TB Davie Lecture nominations and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

The University of Cape Town (UCT)’s Academic Freedom Committee (AFC) is calling for speakers’ nominations for the annual TB Davie Memorial Lecture. The deadline for nominations is 21 December 2022. Read about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. TB Davie Lecture – call for nominations

The AFC invites UCT staff and students to nominate speakers for the 2023 TB Davie Memorial Lecture. The lecture is an important event in UCT’s calendar, and an opportunity to affirm and clarify the values of academic freedom in the contemporary context, and to stimulate debate.

Nominations should:

• not exceed three pages
• include a brief curriculum vitae of the nominated speaker.

Nominations should be submitted to Dee Benjamin by no later than Wednesday, 21 December 2022.

2. Introducing the UCT Transformation Report 2021

The university has released its annual transformation report. This report helps the university community to frame its thinking more accurately about challenges and experiences at UCT to better accomplish real change. The UCT Transformation Report 2021 is themed “Fear, flame and metamorphosis: transformation, diversity and inclusion in uncertain times”. The theme reflects on the context of the university, the challenges UCT faced in 2021 and how the UCT community responded with courage and innovative interventions.

• Read the DVC Desk: Introducing the UCT Transformation Report 2021.
• Read the Transformation Report 2021.

3. Ethics module roll-out on eRA

Applying a risk-based approach to ethics review is crucial to future-proofing research at UCT. It is against this backdrop that the university is rolling out an online risk-based ethics application and review module, using the Electronic Research Administration (eRA) system. The ethics implementation team has designed and refined the new ethics application process on eRA in consultation with faculty representatives. This has been rolled out to the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment as well as the Centre for Higher Education and Development; while its introduction has commenced in the Health Sciences, Commerce, and Science faculties.

The roll-out within these units is in various stages.

• Read the DVC Desk: Update on ethics module roll-out on eRA.

4. Reminder: OIC sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) campaign

Through the Office for Inclusivity & Change (OIC), in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences, UCT launched the “Behind U Periodt! – You are not alone” campaign on Monday, 28 November 2022, as part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign.

UCT has partnered with two non-profit organisations, the Victoria District Hospital’s Thuthuzela Care Centre and the Sparrow Society. This partnership will highlight the valuable work that these organisations are doing. 

Staff and students are requested to donate personal care packs items that will be distributed to these organisations. The care pack items include toothbrushes, toothpastes, facecloths, soaps, hand creams, small sanitisers, deodorants, shampoos, medical kits (plasters, disinfectants, cotton wool), sanitary pads and underwear for both men and women. Students and staff are also requested to take time and write messages of support to the people who will receive the care packs.

Drop off boxes for the donated items will be placed at Campus Protection Services’ Burnage House, which is adjacent to Leo Marquard Hall on Burnage Road, lower campus.

The boxes will be collected from Burnage House on 10 December. Faculties and departments may also organise drop off boxes in their offices. Those who wish to support the campaign by giving money can donate directly to the Sparrow Society and Victoria Hospital.

• Donate to the Sparrow Society.
• Donate to the Victoria Hospital.

For further information, please contact Undere Deglon.

• Read more about the campaign.

5. Reminder: Intimate partner violence survey

The university takes a zero-tolerance approach to any form of abuse and harassment by being responsive and effective in managing reported incidences of SGBV. Students are encouraged to take part in an important survey to help understand intimate partner violence (IPV) on campus. This project is a collaboration between the UCT Centre of Criminology and the OIC. The findings of the survey will help improve the university’s response to IPV on campus.

The survey will ask about a participant’s understanding, views and experiences of IPV as a UCT student on campus. It will also pose some questions about how a participant seeks resolution for incidents of IPV, and about their awareness of existing UCT policies aimed at addressing IPV.

This is not only a survey for women students. As many people as possible are needed to participate so that the challenge can be better understood. It is also not only a survey for people who have experienced IPV, but for all students.

If you choose to take part in the survey, all the information you share will be completely anonymous. Your responses cannot be linked back to you. You can stop participating in the survey at any time by simply closing the questionnaire. You can also skip questions you prefer not to answer.

The findings of the survey will be used by the Centre of Criminology and the university to contribute to improving UCT's response to IPV. The data that you provide will also be used by the Centre of Criminology for academic articles and student dissertation research.

This is your opportunity to have your voice heard. For questions about the research, please email the study’s principal investigator, Associate Professor Kelley Moult from the Centre of Criminology or call 021 650 1285.

• Access the IPV survey.

6. P&S workplace services portal maintenance

The P&S Workplace Services Portal will be suspended on Thursday, 1 December 2022 between 17:00 and 20:00.

Properties and Services (P&S) will perform essential maintenance services on the site during this time. Staff will not have access to the portal for this period of time. The P&S department thanks staff for their patience while this important maintenance update is being undertaken.

For any queries, please email the P&S technical support team.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements