A moment of pride and joy

The University of Cape Town (UCT) capped over 100 PhD graduates during a ceremony held at the Sarah Baartman Hall on 21 July 2023.

UCT once again celebrated its academic community during the July PhD graduation ceremony.

In recognition of their top-rated work across a multitude of fields, UCT has awarded four esteemed South Africans honorary doctorates.

PhD graduand Emma Whitelaw’s in-depth research forms part of the Siyaphambili Project – an initiative of UCT’s Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit.

PhD graduand Brian du Preez’s research took him to the farthest-flung areas of the Greater Cape Floristic Region, where he discovered, rediscovered and collected ‘Indigofera’ species.

PhD graduand Roxanne Jacobs argues that promoting the health and well-being of older people and their caregivers is essential to reduce the risk of abuse.

Retrofitting the university’s curricula to include disability is expensive and challenging, and instead should be part of engagement at the design stage, says PhD graduand Ikechukwu Nwanze.

On 21 July, Zayd Minty will receive his PhD posthumously – after a collective, cross-country effort to see him across the finish line before he died.

Ponsiano Nuwagaba’s PhD examines the plight of pregnant women with disabilities in rural Uganda, and outlines strategies for improving services – and access to them.

Sarah Whitehead’s PhD is an important academic contribution to teaching and learning; a proposal outlining how disability can be included in the medical undergraduate curriculum.

One of this year’s inspirational graduates Dr Michael Hlabathe reached for the stars to overcome adversity and obtain his PhD in astrophysics.

UCT law lecturer Gaopalelwe Mathiba will become the youngest person to be conferred a PhD in law in the past 11 years.

PhD graduate-in-waiting Danielle Hill has dedicated her degree to her late father – in honour of his contribution that led her to graduation day.

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