Campus announcements
Last two inaugural lectures and other updates
22 October 2024Dear colleagues and students
Professors Jay Pather and Sudesh Sivarasu will close out an inspiring month of October inaugural lectures on Wednesday, 23 October and Thursday, 24 October 2024 respectively, 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 Pather
Professor Jay Pather will present his inaugural lecture titled "Shifting spaces, tilting time: art and art education in a society that aches for transformation," on Wednesday, 23 October at 17:30 SAST at Hiddingh Hall, Hiddingh Campus.
He will delve into how artists confront the intricate layers of political and economic transformation, especially in a society that is slow in embracing change. He will explore how artists grapple with the depth of emotion and nuance in their work, resisting simplistic representations of inequality and suffering. Additionally, Professor Pather will question how the sites of artistic creation can challenge and dismantle the colonial legacies of exclusivity and limited access, advocating for art to be a catalyst for deeper societal shifts.
Drawing from his own performance research, Professor Pather will reflect on the intersection of art and transformation, discussing how his work engages with both the velocity of change and the persistence of inertia in society. His lecture will also address the role of art education, calling for it to be courageous, transgressive and collaborative, moving beyond traditional disciplinary silos that have long preserved colonial legacies.
Professor Pather is a curator, choreographer and an academic. He directs the Institute for Creative Arts (ICA). His lecture promises to be a rich exploration of how art, space and education intersect in the urgent pursuit of transformation.
2. Inaugural lecture by Professor Sivarasu
Professor Sudesh Sivarasu will deliver his inaugural lecture titled "Engineering tomorrow's medical devices for Africa's unique needs" on Thursday, 24 October at 17:30 SAST at the New Learning Centre Lecture Theatre, Anatomy Building, Health Sciences Campus.
Professor Sivarasu will explore the future of biomedical engineering, focusing on addressing Africa’s distinct healthcare challenges. He will introduce his innovative Frugal Biodesign™ methodology, which revolutionises the development of affordable, accessible medical devices tailored for low-resource environments. With real-world examples from his extensive patent portfolio and the successful launch of four start-up companies, Professor Sivarasu will highlight the journey from concept to commercialisation. His open-source medical technologies are already deployed in 16 countries, making a tangible difference in healthcare delivery.
The lecture will also reflect on his vital contributions to pandemic preparedness, including the South African National Ventilator Project, and discuss emerging trends in healthcare technology that promise to shape the future of medicine across the African continent.
Professor Sivarasu is a professor of biomedical engineering at UCT’s Department of Human Biology. He holds the DSI/NRF South African Research Chair in Biomedical Engineering & Innovation and is the director of UCT’s Biomedical Engineering Research Centre.
3. UCT Day 2024: Special day of celebrations and supporting our students
UCT Day, which takes place on Friday, 25 October, is about uniting the global community in celebration of the university, while fundraising for student causes. The Cricket Oval and the Kramer Law Building on middle campus are the places to be on the day.
By participating in the events and sports challenges, UCT staff, students, alumni and friends will not only unite to have fun and compete in various challenges, but will also help the university raise funds towards two student initiatives: the Unlocking Futures Bursaries and the Food Sovereignty Programme.
Every ticket supports UCT students in need, so be part of the celebration and help us make a difference!
The exciting activities include the alumni book festival; alumni film festival; amazing race; cycling, rowing and archery team challenges; five-a-side bubble soccer; and a campus tour.
There is also an opportunity to chill on the Cricket Oval, and network and reconnect with fellow staff, students and alumni in the company of great music.
Other activities include giant inflatables, giant chess board and a work-out session hosted by UCT Gym.
UCT Day food trucks will have delicious, affordable snacks and beverages on sale from 12:00 to 17:00. Student meal vouchers can be used at the Food & Connect vendors on site.
- Read the full campus announcement: Much-awaited UCT Day 2024 almost here.
- Read the full VC Desk: UCT Day 2024: Special day of celebrations and supporting our students.
4. UCT Fem FEST: One-day event aimed at empowering women
The UCT Commercial Development Unit team invites the university community to participate in Fem FEST, a one-day event aimed at empowering women from all walks of life, on Saturday, 26 October from 10:00, at Protea Hotel, Mowbray.
Fem FEST is going to be a fun-filled day featuring an inspiring lineup of speakers and activities designed to celebrate women’s achievements and foster a spirit of connection.
The programme will feature headline acts, comedians and poets; artistic showcase of local female performers; wellness activities, including yoga sessions led by skilled instructors; financial savvy talks with valuable tips for managing your finances from financial experts as well as important insights on networking; cooking master class; and female entrepreneurs offering a variety of unique goods from their stalls.
5. Distinguished Teacher Awards 2024 recipients announced
UCT recognises exceptional teaching through the Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA), celebrating excellence in teaching and contributions to enhancing the learning experience annually. The award is given to deserving academics following a rigorous evaluation process led by the DTA Committee, which carefully reviews a large number of submitted portfolios.
The DTA Committee has finalised its assement of the portfolios in the current cycle, and the following academics have been named the DTA recipients for 2023: Professor Brandon Collier-Reed (Department of Mechanical Engineering); Dr George Hull (Department of Philosophy); Dr Yunus Omar (School of Education); and Dr Bianca Tame (Department of Sociology).
6. Exam support services offered by SWS
UCT’s Student Wellness Service will continue to offer a range of services during the upcoming examinations period, to ensure that students are adequately supported.
Students are reminded of the available services, including deferred examinations support; comprehensive primary healthcare provided at the SWS main clinic at the Ivan Toms Building; and limited medical services available at the upper campus clinic in the Steve Biko Students Union building.
Further support is offer through counselling services; pharmacy services; and alternative support services.
7. Update regarding 2025 Master’s/PhD P18 parking discs
The previous system for allocating Master’s/PhD students parking discs has been discontinued. An online reservation system no longer exists.
There will be 100 Master’s/PhD P18 parking discs made available, but all purchases will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Students will need to purchase new discs in person from the Parking Administration Office on upper campus.
Current P18 Master’s/PhD parking discs remain valid until the end of February 2025.
The 2025 discs are not for sale yet, and will be available for purchase in February 2025 once pricing has been confirmed. Master’s/PhD parking discs can be purchased for an annual fee.
8. Be part of Design Thinking Week 2024
Take part in the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika (d-school Afrika) at UCT’s Design Thinking Week, a four-day immersive experience in design thinking. From Monday, 25 November to Thursday, 28 November, the course will be held at d-school Afrika, middle campus.
Design thinking is a powerful tool to help you thrive in uncertain environments, giving you a competitive edge in today’s job market.
This dynamic course will introduce participants to human-centred problem-solving while honing their critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration skills in an agile, multidisciplinary team.
By joining this course, you will:
- learn skills crucial for your future world of work,
- be introduced to working in culturally and cognitively diverse teams from various disciplines,
- discover innovative digital learning tools, and
- build your creative confidence.
The four-day immersion will conclude with a year-end celebration of design thinking.
Communication and Marketing Department
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