Inaugural lecture by Professor Orrell and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

Professor Catherine Orrell will present the next lecture in the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series on Thursday, 22 August 2024. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Catherine Orrell

On Thursday, 22 August 2024, at 17:30 SAST, Professor Orrell will deliver her lecture titled “Toward effective HIV treatment in South Africa – injustice, clinical pharmacology and adherence”. The lecture will be held at the Wolfson Lecture Theatre, IDM Building, Health Sciences Campus.

Professor Orrell is an HIV clinician, clinical pharmacologist, and expert in clinical trials. Since 2004, she has led over 20 antiretroviral clinical trials, encompassing efficacy, toxicity, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, and dosing studies. Her extensive research experience spans state-of-the-art facilities at UCT and community and primary healthcare clinic settings. She leads a clinical research site in Gugulethu – the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation Centre for Adherence and Therapeutics.

In her inaugural lecture, Professor Orrell will explore her two-decade journey as a clinical pharmacologist in developing new antiretroviral treatments and strategies. She will also delve into her deep interest in adherence, examining the factors influencing why individuals do or do not consistently take their life-saving daily medication.

• RSVP to attend the lecture.

The rest of the inaugural lectures scheduled for August will be presented by Professors Sa’diyya Shaikh on 23 August, Dizu Plaatjies on 28 August and Ameeta Jaga on 29 August.

• Read the full VC Desk: UCT Inaugural Lectures for August 2024.

2. Join the UMF anti-GBVF walk

The Office for Inclusivity and Change (OIC), in partnership with the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation (UMF), reminds the UCT community about the annual walk against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), which will take place on Saturday, 24 August 2024.

The UCT community is encouraged to join this significant and impactful event. This year, the UMF seeks to highlight the urgent need to eliminate the fear that women, youth, and children experience due to the lack of safety and security in the country. Through this walk, the OIC and UMF aim to foster safe spaces for open conversations that will inspire a collective shift in mindset, prioritising safety and security for all.

The walk also serves as a call to national leaders to place safety and security at the forefront of the national agenda.

The walk, under the theme “Eliminating the Fear: Prioritising Safety and Security”, will start from 10 Darling Street at 08:30, then proceed to Parliament.

• Register for the walk.

3. SWS student mental well-being survey

The Department of Student Affairs’ Student Wellness Service (SWS) is conducting a crucial survey on student mental health.

Participation is completely anonymous, and an information sheet with all details is available for your informed consent. By sharing your experiences, you can contribute to making a difference in the mental health support available to UCT students.

Any questions or concerns regarding the survey should be directed to the SWS practice manager.

In addition, SWS has launched a campaign to spotlight women’s health throughout August, featuring engaging talks and insightful discussions on UCT Radio and social media platforms.

SWS also reminds students of the available support services, including the main clinic at Ivan Toms Building, the Upper Campus clinic, counseling services, pharmacy services, and other resources.

• Read the full Campus Announcement: SWS student mental well-being survey and health promotion month.

4 SRC and Faculty Council election nominations closing soon

Students are reminded that nominations for the Faculty Council and Students’ Representative Council (SRC) elections are still open. The SRC nominations will close on Friday, 23 August 2024, and the Faculty Council nominations will close a week later on Friday, 30 August 2024.

Running for SRC or Faculty Council is a rewarding and impactful experience that fosters personal growth and skills development. It offers the chance to advocate for meaningful change and leave a lasting positive impact on campus life. Being part of the student leadership not only benefits you but also enriches the entire campus community.

The nomination forms and supporting documents can be accessed as follows (please download, complete and send the nomination form via email):

• SRC nomination form.
• SRC supporting documents.
• Faculty Council nomination form.
• Faculty Council supporting documents.

If you have any questions or need further updates, please feel free to send an email or follow UCT Elections on Instagram, X, Facebook or TikTok.

The UCT Election Office encourages you to submit your nominations early to avoid the last-minute rush, and looks forward to seeing your names on the ballot. Remember, Democracy 2.0: Your Vote Counts!

• Watch videos by the vice-chancellor and the deputy vice-chancellor: transformation, student affairs and social responsiveness.

5. Session on introduction to administration and organisation management

The UCT Lead Academy, through its capacity building pathway, will present a session on “Introduction to administration and organisation management” on Friday, 23 August 2023. The session, scheduled for 16:00–17:30 at CS203, Computer Science Building, will be facilitated by Lindie Gayiza and Phumza Qwaqwa.

The topics include fundamentals of administration; record-keeping; resource management; and logistics.

As part of the learning outcomes, participants will:

• explore the fundamentals of administration within organisations, including tasks such as record-keeping, resource management, and logistics coordination,
• learn practical strategies and tools for effective administration, such as time management techniques and organisational skills,
• engage in a task prioritisation exercise, to reinforce the concepts learned,
• be provided with a list of tasks relevant to their roles and asked to prioritise them based on urgency, importance, and feasibility within a given period.
• gain firsthand experience in prioritising tasks effectively, essential for managing their roles as students.

The session is open to all students.

• Please RSVP for the session.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements