Dear students
The University of Cape Town (UCT) is participating in a national survey to find out about your experiences in accessing learning materials both before and during COVID-19. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) is sponsoring the work. The feedback you provide is important, because it helps DHET plan how to distribute resources to universities and students.
Your feedback is also very important for UCT. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all universities were forced to transfer entire curriculums to online platforms. Every institution has battled to put in place mechanisms to help students and staff access and use the data and learning materials they need to successfully complete the academic project. We welcome the opportunity to find out what you experienced in accessing your learning materials before and during COVID-19.
The survey has received ethical approval at UCT. It explains very clearly how your personal information is protected. The survey asks about your demographic information; your studies; how you access study materials; what devices you use; and the impact that online learning has had for you so far. I really encourage you to participate, because the more we know about our students, the better equipped we are to help and to improve the student experience, on both a national and an institutional level.
And to provide extra incentive, the University of the Free State, which is leading the survey, is offering you the chance to enter a lucky draw that will offer 200 participants virtual Checkers vouchers worth R200 each (also redeemable at Shoprite or USave stores). Details of how to enter the draw are on the survey.
Best wishes for the second semester.
Warm regards
Associate Professor Lis Lange
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning
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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.