VC’s Open Lecture and other updates

Dear colleagues

The next Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture will be presented by the Auditor-General of South Africa, Ms Tsakani Maluleke, on 30 September 2021. Read more on this and other updates below:

1. VC’s Open Lecture: Tsakani Maluleke

The next virtual Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture will be presented by the Auditor-General of South Africa and University of Cape Town (UCT) alumna, Ms Tsakani Maluleke. The lecture is titled “The role of accountancy professionals in strengthening democracy”. It will take place via the Microsoft Teams platform on Thursday, 30 September 2021 at 18:00 SAST.

• Register online.
• Read the VC Desk: VC’s Open Lecture – Tsakani Maluleke.

2. Social Responsiveness grant deadline extension

The submission deadline for the Social Responsiveness course development grant has been extended to 11 October 2021. At UCT, social responsiveness is an umbrella concept referring to all forms of engagement – teaching, research and service – with external non-academic constituencies. Four grants of R10 000 each are available to develop, design or revise a course that meets the criteria outlined in the application form. For purposes of this grant, these courses need to be a part of the formal curriculum.

• Download the application form.
• Read the DVC Desk: Socially responsive course development grants 2021.

3. CHE institutional audit of UCT

The university is preparing for the self-evaluation report (SER) for the Council on Higher Education (CHE) institutional audit. UCT has established an Institutional Audit Steering Committee responsible for the development of the SER and oversight of the audit preparation. The establishment of workstreams was concluded in July and the Steering Committee is chaired by Deputy Vice-Chancellors Associate Professor Lis Lange and Professor Sue Harrison.

The workstreams have met and are starting to collect information on UCT’s quality management practices. The workstreams will use this to reflect on the effectiveness and coherence of our quality assurance system in enabling student success and on the core functions of teaching and learning, research and social responsiveness. Workstream members will be identifying contacts in faculties and support departments for the provision of information on quality management practices and will shortly be approaching those contacts for information on UCT’s practices.

This exercise is not just a matter of compliance. It has the potential to help UCT improve its internal processes for quality assurance.

• Read the VC Desk: CHE institutional audit of UCT.

4. SWS ICAS On-The-Go Crisis App

Student Wellness Service (SWS) launched the SWS ICAS On-The-Go Crisis App on Monday, 20 September 2021. Students can download the App to obtain confidential and practical counselling support and advise in 11 languages, 24/7/365.

The App enables students to receive immediate counselling or reach out to a professional from wherever they are around the country.

• Read the Campus Announcement: Launch of SWS ICAS On-The-Go Crisis App.

5. Appointment of IPD director

UCT alumnus Ashraf Conrad has been appointed director of the Institutional Planning Department (IPD). Conrad took up the position on 1 September 2021. He joined IPD as a planning officer, going on to become principal planning officer in 2008, a position he held until his most recent appointment. A higher education planning specialist, Conrad brings a wealth of institutional experience to the role.

• Read more about the new institutional planning director.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements