Campus announcements
Council-approved general budget and other updates
05 March 2025Dear colleagues and students
The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Resource Allocation Advisory Group (RAAG) has been diligently working to ensure the institution operates within its financial means. This commitment to financial discipline has resulted in a Council-approved General Operating Budget (GOB) that is cash-neutral. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.
1. Update on the 2025 Council-approved general budget
The university’s financial management follows a budget process that categorises funds as either Council-controlled or designated activities. Council-controlled activities include teaching, learning and related functions, collectively forming GOB, which falls under the oversight of the university Council. Designated activities primarily involve research operations and earmarked projects.
UCT’s RAAG has been diligently working to ensure that the institution operates within its financial means. This commitment to financial discipline has resulted in a Council-approved GOB that is cash neutral – an important milestone in UCT’s pursuit of long-term financial sustainability. A cash-neutral strategy ensures that cash inflows and outflows are balanced, leading to no net increase or decrease in cash reserves for the 2025 financial year.
2. Strengthening assessment with the good practices guide
Assessment is a fundamental pillar of quality education, and UCT remains dedicated to upholding fair and effective assessment practices. UCT has introduced the Good Practices for Assessment Guide (GP4AG) in line with this commitment.
Developed to support the implementation of UCT’s Assessment Policy, this guide serves as a valuable resource for enhancing assessment practices across disciplines, promoting a consistent and effective approach to evaluating student learning.
Assessment Redesign for AI: An Interactive Guide is available on Amathuba, allowing staff members to engage with the material at their own pace.
Staff are also invited to join the Assessment Studio, which offers an opportunity to work in a supportive community when developing and refining assessment practices.
3. UCT parking discs for 2025
Parking discs for 2025 are now available for purchase. All staff and students wishing to park on any UCT campus must obtain a disc from the Traffic Administration Office on upper campus.
Please note the following:
- Office hours are Monday to Thursday, from 08:00 to 15:00; and Fridays from 08:00 to 14:00.
- First-year students are not eligible for parking discs.
- Restrictions apply to bays in which students and staff may park.
- Parking on campus without a valid parking disc will result in a fine.
To apply for a temporary disc, email the traffic administration office or call 021 650 3312/3313/3640.
4. Impact of Cape Town Cycle Tour on UCT Shuttle service
The annual Cape Town Cycle Tour will take place on Sunday, 9 March 2025, and various road closures are planned near UCT.
Students and staff are advised to take note of the following and, where possible, make alternative arrangements:
- Due to preparations for the Cycle Tour, all routes may experience delays from late afternoon on Saturday, 8 March.
- All routes, including Claremont and residence loop shuttles, will experience delays between 08:00 and 15:00 on Sunday, 9 March.
- Hiddingh services will be suspended on Sunday, 9 March due to road closures on the M3 highway and the CBD area.
We will do our best to operate, where possible, with suspended services on standby until the affected routes are cleared.
More information is available on the route maps and timetables page on the UCT website, or on the UCT Shuttle app (free to download on Google Play or App Store).
5. Introducing SparkTank 2025 – a precursor to The Pitch UCT
The Department of Student Affairs (DSA) has launched SparkTank, a new initiative within UCT’s student entrepreneurship ecosystem. Developed in collaboration with the Academic Representative Council (ARC) and supported by Innovation & Learning First Tier, SparkTank is a preparatory platform for student innovators. The initiative is backed by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and other key stakeholders.
SparkTank provides a structured environment for students to develop, refine, and validate their ideas before applying to The Pitch UCT, the university’s flagship multi-phase student entrepreneurship programme and competition.
For more information, please contact ThePitchUCT.
6. Reminder: Applications open for global youth initiative by MasterCard Foundation
The UCT community is reminded that applications are still open for the “For Youth, By Youth (FYBY)” movement, a globally recognised initiative co-created by the Mastercard Foundation and the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities. UCT students are invited to apply and become part of this transformative programme.
As one of only 10 partner universities worldwide, UCT offers its students access to mentorship, financial support and leadership training through FYBY. The initiative is designed to empower young changemakers – particularly those facing barriers related to gender, disability, ethnicity or displacement – to drive meaningful change in their communities.
What is offered:
- Mentorship and financial support for community-based research projects
- Wellness and leadership resources to strengthen personal and professional growth
- Training in youth-led participatory action research, ethical AI and storytelling
Students can attend an online information session on Tuesday, 11 March 2025, between 19:00 and 20:00 SAST.
Applications close on Saturday, 15 March 2025.
For more information, please send an email.
Communication and Marketing Department
Read previous communications:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Please view the republishing articles page for more information.
