The University of the Free State is recruiting one unemployed South African graduate with a National Qualifications Framework Level 9 master’s degree for a 24-month ETDP SETA Disaster Management internship. The Bloemfontein-based position pays R8 500 per month, begins on 1 August 2026 and closes for online applications on 20 July 2026.
For a graduate interested in climate resilience and disaster-risk reduction, this placement offers unusually specialised experience. The successful candidate will contribute to research, training, policy development, data analysis and stakeholder-engagement activities.
The position is based within the Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, known as DiMTEC, under the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Candidates can identify the opportunity using reference number 110357.
Why is this UFS internship different from a general graduate placement?
The internship is closely aligned with postgraduate studies in Disaster Management rather than general office support.
The successful graduate will assist with projects focused on disaster-risk reduction, climate adaptation and community resilience. This may involve analysing research, contributing to technical reports and supporting training activities.
The programme also provides exposure to universities, government departments, community organisations, researchers and disaster-management professionals.
Only one position is available, making eligibility and document completeness especially important.
Who meets the compulsory entry conditions?
Applicants must have completed one of the following:
- A master’s degree at National Qualifications Framework Level 9 in Disaster Management
- A closely related qualification at National Qualifications Framework Level 9
Candidates who have not completed the required qualification may not be considered.
Applicants must also:
- Be South African citizens.
- Be between 18 and 35 years old.
- Be unemployed.
- Not be studying full-time.
- Have no previous formal work experience.
- Not have participated in an internship programme before.
- Not currently be participating in an internship or learnership.
- Be available for the complete 24-month programme.
- Be willing to sign an internship or learnership agreement with the University.
The University will consider candidates who satisfy all the inherent requirements attached to the position.
What research will the Disaster Management intern support?
Research forms a substantial part of the placement.
The successful candidate will assist with disaster-risk reduction, resilience and climate-adaptation projects while working according to approved research methods and ethical standards.
Responsibilities will include:
- Conducting systematic literature searches
- Reviewing and summarising scientific publications
- Supporting disaster-risk reduction research projects
- Assisting with climate-adaptation and resilience projects
- Collecting quantitative and qualitative data
- Capturing and organising research information
- Supporting the analysis of research results
- Using suitable statistical or qualitative-analysis software
- Drafting research reports
- Preparing policy briefs and technical reports
- Contributing to sections of academic publications
- Maintaining confidential research records
Candidates should be comfortable working with detailed academic documents, data and research findings.
How will the intern contribute to training activities?
DiMTEC provides Disaster Management education, training and professional-development activities. The intern will help prepare and coordinate some of these initiatives.
Training responsibilities may include:
- Supporting workshops
- Assisting with seminars and short courses
- Preparing workshop materials
- Coordinating training-related administration
- Supporting participants and facilitators
- Assisting with professional-development activities
- Attending conferences, seminars and journal clubs
This part of the programme requires good planning, communication and organisational ability.
Which stakeholders could the intern work with?
Disaster Management projects often require cooperation between researchers, public institutions and affected communities.
The successful candidate may engage with:
- Government departments
- Non-governmental organisations
- Community organisations
- Research partners
- Academic staff
- University students
- Disaster-management professionals
- Environmental and climate-resilience stakeholders
The intern will assist with professional communication, consultation and project-engagement activities involving these groups.
Strong interpersonal skills will therefore be important, especially when working with people from different professional and community backgrounds.
Which additional qualifications could strengthen an application?
Several forms of training and experience will be advantageous, although they do not replace the compulsory master’s qualification.
Beneficial experience includes:
- Geographic Information Systems training or certification
- Geographic Information Systems experience related to disaster-risk management
- Experience using ArcGIS or QGIS
- Experience using SPSS, R or similar statistical software
- Experience using NVivo or similar qualitative-analysis software
- Participation in community-based disaster-risk reduction projects
- Exposure to climate-resilience projects
- Experience as a postgraduate tutor
- Experience as a demonstrator or research assistant
- Membership of a recognised Disaster Management or environmental sciences professional body
Candidates should include any relevant research projects, software abilities, publications, tutoring experience or community involvement in their curriculum vitae.
