Updates on campus developments

Dear colleagues and students

This communication provides updates on a number of activities and events at the University of Cape Town.

Statement of support for the UCT executive from UCT Council

Council held its final meeting for the year on 10 December 2016, where it commended the work done by Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price and deputy vice-chancellors (DVCs) Professor Sandra Klopper, Professor Anwar Mall, Professor Francis Petersen and Professor Danie Visser. Council took the opportunity to express its support and gratitude to the members of the executive for their persistence and determination in reaching the solutions needed to ensure the ongoing success of the academic project at the university. Read the full statement...

The 2016–2020 Strategic Plan

The UCT 2016–2020 Strategic Plan was adopted by Council in its last meeting. The plan is organised around five key goals: to promote decolonisation through forging a new inclusive identity; to promote UCT as a vibrant and supportive intellectual environment; to advance UCT as a research-intensive university; to renew and innovate in teaching and learning; and to enhance the scope, quality and impact of engaged scholarship. Read the full Strategic Plan...

Updates on executive appointments

Following the announcement that Professor Francis Petersen has been appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State and is set to leave UCT at the end of March 2017, the UCT Council has approved the appointment of Professor Hugh Corder as Acting DVC: Institutional Innovation. Read Professor Corder's CV...

Professor Daya Reddy has been appointed by Council to be acting DVC: Teaching and Learning with effect from 1 January 2017. He will take over the portfolio of Professor Sandra Klopper, whose term will expire at the end of this month. Read Professor Reddy's abridged CV...

Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng will take up her portfolio as DVC: Research and Internationalisation with effect from 1 January 2017. She joined UCT on 1 July 2016 as DVC designate. She will be taking over the portfolio from Professor Danie Visser, who will retire at the end of 2016. Read Professor Phakeng's abridged CV…

Professor Loretta Feris will take up her portfolio as DVC: Transformation with effect from 1 January 2017. She will be taking over the portfolio from Professor Anwar Mall, who has been acting in this capacity since the departure of Professor Crain Soudien at the end of August 2015. Read Professor Feris's abridged CV...

Associate Professor Harry Garuba will take over as acting Dean for the Faculty of Humanities from Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, who will leave UCT to take up his new role as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare from 1 February 2017. Professor Garuba currently serves as the Deputy Dean in the faculty. Read Professor Garuba's abridged biography...

Associate Professor Mills Soko will take up his position as Director of the UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) with effect from 1 January 2017. He takes over from Professor Walter Baets, who left the GSB at the end of July this year. Read Professor Soko's CV...

SART end of year report

Earlier this year, UCT established the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), a survivor-centred, collaborative and multidisciplinary team designed to empower the university community with the knowledge and skills to effectively respond to and prevent sexual violence. SART has issued their end of year report for 2016. The report focuses on the outcomes of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment cases reported during the year. A total of 32 cases of rape and sexual assault were reported in 2016, while 27 cases of sexual harassment were reported. Read the full report...

2017 Fees approved by Council

Fees for 2017 have been approved by UCT Council. The decision by Council confirmed that qualifying students from families with incomes less than R600 000 will not face any increase in tuition and accommodation costs in 2017. Council approved the implementation of an 8% general increase in tuition fees and a 10% increase in accommodation fees for students who have a household income over R600 000. Council noted that for these students, since there was no increase in fees in 2016, this in effect amounts to a 4% increase per year for tuition and a 5% increase per year for accommodation and meals.

In 2017, for the first time, first-year students who receive funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) will be given free laptop computers for use at the university. This follows a pilot programme with second-year architecture students and first-year chemical engineering, physics and law students. The pilot programme's research, conducted by the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching, clearly documented the significant benefits for teaching and learning that personal laptop use brings. Read more...

Season's greetings

The university leadership extends its best wishes to all the members of the UCT community for a peaceful festive season and a prosperous 2017.

Communication and Marketing Department