Inaugural lecture by Professor Jaga and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

The last of the five lectures scheduled for August in the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series will be presented by Professor Ameeta Jaga on Thursday, 29 August 2024. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Jaga

Professor Jaga will present her inaugural lecture, titled “Balancing acts: Mothering, womanhood and employment”, on Thursday, 29 August 2024 at 17:00 SAST. The lecture will take place in Lecture Theatre LC2A, Level 2, Leslie Commerce Building on upper campus.

Professor Jaga is a professor of organisational psychology in the School of Management Studies at UCT and a non-resident fellow at Harvard University's Hutchins Centre for African and African American Research. Her research takes a Southern and decolonial perspective on the geopolitics of knowledge production, focusing on gender and social class analyses of work-family issues, particularly for low-income mothers. Utilising feminist methodologies such as photovoice, her participatory action research seeks epistemic justice, advocating for better workplace breastfeeding support and policies to address and alleviate the burden of care work, often referred to as ‘the Motherload’.

As an organisational psychologist and an Indian woman balancing the roles of mother, wife, and academic, Professor Jaga has spent the past 15 years exploring how context shapes the work-life balance equation. While this balancing act is challenging for many, it is particularly difficult for single, low-income mothers who face obstacles such as inadequate policies, poor infrastructure, and limited resources within their families, communities, and the state. Moreover, existing theories and solutions from the Global North often fall short in addressing these challenges, as they are rooted in industrial, capitalist, and masculine norms that do not align with the realities of the Global South.

Professor Jaga will unpack all of this during her inaugural lecture. Please note that in-person attendance has reached capacity.

• Join online at 17:00.

2. September graduation season to get under way

The September 2024 graduation season will take place from Monday, 2 September to Wednesday, 4 September 2024.

UCT will host seven ceremonies over three days, with no less than 2 079 students being capped, including 160 PhD graduands.

UCT will confer an honorary doctorate upon Dr Debbie Bradshaw, a world-renowned biostatistician and epidemiologist, who is widely regarded as South Africa’s leading expert in her field. Her distinguished scholarship is evident with an h-index of 73 and over 22 000 citations, including 10 000 in the past five years alone. Over a career spanning nearly 50 years, Dr Bradshaw has been a relentless advocate for the marginalised.

All the ceremonies will be live-streamed on the UCT graduation feature page and the university’s Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) platforms. Recordings will be made available on the UCT YouTube channel and the graduation feature page.

• See the full schedule of September 2024 graduation ceremonies.
• Read the full VC Desk: September 2024 graduation season.
• Read the full VC Desk: UCT to confer honorary doctorate on Dr Bradshaw.

3. UCT FEM FEST to be hosted in October

Are you a woman looking for a day of inspiration, connection, and celebration? Look no further than UCT FEM FEST. This exciting event, entirely hosted by women for women, will be held at Protea by Marriott Hotel Cape Town Mowbray on Saturday, 26 October 2024 from 10:00 to 16:00.

• Book tickets.

4. Please contribute to the UCT Food Sovereignty programme

The UCT Food Sovereignty Programme, established in 2018 by the Department of Student Affairs, is a vital strategic initiative addressing food insecurity, a global and national issue that impacts the student community. This programme aims to promote dignity, well-being, and academic success through compassionate, human-centered support. As part of the initiative, students receive monthly grocery packs to help meet their nutritional needs.

Please consider making a small monthly donation (or direct EFT), so that the university can continue with this much-needed initiative. Please note that donations are tax deductible.

• Contribute to the programme.

For further queries, please contact Nolindo Wabani or Nadierah Pienaar

5. SWS main clinic reopened

Please note that the Student Wellness Service’s (SWS) main clinic at Ivan Toms Building, Lower Campus resumed operations on Thursday, 29 August 2024. This followed its temporary closure on Tuesday, 27 August 2024 after a tree fell onto the main entrance's power lines due to the adverse weather. SWS appreciates students’ patience and understanding during the period.

6. First phase of renovations in Sarah Baartman Hall completed

The flooring in Sarah Baartman Hall (SBH) has been replaced. Thanks to the combined efforts of all involved, this enormous task, as well as vital waterproofing work, was completed on schedule. All work was done in consultation with heritage professionals.

SBH users are notified that the floor is currently covered with temporary carpet. This is to allow the varnish on the new floorboards to finish curing.

7. Remarkable exhibition at the Irma Stern Museum

For the past three years, the UCT Irma Stern Museum (ISM) has partnered with the Western Cape Department of Education on an inspiring initiative involving Grade 11 visual art and design learners from across the province. This “Rethinking Irma Stern” project has encouraged learners to engage critically with Irma Stern's work, leading them to create their own unique artworks and designs in response to her art and collection.

As part of the project, learners participated in educational workshops led by ISM. These workshops provided both practical and theoretical skills, empowering students to create their final pieces. Learners were also encouraged to experiment with various mediums in the process.

UCT students and staff are invited to view this remarkable exhibition at ISM. The museum is open from Wednesday to Friday, from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00. Entry is free upon presentation of a valid UCT student or staff card.

For more information, please contact Nobukho Nqaba.

8. Other important updates and reminders

As per the various recent campus announcements, the UCT community is reminded of the following:

• Faculty Council nominations close on Friday, 30 August 2024.
• The UCT Lead Academy invites 50 first-year students to apply for the First-Year Foundation Programme, scheduled to run from 3 September to 8 October 2024.
• The UCT community is reminded to participate in the review of the Policy on Anti-Racism, Racial Discrimination, and Racial Harassment by completing an electronic survey; attending a stakeholder engagement session (26–30 August); and attending an open consultation session in the Mafeje Room, Bremner Building from 09:00 to 11:00 on 10 September 2024.
• Students are urged to complete a crucial survey on student mental health, conducted by the Department of Student Affairs’ (DSA) SWS.
• The UCT community is invited to participate in an online feedback survey for the UCT Shuttle app.
• The UCT community is reminded to submit proposals to present at the 2024 UCT Teaching and Learning Conference (TLC 2024). 
• The Office for Inclusivity and Change (OIC), in collaboration with DSA, is looking for 60 male-identifying students and 15 male-identifying staff members to form part of a diverse pool of an OIC content creators’ team.

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