At the sod-turning ceremony of the construction of the new Jewellery Design Building in the Faculty of Humanities from left: Dr Sally Dzingwa, Institutional Registrar, Prof. Wendy Setlalentoa, Dean of Humanities, Prof. Pamela Dube, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. David Ngidi, DVC: Teaching and Learning and Ms Michele Barnard, HoD: Design and Studio Arts.

The Central University of Technology, Free State, is actively engaged in various small, medium, and large projects to uphold its vision of becoming a leading university of technology in Africa. 

On 28 May 2024, the university launched its third ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the new Jewellery Design Building in the Faculty of Humanities. This launch follows the successful completion of our first mega project at the Welkom Campus in 2023, which involved the construction of a state-of-the-art facility.  

The university also working toward the completion of a new student residence at the Bloemfontein Campus, providing comfortable and modern living spaces for students. These initiatives are part of the university’s ongoing efforts to enhance its infrastructure and academic offerings.  

The Jewellery Design Building, a single-story structure, will be a unique addition to the Bloemfontein campus. It will be situated at the southwestern corner, at the intersection of President Brand and President Boshoff Roads. 

The modern contemporary building will include an exhibition area, two technical studios equipped with the latest tools and equipment, a CAD laboratory for digital design, a sculpture and casting studio for hands-on creation, ablution facilities, a serving kitchen area, a storeroom, and offices. 

This highly specialised building will focus on practical training and hands-on learning, offering a unique learning experience for students and staff. The construction is estimated to be completed in the 2^nd quarter of 2025 to the tune of approximately 24 million.

 “These projects are important to us; they represent the essence of our university's development agenda. They will provide our current students with conducive spaces to thrive, academic experiences and a world of possibilities and opportunities. They also become a major attraction for prospective students, promising a vibrant and enriching university life. 

In addition, they are helping us to meet the current demand for more residential space for our students, and most importantly, they are aligned with our strategic objectives to reflect our commitment to delivering top-quality education and research projects,” said Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Pamela Dube.  

“I commend our Dean of Humanities, Prof. Wendy Setlalentoa and her team for their vision of establishing the Jewellery School to make our offerings relevant to the industry and contribute skills development to this small but important niche industry. I also commend our government for providing more investment and continuous support for these infrastructure projects at our university, as they remain priority areas for the country’s growth and development agenda,” she added.