Come in: Prof Thandabantu Nhlapo welcomes postgraduate students at a recent event.

At a recent function, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for student affairs, Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo, welcomed postgraduate students to UCT.

Speaking at the event, Nhlapo urged postgraduate students to take up academic positions at UCT, saying that there is a need to reproduce the research capacity that has made the university an institution of stature.

Nhlapo told the students that "people like yourselves should take up the places of the eminent scientists who have given UCT the important National Research Foundation ratings".

The event, the second of its kind, was hosted by the Department of Student Affairs to showcase the facilities, services and opportunities at UCT available to local and international postgraduate students. It also allows students to engage with the executive and student leadership, and creates a vibrant postgraduate community through networking.

Nhlapo said that UCT values postgraduates, and that any institution that does so is "on its way" to excellence and quality improvement.

Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Danie Visser echoed Nhlapo's sentiments, and added that UCT strives to improve postgraduate education.

Various units exhibited their services at information stalls, including the Postgraduate Funding Office, the Centre for Higher Education Development and the International Academic Programmes Office.