Student fundraising initiative and other updates

Dear students and colleagues

As part of ongoing efforts to raise funds for academically deserving students at the University of Cape Town (UCT), staff and students are urged to support a fundraising initiative at the Cape Town Cycle Tour. Read more about this and other updates.

1. Student fundraising initiative at the Cape Town Cycle Tour

Change can begin with a single pedal stroke. The 46th Cape Town Cycle Tour will take place on Sunday, 10 March 2024. This year, UCT acting Deputy
Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, Professor Jeff Murugan together with the UCT Cycling team are riding in support of the 'Unlocking Futures Bursaries' initiative at UCT.

With full costs for an undergraduate degree running at around R200 000 per year, many UCT students struggle to fund their higher education through their household income. Undergraduate students from households with less than R350 000 income a year qualify for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding.

However, each year UCT has a list of students who have met the full academic requirements but face funding challenges. These students owe amounts above R10 000.

The 2024 Cape Town Cycle Tour provides an opportunity to raise awareness and much-needed funding for student fee debt at UCT. The university is appealing to alumni, staff and students to make a pledge of R10, R50 or R100 for every kilometre Professor Murugan completes in Sunday’s race. Together, let’s invest in student dreams.

• Support the Unlocking Futures Bursaries / Cape Town Cycle Tour 2024 fundraising initiative.

2. Impact of Cape Town Cycle Tour on UCT Shuttle service

Due to the annual Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday, 10 March 2024 and the various road closures planned in the UCT vicinity, students and staff are advised to take note of the following, and make alternative travel arrangements: 

• All routes may experience delays on Sunday, 10 March, due to traffic conditions.
• Hiddingh Campus shuttle services will be suspended on Sunday, 10 March, due to road closures on the M3 highway and in the CBD area.

The university extend gratitude to the UCT community for their patience and understanding and regrets any inconvenience caused.

For more information, please visit the route maps and timetables page on the UCT website, or consult the UCT GoMetro Move app (download on Google Play or App Store).

3. UCT Inaugural Lecture: Professor Susan Cleary

UCT will host the second lecture of 2024 in the UCT Inaugural Lecture Series, to be presented by the head and director of UCT’s School of Public Health Professor Susan Cleary on Thursday, 14 March 2024.

Professor Cleary will present a lecture titled “Bending the arc towards health equity”. It will take place at the Wolfson Lecture Theatre, IDM Building, at 17:00 SAST.

Professor Cleary is an esteemed figure in the field of health economics research and education within South Africa, having significantly impacted the discipline both locally and internationally. Her career has been characterised by a steadfast commitment to addressing issues of health equity, evident in her extensive research and policy endeavours. She has garnered expertise in economic evaluation methodologies, decision analytic modeling, and understanding the economic implications of disease burden. Her academic journey includes the attainment of a Master's degree in Economics in 2001, followed by a PhD in Public Health in 2007, focusing on assessing the intersection of equity and efficiency in HIV treatment within the South African context.

In her lecture, Professor Cleary will reflect on the academic and policy contributions that she has made in this terrain. She will also talk about the key successes in the early days of HIV treatment and ongoing challenges in the areas of universal health coverage and National Health Insurance.

• Read the full VC Desk: Inaugural Lecture: Professor Susan Cleary.

4. Second call for nominations: DVC research and internationalisation selection committee

The Human Resources department has issued a second call for nomination of staff members to serve in the selection committee for the appointment of a new deputy vice-chancellor: research and internationalisation.

The recruitment process provides for staff from various constituency groups to form part of the selection committee for this post. Staff members can nominate representatives for consideration by the chair of council and the vice-chancellor interim to serve on the selection committee.

Nominations are requested for the following staff categories: two academic staff (who are not members of Senate), chosen from a panel of four, elected by the academic staff; one PASS staff member in payclasses 5 to 13 (excluding executive directors and the registrar), chosen from a panel of four, elected by that group of staff; one PASS staff member in payclasses 1 to 4, chosen from a panel of two, elected by that group of staff.

The deadline for nominations is Thursday, 14 March 2024 at 16:00. Nominations received in the first call will be retained.

• Read more about the nomination process, and how to send through nominations.

5. Welcoming back postgraduate students

Different kinds of support and resources are available to postgraduate students at UCT. Whether you are getting started on your studies, somewhere in the middle, or finishing off, there is a wide range of free resources available to enhance your experience.

There is also valuable tips around the registration process; free resources to support your postgraduate development; free services around writing support; services offered by UCT Student Wellness; and funding opportunities available through the Postgraduate Funding Office (PGFO)

• Read the full DVC Desk: Welcoming back postgraduate students.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements