Nota Bene

The new Centre for Open Learning (Col) aims to make it easier for the broader public to access academic resources at UCT.

Located in the Hoerikwaggo Building (Old Chemical Engineering Building) within the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED), it will cater for a wide range of learners, including adults who cannot afford to study full-time.

In addition, the new centre, launched on August 23, will expand and consolidate the existing initiatives, such as the Summer and Winter Schools offered under the Extra-Mural Studies Programme. There will also be a considerable expansion of the Summer Term (to be known as Third Term).

The latter are UCT credit-bearing courses and other professional development courses aimed at current students, students from other universities and professionals wanting to improve their skills and qualifications. These courses will be centrally coordinated but offered across faculties and departments.

Director Adrian Strydom said the launch signalled the level of institutional support they were getting to help build the centre into one of the finest in the world.

"All indications are that there is a huge need for the work of the Centre for Open Learning. We would like it to be one of the best of its kind."

Buildings renamed

Council has approved the renaming of several UCT buildings.

These are the Old Chemical Engineering Building that will now be known as Hoerikwaggo, meaning Mountain of the Sea, and the Student Development and Services Building, which is to be called the Steve Biko Students' Union.

Council noted that Biko's life had particular relevance to student movements and to the history of world-wide student activism.

In addition, Council has decided to name the open space inside the Hoerikwaggo building the ZK Matthews Gallery.