Campus announcements
Appointment of new VC and other updates
28 May 2024Dear students
The University of Cape Town (UCT) has formally announced the appointment of Professor Mosa Moshabela as the 11th vice-chancellor (VC) of the institution. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.
1. Appointment of new VC
Professor Moshabela accepted the offer to become UCT’s 11th VC after a thorough and consultative six-month recruitment and selection process. He will take up the position on 1 October 2024.
Professor Moshabela is currently the deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), a role he has held since 2021. He has previously served at one international and two other local universities.
Professor Moshabela will take over from Emeritus Professor Daya Reddy, who has been serving as VC interim since March 2023. He has committed to working with Professor Moshabela over three months as part of handing over the VC baton.
2. National and provincial elections on Wednesday
The 2024 national and provincial elections will take place on Wednesday, 29 May 2024.
Voting stations open at 07:00 and close at 21:00.
Students are urged to go out and exercise their democratic right to cast their vote.
- Please visit the IEC website for more information.
3. Proposed Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre
UCT marked a significant milestone in its history with the announcement of the proposed Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre. Conceptualised to honour the legacy of the late President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the iconic building will be a living memorial to emulate his leadership in the best way possible: by building a new generation of ethical leaders.
The proposal is to build a new home for UCT’s Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, and to create a vibrant convening space located within a memorial centre curated with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre and School of Public Governance will serve emerging leaders from across the African continent. The precinct, which will be designed through an architectural design competition, will offer interactive public art installations, contemplative walkways, and meeting areas designed to facilitate catharsis, reflection and spiritual resonance; and provide for reflection on the life and times of Mandela.
4. IBF call for applications
UCT’s Innovation Builder Fund (IBF) is now accepting new expressions of interest. The IBF was launched in 2019 with the primary goal of nurturing and advancing UCT research projects that have demonstrated an initial proof of concept. The fund is designed to support projects that have been assessed as commercially viable and where research outputs have either been protected or have protectable intellectual property (IP).
This unique opportunity not only provides financial support but also aids in maturing research outputs and mitigating associated risks, thereby preparing them for later-stage funding. Successful projects will receive a grant ranging from R150 000 to R500 000 to aid in their development. Applications are welcomed from researchers across all disciplines who are conducting innovative research with the potential for commercial application and IP protection.
To express your interest, fill in the expression-of-interest form and send to Mpho Baisitse. The deadline for expressions of interest is 17 June 2024.
More information about the IBF, including detailed application requirements and procedures, is available online.
5. Call for nominations: Distinguished Teacher Award
Nominations for the Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA) for 2023 are now open.
The DTA is the highest accolade awarded to teaching staff at the UCT. Through the award, the university recognises and celebrates excellent teaching and transformed practice, and acknowledges the primary place of teaching and learning in the institution’s work.
Each year, the DTA committee considers nominations made by students and staff on behalf of a number of excellent teachers. The committee examines each submission in detail in accordance with a carefully devised rubric, terms of reference, and set of criteria.
Please submit nominations to the committee by 3 June 2024. Once they accept the nomination, nominees will have until 31 July 2024 to submit a portfolio. The outcomes of the adjudication process will be announced in the fourth quarter of 2024. The list of past awardees can be seen on the DTA page on the UCT website.
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11th UCT Vice-Chancellor’s Installation Ceremony
The University of Cape Town (UCT) Council announced Professor Mosa Moshabela as the 11th vice-chancellor (VC) in May 2024. Professor Moshabela, who took office in August, was officially installed on 25 November 2024.
The Chair of Council of the University of Cape Town
Norman Arendse (SC)
announced that the university would host the ceremony at the Sarah Baartman Hall. The ceremony was co-hosted by UCT Chancellor
Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe
and was attended by invited guests, dignitaries from higher education and beyond, and invited members of the UCT community.
This event took place on Monday, 25 November 2024 at 10:00.
News from the day
On Monday, 25 November 2024, the University of Cape Town installed its 11th Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mosa Moshabela.
Announcements about the ceremony
About the VC
Professor Mosa Moshabela formally took up the UCT vice-chancellor position in August 2024.
Duly elected
On 24 May 2024, Norman Arendse (SC), the Chair of Council at UCT, was proud to formally announce that Professor Mosa Moshabela accepted an offer to become the university’s 11th vice-chancellor. This concluded a thorough and consultative six-month recruitment and selection process. He formally took up the UCT vice-chancellor position in August 2024.
Previous UCT Vice-Chancellors
UCT has had 10 permanent vice-chancellors and two acting in the interim between permanent VC appointments. This historical photo gallery includes the 12 leaders who have been at the helm of South Africa’s oldest university in their turn.
Vice-Chancellors in Conversation
UCT VC Professor Mosa Moshabela and former VC Dr Max Price recently engaged in a conversation about leadership, and confronted the challenge of creating unity, trust and collegiality in an institution.
In the News
Khusela Ikamva is aimed at restoring not only the physical forest that was damaged by the fires in April 2021 but also the cultural and spiritual connections that the UCT community shares with the natural fauna and flora.
09 Oct 2024 - 6 min read
Exec comms
Announcements to the UCT campus community
