Africa Day - celebrating UCT's African partnerships

Africa Day, 25 May, commemorates the founding in 1963 of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor to the African Union (AU). On this day, the continent celebrates not just the anniversary of this event, as well as the organisation's aspirations for African unity, but it is also a time for reflection on the many challenges that the continent still faces, as well as its successes.

UCT, with students and staff from over 100 countries - including 37 of the 53 African nations - is a cultural melting pot. The university annually celebrates this diversity on Africa Day through various initiatives led by the International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO), faculties, departments and student societies.

This year a series of events will take place before and on Africa Day, culminating in an exhibition that will showcase already significant research collaborations and other academic partnerships between UCT and its counterparts in Africa.

Friday, 22 May

Students Africa Day Celebration Dinner

This event will take place from 18h00 to 20h00 in the Molly Blackburn Memorial Hall. (Please note that this is a change to the venue mentioned in the print version of Monday Paper of 11-24 May). It will be hosted by the Students Representative Council (SRC) and all students are invited. Entrance is free, but it is essential to book a seat in advance. Please RSVP to Amanda Ngwenya by 19 May.

Monday 25 May

Exhibition and panel discussion - Celebrating UCT's Africa Partnerships

This will take place in the Robert Leslie Social Science building.

An academic exhibition on the Mezzanine level of the RLSS building will showcase the various UCT research groups that have established strong links in Africa, and will thus show the richness of existing links between this and other African institutions.

Representatives from these groups will be on hand to answer questions and show what is possible for those who wish to connect with fellow researchers in other African countries.

The exhibition will be opened by Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price at a cocktail reception at 17h00 for 17h30.

Information on IAPO and the African Academic Links Section will also be on display.

A cultural exhibition hosted by a diverse range of student societies will be held on the foyer level during the Meridian.

An interactive panel discussion has been scheduled for 16h00 in LT1, Graduate School of Humanities, next to the RLSS building, when the panel will share their experiences and successes in establishing links and exchanges in Africa.

For more detailed information on these events, please visit the UCT website. All members of the UCT community are warmly invited to visit the RLSS building on 25 May.