Upcoming inaugural lecture and other updates

Dear colleagues

On Wednesday, 16 October 2024, Professor Sandra Young will present her lecture as part of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Sandra Young

Professor Sandra Young will deliver her lecture, titled “Exploring the Literary Imagination in Times of Reckoning: What Might Shakespeare Have to Do with Social Justice Today?” on Wednesday, 16 October 2024 at 17:30 SAST in the LT1 Auditorium, Neville Alexander Building, School of Education on lower campus.

In her lecture, Professor Young will use Shakespeare’s The Tempest as a key case study. The play’s attention to slavery and colonisation reveals how theatre can serve as a platform for grappling with issues of injustice. Historically, The Tempest has been interpreted in vastly different ways. Archival research uncovers a fascinating detail: prior to the abolition of slavery, Shakespeare’s original version of the play was rarely performed. Instead, it was replaced by adaptations that stripped enslaved characters of their humanity. However, the rise of independence movements brought radical changes, and today’s artists continue to reimagine the play, using it to address contemporary concerns about power, justice, and social change.

Professor Young, a scholar of English Literary Studies, focuses her research on social justice questions in imaginative and historical works. Her most recent book, Shakespeare in the Global South: Stories of Oceans Crossed in Contemporary Adaptation, investigates how modern theatre practitioners adapt Shakespeare’s works to explore themes of dispossession, struggle and survival. Her first book, The Early Modern Global South in Print, traces the formation of a racialised ‘South’ in early modern maps and texts. Currently, she is working on a performance history of The Tempest, which began during her fellowship at the Folger Shakespeare Library. This project reflects on the lingering presence of slavery in public culture, spanning from the 17th century to the present.

• Register to attend the lecture.
• Read the full VC Desk: Seven inaugural lectures to be held in October.

The rest of the inaugural lectures in October will be delivered by Professors Marcello Vichi on 21 October, Megan Becker on 22 October, Jay Pather on 23 October and Sudesh Sivarasu on 24 October.

2. VC’s Excellence Awards nominations deadline extended

Staff are reminded that the deadline for nominations for the Vice Chancellor’s (VC) Excellence Awards has been extended to Friday, 18 October.

Nominations for Professional, Administrative Support, and Service (PASS) staff are encouraged for the Global Citizenship Award and the Service Excellence Award. Staff involved in advancing transformation efforts are invited to apply or nominate colleagues for the Transformation Award.

• Read more on the guidelines and criteria for the awards.
• Download the nomination form.
• Read the full VC Desk: Nominations open for VC’s Excellence Awards 2024.
• Submit nominations.

3. Be part of the special events celebrating UCT Day 2024

The UCT community is reminded to join the special events and initiatives celebrating UCT Day 2024 on Friday, 25 October. Building on the successful inaugural events of 2023, UCT Day 2024 is commemorated through a series of fundraising events and initiatives throughout October 2024, during the university’s birthday month.

These initiatives commenced with a phonathon on from 16 September to 2 October, followed by a special benefit concert on 3 October. The commemorations will culminate with on-field sports challenges and an alumni book and film festival on 25 October 2024. All of these activities provide an opportunity to come together to celebrate the vibrant spirit of UCT, and to unite behind initiatives set up to support our students.

Staff, students, alumni, donors and friends of UCT are invited to donate towards:

• The Unlocking Futures Bursary Fund to alleviate historic debt.
• The UCT Food Sovereignty Programme to combat food insecurity on campus.

On 25 October, events will take place as follows:

• The Alumni Book and Film Festival will showcase established and emerging UCT alumni authors and filmmakers. Purchase your ticket to the ‘In Conversation’ style discussions and film screenings to take place throughout the day at the Kramer Law Building precinct, hosted in proud collaboration with Exclusive Books, Sunshine Cinema and the EMS Summer School. Ticket proceeds will be applied to the UCT Unlocking Futures Bursary Fund.
• The UCT Day Cycle-athon and Row-athon, together with outdoor activities for everyone, will take place, with proceeds supporting the UCT Food Sovereignty programme.

The full schedule of UCT Day 2024 activities, including links to event tickets, is available on the official UCT Day website.

• Read the full VC Desk: UCT Day 2024: special day of celebrations and supporting our students.

4. Mental health support available for staff

UCT staff members are reminded of available mental health support services.

The Lyra wellbeing programme, formerly ICAS, will increase their capacity to manage the immediate needs of staff members.

On-site counselling is also available. Staff can access these services by:

• calling a toll-free line for counselling over the phone: 080 111 3945
• sending a please-call-me to *134*905# or
• sending an email. 

Lyra has an online app that allows staff to chat live with an ICAS counselor. The app gives staff and their families access to a 24/7/365 Employee Wellness Programme and information to address their health and wellness needs.

SADAG services

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) is Africa’s largest mental health support and advocacy group, and its services are available to UCT staff members. SADAG offers free telephonic counselling for depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders.

Should you require their counselling services, please contact SADAG by:

• calling 0800 171 171 (toll-free from a Telkom line 24 hours a day)
• sending an SMS to 31393 to request a call back
• emailing for a counsellor to call you back
• visiting the SADAG website for very useful information about how to cope with the daily stresses of working during the national lockdown
• visiting the SADAG Facebook page to access the Daily Expert Q&A from 13:00 to 14:00.

5. Reminder: Complete a questionnaire on AI tools in relation to assessment

Staff members are reminded to participate in a research project focused on developing support services and resources to enhance AI literacy in education and improve assessment practices at UCT.

As generative AI tools become more widely available and integrated into higher education, they are reshaping teaching, learning and assessment on a global scale. In response, UCT is dedicated to creating effective strategies and best practices for navigating these evolving technologies.

By participating in this research, staff will provide valuable insights into how AI tools are currently being used in assessments at UCT, helping to identify both the opportunities and risks they present.

• Complete a brief 10-minute questionnaire.
• Read the full DVC Desk: Invitation to complete a questionnaire on AI tools in relation to assessment.

6. Cape Town Marathon road closures

The UCT community is advised that there will be various road closures on Sunday, 20 October due to the Cape Town Marathon, which will impact the following UCT Shuttle routes: 

• residence loops (clockwise and anticlockwise) 
• Claremont.

These routes will be suspended on Sunday morning until 10:00. Hiddingh shuttles will not be directly impacted. However, due to increased traffic, there might be delays. 

Shuttles will still be available on Sunday morning between Tugwell (lower campus) and upper campus, with suspended shuttles on standby at Tugwell to resume regular service once roads reopen. 

It is recommended that UCT students and staff use the UCT GoMetro Move app (download on Google Play or App Store) to receive live updates and track locations of all shuttles.

Communication and Marketing Department