Chancellor’s Installation and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

It has been a period of celebration for the past few days at the University of Cape Town (UCT), with the university hosting the virtual December graduation ceremonies, the Chancellor’s Installation and the UCT Annual Awards. Read about these and other recent developments on campus.

1. Chancellor’s Installation

The university hosted an official installation ceremony for the Chancellor, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe. The event was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday, 10 December, and followed stringent COVID-19 protocols.

Guests included chancellors and vice-chancellors of other universities, heads of diplomatic missions and many other VIPs from the diplomatic corps, traditional leaders, civil society and government. Although Dr Moloi-Motsepe has been chancellor since 1 January 2020, her installation was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Visit the Chancellor’s Installation feature page.
• Watch a video of the event.

2. December graduation

Graduation took place on 13 and 14 December 2021 virtually. On both days, each faculty had a specific time slot for the graduation ‘walk of celebration’ for graduands and their family and friends to commemorate this significant milestone on campus.

The university, as part of its tradition, bestowed an honorary doctorate, DMus (honoris causa), on renowned Cape Town ballet master Johaar Mosaval during the Faculty of Humanities virtual graduation ceremony on Monday, 13 December.

• Watch the ceremonies and read inspirational graduates’ stories on the December 2021 feature page.
• Read the VC Desk: Honorary doctorate for Johaar Mosaval.

3. UCT Annual Awards

More than 250 UCT staff members were recognised and celebrated for their contribution to the university’s high standards of service, education and research at the UCT Annual Awards. The university hosted the virtual event on Monday, 6 December 2021.

The celebration acknowledged staff receiving Long Service Awards and the recipients of the Distinguished Teacher Award, the Alan Pifer Research Award and the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence. The evening also recognised those staff members who have received ad hominem promotions this year.

• Read the VC Desk: Over 250 staff celebrated at UCT Annual Awards.

4. Council meeting feedback

Council’s last meeting of the year was held on Saturday, 4 December. Some of the key issues that Council considered at the meeting include COVID-19 vaccinations, LGBTQI+ Panel Review, Teaching and Learning Report 2020, Employment Equity Plan 2022–2026, and a number of policies.

• Read the Chair’s Desk: Report on the UCT Council meeting of 4 December 2021.
• Read Chair’s Desk: Invitation to comment on the findings of the LGBTQI+ panel.

5. Learning Platforms Update Project

On 4 December, UCT Council approved the recommendation that the university adopt the Brightspace, Learning Management System (LMS) from Desire2Learn. This development follows an invitation made to staff and students earlier in the year to contribute to shaping UCT’s future digital learning environments.

• Read the VC Desk: An announcement about our Learning Platforms Update Project.

6. Get your data and IT in order before the holidays

If you’re graduating, retiring, leaving UCT, or just taking some time off, please get your Information Technology in order before departing.

• Read ICTS’s tips for those going on leave.
• Read ICTS’s advice for those retiring or leaving UCT (both staff and students).

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements