Campus announcements
Inaugural lecture by Professor Kessi and other updates
12 March 2025Dear colleagues and students
The first lecture in this year’s University of Cape Town (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series will be presented by Professor Shose Kessi on Wednesday, 19 March 2025. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.
1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Shose Kessi
Professor Kessi will present her lecture, “S#*t happens: A Decolonial Feminist Psychological Reflection on Institutional Racism in Higher Education”, on Wednesday, 19 March 2025, at 18:30 SAST in the Neville Alexander Building, lower campus.
In this lecture, Professor Kessi will share insights from a photovoice project with black students at UCT, initiated on the eve of the #RhodesMustFall movement, as an example of decolonial feminist activism against institutional racism. She will also engage in dialogue with black womxn scholars to reflect on the role of the UCT Black Academic Caucus (BAC). The lecture will explore the nuanced ways identities are negotiated within oppressive structures and expose the often-invisible institutional practices that reinforce the status quo.
This pioneering scholar is the dean of the Faculty of Humanities at UCT and is a professor in the Department of Psychology. Her research explores social and political psychology, decoloniality and community-based empowerment, strongly focusing on identity, transformation and social change.
*Please note that Neville Alexander Building is on lower campus and not upper campus as inadvertently indicated in the previous communication.
The second lecture will be presented by Professor Mignon McCulloch. It is titled “First Aid for Kids Kidneys in Africa and Beyond” and will be held on Thursday, 27 March 2025 at 17:30 SAST in the New Learning Centre Lecture Theatre, Anatomy Building, Health Sciences campus.
Professor McCulloch’s lecture will address the growing public health concern of kidney disease worldwide in adults and children. In particular, the lecture will concentrate on using alternative forms of dialysis which does not rely on sophisticated technology, and her work shows that African solutions for African problems exist with good results, which can be applied elsewhere in the world by giving any child needing dialysis an opportunity to receive such treatment.
Professor McCulloch is the head of the Clinical Unit of Paediatric Nephrology and Solid Organ Transplantation (including kidney, liver and heart) at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital; and a senior lecturer at UCT. Her background is in paediatric nephrology and paediatric intensive care.
2. Approved UCT Language Policy officially launched
In alignment with the university’s Vision 2030 and commitment to multilingualism, inclusivity and transformation, the UCT Council approved the UCT Language Policy and its implementation framework at its final ordinary meeting in December 2024.
This policy reflects UCT’s dedication to embracing the rich diversity within its community and fostering an environment where language is recognised as a valuable resource for learning, research and communication.
The revised UCT Language Policy upholds multilingualism, designating English, IsiXhosa and Afrikaans as the university’s official languages. Additionally, it identifies Afrikaaps (Kaaps), South African Sign Language (SASL), Khoekhoegowab and N|uu as languages for development at UCT.
The UCT Language Policy and its framework for implementation were launched on Thursday, 27 February 2025 during UCT’s celebration of International Mother Language Day.
3. Strengthening assessment with the good practices guide
Assessment is a cornerstone of quality education, and UCT is committed to maintaining fair and effective practices. To support this, the university has introduced the Good Practices for Assessment Guide (GP4AG) to align with its Assessment Policy.
This guide provides a valuable resource for enhancing assessment across disciplines, ensuring a consistent and effective approach to evaluating student learning. Assessment Redesign for AI: An Interactive Guide, is available on Amathuba, enabling staff 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.
4. Introducing SparkTank 2025 – a precursor to The Pitch UCT
The Department of Student Affairs (DSA) has introduced SparkTank, a new addition to UCT’s student entrepreneurship ecosystem. Developed in partnership with the Academic Representative Council and supported by Innovation & Learning First Tier, this initiative serves as a launchpad for student innovators, with backing from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and key stakeholders.
SparkTank offers a structured space for students to develop, refine and validate their ideas before progressing to The Pitch UCT, the university’s premier multi-phase student entrepreneurship programme and competition.
For more information, please contact ThePitchUCT.
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