Celebrating: Some of the attendees at the function hosted by the Vice-Chancellor were (from left): Assoc Prof Maano Ramutsindela, Prof Candy Lang, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Njabulo S Ndebele, Prof Charlie Griffiths, Assoc Prof Jennifer Thomas and Prof David Beatty.

Fifty top-performing UCT academics were moved onto the next rung of their UCT careers by way of the recent ad hominem promotions. Six scientific and technical officers also succeeded in the ad hominem process.

Professor Cheryl De la Rey, the deputy vice-chancellor responsible for academic staffing matters, emphasised that the academic ad hominem promotion process is a rigorous one that assesses the incumbent's performance using criteria that include teaching, supervision, research output, administration and leadership contributions at faculty and/or university level, as well as participation in socially responsive activities.

This year saw the introduction of a process for ad hominem promotions for scientific and technical officers. These officers have been part of the academic process, but it has taken some time to develop appropriate criteria for the different career levels of scientific and technical staff.

Now there is a university-wide committee that assesses applications for promotions for scientific and technical officers.

All 56 of the newly promoted "ad homs" were toasted, in another first, at a recent cocktail party hosted by Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Njabulo S Ndebele.

"This is an occasion for the university to recognise that it takes a lot out of an individual to reach the peak of their career," said Prof Ndebele. "It asks for years of hard work, constant dedication and unflagging passion. An ad hominem promotion is not an end; it is merely a new beginning."

Promotions will take effect on January 1, 2007.

In the Centre for Higher Education Development, Dr Bette Davidowitz was promoted to Associate Professor.

In the Faculty of Commerce, academic ad hominem promotions went to Assoc Prof Haroon Bhorat (professor), Assoc Prof Mike Hart (professor), Dr Lawrence Edwards (associate professor), James Wakeford (senior lecturer) and Dr Wallace Chigona (senior lecturer).

In the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment: Assoc Prof Duncan Fraser (professor), Assoc Prof Candy Lang (professor), Assoc Prof Alison Lewis (professor), Assoc Prof Iain Low (professor), Dr Dave Deglon (associate professor), Dr Dee Bradshaw (associate professor), Dr Michael Claeys (associate professor) and Trevor Cloete (senior lecturer).

At the Graduate School of Business, Dr Evan Gilbert (associate professor).

In the Faculty of Health Sciences: Assoc Prof Martin Schwellnus (professor), Dr Marc Blockman (associate professor), Dr Andrzej Okreglicky (associate professor), Dr Andrew Nicol (associate professor), Dr L Wallis (associate professor), Dr Clarissa Pieper (associate professor), Dr Jennifer Thomas (associate professor), Dr Anthony Westwood (associate professor), Dr Joe Wilmshurst (associate professor), Dr Theresa Lorenzo (associate professor), Elizabeth van der Merwe (senior lecturer) and Helen Buchanan (senior lecturer).

In the Faculty of Humanities: Assoc Prof David Benatar (professor), Assoc Prof Rob Mattes (professor) and Assoc Prof Mike Rossi (professor), Dr Bernard Weiss (associate professor), Dr Carol Clarkson (senior lecturer), Adam Haupt (senior lecturer), Dr Sam Raditlhalo (senior lecturer), Johann van der Schijff (senior lecturer), Dr Liese van der Watt (senior lecturer) and Dr Jeremy Wanderer (senior lecturer).

In the Faculty of Law - Dr Elrena van der Spuy (associate professor), Dr Jaco Barnard (senior lecturer) and Debbie Collier (senior lecturer).

In the Faculty of Science - Assoc Prof Kelly Chibale (professor), Assoc Prof Peter Dunsby (professor), Assoc Prof Charlie Griffiths (professor), Assoc Prof Jeremy Midgley (professor), Assoc Prof Judith Sealy (professor), Dr Roger Fearick (associate professor), Dr Maano Ramutsindela (associate professor), Dr Neil Ravenscroft (associate professor), Dr Peter Ryan (associate professor) and Dr Anthony Verboom (senior lecturer).

Senior scientific officers: Andile Lilelo (molecular and cell biology), Peter Chifamba (architecture, planning and geomatics) and Helen Divey (chemical engineering). Principal Scientific Officers: Dave Boulton (physics), Paul Hanekom (oceanography) and Andrea Plos (zoology).

Congratulations to all.