What workplace competencies will UFS expect?
The position requires a candidate who can produce reliable work while following institutional procedures and research-ethics requirements.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong attention to detail
- Reliability and dependability
- Commitment to completing assigned responsibilities
- Logical analysis and problem-solving ability
- Ability to organise work clearly
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office
- Understanding of workplace professionalism
- Commitment to ethical conduct
- Motivation and positive energy
- Ability to cooperate with colleagues
- Strong interpersonal communication
- Ability to work through consultation
- Willingness to collaborate under supervision
- Professional and respectful conduct
The successful candidate should be comfortable balancing independent tasks with teamwork and supervised project responsibilities.
What will the successful graduate receive?
The selected intern will receive a fixed salary of R8 500 per month.
The programme will run for 24 months, and the intern will be expected to work 40 hours per week. The anticipated assumption-of-duties date is 1 August 2026.
The full programme period gives the candidate time to build sustained research, data, training and stakeholder-engagement experience.
Which documents must be uploaded?
Every compulsory document must be submitted through the University’s online recruitment system.
Applicants must prepare:
- A detailed and updated curriculum vitae
- Copies of completed qualifications
- Official proof of qualifications obtained
- A South African Qualifications Authority evaluation for foreign qualifications
- A copy of a South African identity document
- An affidavit confirming unemployment
- An affidavit confirming no previous participation in a SETA-funded internship
- Any additional documents requested on the online vacancy page
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
How should candidates manage the eight-attachment limit?
The University’s online recruitment system allows a maximum of eight attachments.
Candidates can reduce the number of uploads by combining related documents into clearly organised PDF files. For example:
- Combine qualifications and academic records.
- Place the identity document and affidavits in one file.
- Combine relevant certificates and supporting documents.
All pages should remain clear, readable and correctly orientated after being combined. Candidates should also confirm that each file has uploaded successfully before completing the application.
Itumeleng’s Insider Tip: Do not wait until the final screen to discover that you have exceeded the eight-attachment limit. Prepare combined PDF files in advance, give each file a clear name and confirm that both required affidavits are included.
How must applications be submitted?
Applications must be completed through the official University of the Free State online recruitment portal.
Use the following information to locate the correct position:
- Position: ETDP SETA Internship
- Reference number: 110357
Applicants must complete the online application form and upload all required supporting documents by 20 July 2026.
Applications sent by email, delivered by hand or submitted through another platform will not be considered.
How can candidates request more information?
Questions about the position can be directed to:
Telephone: 051 401 7659
Email: SejanamaneP@ufs.ac.za
Additional telephone assistance is available on:
- 051 401 2558
- 051 401 9813
The enquiry contact should not be used as an alternative application method.
What happens after applications close?
Shortlisted candidates may undergo several screening and verification processes.
These may include:
- Qualification verification
- Identity verification
- Citizenship verification
- Previous internship checks
- Employment-history checks
- Reference checks
- Competency assessments
- Other relevant screening procedures
Applicants must ensure that all information provided in their curriculum vitae, affidavits and online application is accurate and verifiable.
Personal information submitted during recruitment will be handled in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act. It may be used for recruitment, selection and verification purposes.
How will applicants know the outcome?
Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates.
Applicants who are not contacted within six weeks after the closing date should consider their applications unsuccessful.
The University of the Free State supports employment equity, diversity and institutional transformation. Preference may be given to applicants from under-represented designated groups in accordance with the University’s Employment Equity Plan.
People with disabilities are encouraged to submit applications. The University reserves the right not to fill the position.
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Final Thoughts
The University of the Free State ETDP SETA Internship offers one Disaster Management graduate a focused route into research, climate resilience, policy support and professional training.
The selected candidate will earn R8 500 per month during the 24-month programme and gain experience within the Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa.
Applicants must hold a completed National Qualifications Framework Level 9 master’s degree, meet all youth and unemployment requirements and upload a complete online application by 20 July 2026.
