Campus announcements
UCT ranked top in Africa and other updates
05 October 2018 | Campus AnnouncementDear students and colleagues
This campus announcement aims to inform members of the University of Cape Town community about:
1. UCT ranked top in Africa
The University of Cape Town (UCT) remains the top higher education institution in Africa and has risen 15 places, from 171 to 156, in the world in the 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
2. Coping with stress during examination time
UCT’s Student Wellness Service (SWS) has made information available for coping with stress during examinations. The brochure provides practical tips, various SWS locations on all campuses, available support groups and useful contact details.
3. Rainbow Week
Rainbow Week will be celebrated at UCT from Monday, 8 October to Friday, 12 October 2018. The week is an annual commemoration of the university’s efforts to build an inclusive, non-discriminatory environment for all. It is hoped the week will encourage everyone to make UCT a more inclusive and inviting place for sexually-diverse students and staff. Panel discussions and events – including an art exhibition, poetry performances and a Pride march – will be held on campus during the week.
4. SHAWCO Blue Monday campaign
In celebration of its 75th anniversary this year, UCT’s Students’ Health and Welfare Centres Organisation (SHAWCO) has announced its Blue Monday campaign. The drive, which kicked off on 1 October with the launch of a global SHAWCO pledge, aims to boost volunteerism by spreading awareness about ways to assist marginalised communities across Cape Town. The UCT community is encouraged to wear blue every Monday to support SHAWCO. An exhibition at the Faculty of Health Sciences is currently being showcased, and there are plans to also stage it on upper campus.
5. Lecturers’ survey on student engagement
Lecturers are invited to participate in the 2018 Lecturer Survey of Student Engagement (LSSE).The survey takes about 15-20 minutes to complete. It is designed to measure staff expectations regarding the extent to which students should engage in educational practices empirically linked to high levels of learning and development.
6. Latest edition of UCT News now available
The September edition of UCT News introduces the new dean in the Faculty of Commerce. The edition also highlights the establishment of the “Futures Scholarship”, and invites comments on the Curriculum Change Framework.
7. Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture
The 2018 Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture will be presented by Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The lecture, titled “The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Society”, will take place on Tuesday, 9 October 2018, at New Lecture Theatre, University Avenue South, Upper Campus. It will start at 17:00 (doors open at 16:00). Please RSVP for the lecture by Friday, 5 October.
8. Recent executive appointments
Two new executive appointments were made in September. They are Dr Reno Morar, who takes up the post of Chief Operations Officer with effect from 1 February 2019, and Ms Ujala Satgoor, who becomes UCT’s new Executive Director: Libraries from 1 January 2019.
- Read the VC Desk on the new Chief Operating Officer.
- Read the VC Desk on the new Executive Director: Libraries.
9. Zero tolerance towards fraud
As a publicly-funded institution, UCT supports and fosters a culture of zero tolerance towards fraud and corruption in all our activities. In 2017 the university Council approved a Fraud and Corruption Prevention Policy, which was widely communicated to all internal stakeholders. This policy supports good and responsible governance of all UCT funding in accordance with the Higher Education Act, 1997, as amended, as well as related regulations such as the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 (PRECCA).
10. UCT community urged to continue saving water
Earlier this year UCT initiated a water-saving campaign in response to the water crisis in the Western Cape. The university set itself a 50% water-savings target across campuses. There has been an update on water-saving efforts and everyone is urged to continue saving as much water as possible.
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