune time to ask the question: What is the state of mining in South Africa in 2019? The concept of mining is relatively simple: it is to identify a viable ore body, to decide on how best to extract it, and to put t. . .

Opinion
Professor Francis Petersen|Published

Employability: It's about so much more than academic skills

For the past couple of years, there has been an increased focus on efforts to improve the employability of graduates at our institutions of higher learning.

News Opinion
Professor Francis Petersen|Published

EMPLOYABILITY: It’s about so much more than just academic skills

The festive season is traditionally a time to reflect on the year that was, and to turn your focus towards prospects for the future. For graduates from our higher-education institutions, the time has inevitably come to focus on entering the world of work. But getting suitable employment is not always easy and straightforward.

News Education Matric
Professor Francis Petersen|Published

#16DaysofActivism: Creating a campus where women don't live in fear

Professor Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State, explains how he is changing his campus.

News Opinion
Professor Francis Petersen|Published

16 Days of Activism: Why attitude is key

The international awareness campaign on 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children which is taking place from 25 November to 10 December 2018 provides an appropriate opportunity for higher-education institutions to reflect on a crucial issue that is touching the lives of so many women – including students and staff members – across the country, and the world.

News
Professor Francis Petersen|Published

Matrics 2018: A shift from access to success

With Grade 12 learners from across the county in the full throes of writing their matric examination, one inevitably wonders about 2019 and where those who pass successfully, will find themselves. The announcement of subsidised free education last year has increased learners’ access to higher education.

News Education Matric
Professor Francis Petersen|Published