The Pitch UCT applications and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

As the University of Cape Town (UCT) celebrates 10 years of student entrepreneurship, applications for The Pitch UCT and Pitch Plus are open. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. The Pitch UCT – Celebrating a decade of student entrepreneurship

Applications for The Pitch UCT and Pitch Plus are open. This initiative presents an opportunity for students across all faculties to transform their innovative ideas into impactful ventures.

The Pitch UCT, led by the Academic Representative Council within the Department of Student Affairs (DSA), is run in partnership with the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. It is supported by the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika, the Solution Space at the Graduate School of Business, the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, the Residence Academic Development Committee (RADC) and UCT’s Careers Service. The Pitch Plus is delivered in collaboration with UCT Flourish and the Development and Alumni Department as part of UCT’s DSA student success strategy.

The Pitch UCT reflects the university’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurial thinking and empowering students to become innovators and change-makers. As part of this initiative, students will be invited to think creatively and present bold, practical solutions to address real challenges on campus – turning ideas into impact through the Pitch Plus.

Students are encouraged to align their startups with any of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – whether in climate action, quality education, public health, gender equality, economic inclusion, zero hunger or partnerships for the goals.

• Read the full VC Desk: The Pitch UCT – Celebrating 10 years of student entrepreneurship at UCT.
• Submit applications before Sunday, 13 April 2025.

For more information, please email The Pitch team.

2. Call for nominations: Distinguished Teacher Award 2024

Nominations for the 2024 Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA) are now open.

The DTA is the highest honour awarded to teaching staff at UCT. This recognition celebrates excellence in teaching, acknowledges innovative and transformative teaching practices, and reinforces the central role of teaching and learning within the institution.

Applications are welcome from permanent academic staff who, among others:

• have taught at UCT for at least five years full-time under academic conditions of service, and
• are engaged in undergraduate and/or postgraduate teaching and supervision.

Nominations close on Wednesday, 16 April 2025.

The portfolio submission deadline is Tuesday,1 July 2025

• Read the full DVC Desk: Call for nominations: Distinguished Teacher Award 2024.
• Submit a nomination.

3. Road closures during the annual Two Oceans Marathon

The UCT community is advised of road closures during the upcoming annual Two Oceans Marathon. The marathon will take place from Friday, 4 April to Sunday, 6 April 2025, with various road closures planned in the vicinity of UCT. As per tradition, the finish line for the ultra and half marathon will be on UCT’s Green Mile on upper campus.

Two Oceans Marathon Trail Run

The Two Oceans Marathon Trail Run will take place on Friday, 4 April 2025. P15 and P18 will be utilised for parking on the day. This will not impact Educare drop-offs, as runners depart at 06:45. Traffic officials will be on duty to assist with all traffic.

Campus access

All campuses will remain open for UCT staff and students on Saturday, 5 April and Sunday, 6 April 2025. However, they will need to produce a UCT parking disc or student/staff card at entry points.

UCT Shuttle

The UCT Shuttle will operate on the normal weekend schedule. However, due to the marathon-related activities, shuttles may experience significant delays. Staff and students are encouraged to use the UCT Shuttle app (download on Google Play or App Store), which provides live updates and locations of all shuttles.

Parking closures

P1, P4 and P5 (on upper campus) will be closed from 18:00 on Thursday, 3 April until Sunday, 6 April 2025.

Parking on marathon days

• UCT parking disc holder: Reserved parking: P11, P12, P14 and P17 (upper campus)
• Two Oceans Marathon Committee: Reserved parking: P2 (middle campus)
• Prepaid parking: runners and spectators: P6, P7, P15 and P16 (upper campus); Madiba West (upper campus); tennis court area (upper campus); P1 (middle campus); School of Economics (middle campus); and All Africa House (middle campus).

For more information, please contact Megan Dick.

4. Celebrating excellence at the Autumn 2025 graduation

One of the most significant moments in the UCT calendar – the Autumn 2025 graduation season – is under way. Since Monday, 31 March UCT has been celebrating the achievements of students, and by the evening of Friday, 4 April 2025, approximately 5 760 graduands, including those earning their PhD degrees, would have been capped.

• See the full schedule of Autumn 2025 graduation ceremonies.

The university awarded Professor Michael R Hayden an honorary doctorate on Tuesday, 1 April 2025 in recognition of his exceptional contributions to medical science. Although he accepted the degree in 2024, he was unable to travel to Cape Town then.

The ceremonies are held at the Sarah Baartman Hall, and live-streamed on the UCT graduation feature page, Facebook, X social media platforms, with recordings available on the UCT YouTube channel.

• Read the full VC Desk: Celebrating excellence at the Autumn 2025 graduation.

5. UCT Inaugural Lecture for April 2025

The university will host the UCT Inaugural Lecture by Professor Francois Cilliers from the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED), titled “Theory from the Past – Theory for the Future: Rethinking Health Professions Education in Context” on Wednesday, 9 April 2025 at 18:00 SAST in Lecture Theatre 2 (Hoeri LT2), 4th Floor, Hoerikwaggo Building on upper campus.

It is often said that assessment drives learning, but how does this happen? And if assessment drives learning, what drives assessment? Similarly, as the field of staff development continues to grow, it is essential to understand when and why academics integrate what they learn into their teaching and assessment practices.

This lecture will explore these questions, drawing on the development and application of research and theory in health professions education. Professor Cilliers will present conceptual models from his research to illuminate the complex mechanisms underlying assessment and academic development. Additionally, he will critically examine the dominance of health professions education research from the global North and propose a theorised approach – rooted in implementation science – that enables South African educators to engage meaningfully with global research while addressing local needs and realities.

Professor Cilliers is a professor of Health Sciences Education in the Faculty of Health Sciences and in the Academic Development Programme at CHED. He holds a PhD in Health Professions Education from the Maastricht University, Netherlands. He has been an integral part of UCT since 2012 and has significantly contributed to health sciences education. His research interests include the learning effects of assessment, faculty development and implementation science in health professions education. His leadership roles within UCT and internationally have positioned him as a leading figure in the field. His work has had a far-reaching impact, influencing policy, practice and curriculum development in medical education.

• Read the full VC Desk: UCT inaugural lecture for April 2025.
• Register to attend the lecture.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements