From the DVC’s Desk
Introducing the UCT Transformation report for 2019
23 June 2020 | Professor Loretta Feris
Dear colleagues
Globally, we are living through a moment of deepening inequality. The spread of COVID-19, lockdowns and the related economic downturns; and continuing systems of racial and gender-based inequality and violence are all stark reminders of this inequality.
However, not all is bad. Global movements are rising to combat racism; communities build solidarity in the face of an epidemic and there are so many examples of charity and aid. At the University of Cape Town (UCT), we need to continue to commit ourselves to address inequalities within our institution and beyond.
In this context, UCT continues to build a more transformed, inclusive and diverse institution. In the previous year, through innovations in teaching and learning, research which centers the African continent, awareness raising and capacity strengthening support for staff and students, UCT has laid the building blocks for sustainable change.
I am pleased to share the UCT Transformation Report 2019. The report puts a spotlight on the people, spaces and actions which contributed to transformation in 2019. The report demonstrates the work of hundreds of people who convened across the university, individually or collectively, took action to combat inequality and further transformation, diversity and inclusion.
This report stands out because for the first time, UCT employed transformation benchmarks. These markers allow us to systematically track our progress in relation to transformation. In addition, through the design of the report we intend that it can be used as an advocacy tool for transformation. We hope this report can be used as a scaffold to support transformation work in 2020 and beyond.
To mark the release of the report, a public panel discussion with some of the contributors to the report will be hosted on 3 July 2020.
With kind regards,
Professor Loretta Feris
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Transformation
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