Dear colleagues and students
During the difficult period we are living through, it’s amazing how we have come together as a university community. Through community action networks, social media groups, chats and online forums, we’ve connected, collaborated and supported one another. In our personal lives and in our work, we’ve centred compassion and kindness and have quickly adapted to a new normal. Thank you for making these contributions and sacrifices.
At this moment, it’s important for higher education institutions to continue to centre inclusion and to make sure no one is left behind. To assist with this, the Office for Inclusivity & Change (OIC) has developed a toolkit which aims to spark conversation around the needs of students who live in an environment that is not conducive to remote learning.
Relying on data from the UCT Student Access Survey, relevant Statistics South Africa reports and conversations with students and staff, the toolkit explores how race, gender, class and disability play a role in access to resources that are important for teaching and learning. We live in a South Africa with deep socio-economic disparities, and this tool helps to deepen our thinking on these inequalities.
The infographics offer visual representations of the experiences and reflections of diverse and marginalised students. This toolkit may be useful for the university community as we reflect on the challenges we face in the current moment and shares ideas for how we can work together to deal with them. Think of the infographics as a springboard for conversations on how we can come together to make sure no one is left behind.
Kind regards,
Professor Loretta Feris
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Transformation
Associate Professor Lis Lange
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning
Professor Sue Harrison
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation
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COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March and implement a national lockdown from 26 March.
UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated regularly with the latest COVID-19 information.
Getting credible, evidence-based, accessible information and recommendations relating to COVID-19
The Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, are producing educational video material for use on digital platforms and in multiple languages. The information contained in these videos is authenticated and endorsed by the team of experts based in the Department of Medicine. Many of the recommendations are based on current best evidence and are aligned to provincial, national and international guidelines. For more information on UCT’s Department of Medicine, please visit the website.
To watch more videos like these, visit the Department of Medicine’s YouTube channel.
As the COVID-19 crisis drags on and evolves, civil society groups are responding to growing and diversifying needs – just when access to resources is becoming more insecure, writes UCT’s Prof Ralph Hamann.
03 Jul 2020 - 6 min read RepublishedThe Covid-19 crisis has reinforced the global consequences of fragmented, inadequate and inequitable healthcare systems and the damage caused by hesitant and poorly communicated responses.
24 Jun 2020 - >10 min read OpinionOur scientists must not practise in isolation, but be encouraged to be creative and increase our knowledge of the needs of developing economies, write Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, vice-chancellor of UCT, and Professor Thokozani Majozi from the University of the Witwatersrand.
09 Jun 2020 - 6 min read RepublishedSouth Africa has been recognised globally for its success in flattening the curve, which came as a result of President Ramaphosa responding quickly to the crisis, writes Prof Alan Hirsch.
28 Apr 2020 - 6 min read RepublishedIn an email to the UCT community, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
“COVID-19, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, is a rapidly changing epidemic. [...] Information [...] will be updated as and when new information becomes available.”
We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.