Fifty-nine top-performing UCT academics have been promoted, with effect from 2013, following the culmination of the latest academic ad hominem promotions cycle. The process is a rigorous one, assessing the incumbent's performance against criteria that include teaching, supervision, research output, administration and leadership contributions, as well as participation in socially responsive activities.

Among the newest academic honourees are 15 professors, 21 associate professors and 23 senior lecturers.

"The purpose of academic staff promotion is to recognise the achievements and professional contributions of academic staff and their demonstrated capacity to contribute to UCT's mission by undertaking duties at a higher level than their current appointment,"added Miriam Hoosain, executive director of human resources.

"These achievements are significant, given the strength of competition throughout the university and the need to continue delivering in one's current role, and requires noteworthy effort and dedication on the part of each promotee. Heartiest congratulations to all who received a promotion. It is through such excellence that UCT can justifiably claim to be world-class."

In the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment the candidates were: Dr Hans-Dieter Beushausen (associate professor), Dr Aubrey Mainza (associate professor), Dr Randhir Rawatlal (associate professor), Associate Professor Pilate Moyo (professor), Associate Professor Harro von Blottnitz (professor) and Samuel Ginsberg (senior lecturer).

In the Faculty of Humanities: Dr Mark Fleishman (professor, wef 1 July 2012), Dr Lesley Green (associate professor), Dr Sa'diyya Shaikh (associate professor), Dr Kevin Thomas (associate professor), Johann van der Schijff (associate professor), Dr Catherine Ward (associate professor), Associate Professor Stephen Inggs (professor), Associate Professor Fiona Ross (professor), Dr Patrick Blond (senior lecturer), Dr Andrea Brigaglia (senior lecturer), Sylvia Bruinders (senior lecturer), Susan Malcolm-Smith (senior lecturer), Dr Musawenkosi Ndlovu (senior lecturer), Dr Ibrahim Saleh (senior lecturer), Dr Mantoa Smouse (senior lecturer) and Dr Sandra Young (senior lecturer).

In the Faculty of Law: Kelly Phelps (senior lecturer), Graham Bradfield (associate professor), Associate Professor Alexander Paterson (professor), and Associate Professor Elrena van der Spuy (professor).

In the Faculty of Science: Dr Christopher Clarkson (associate professor), Dr Edmund February (associate professor), Associate Professor Stephen Richardson (professor), Dr Heather Marco (senior lecturer) and Kenneth Rafel (senior lecturer).

In the Centre for Higher Education Development: Abongwe Bangeni (senior lecturer), Dr Cheryl-Lee Brown (senior lecturer) and Carla Jayne Fourie (senior lecturer).

In the Faculty of Commerce: Associate Professor Lawrence Edwards (professor), Dr Beatrice Conradie (associate professor), Dr Clara Delavallade (associate professor), Dr Gert Human (associate professor), Dr Lisa Seymour (associate professor), Dr Farayi Gwenhamo (senior lecturer), Dr Ines Meyer (senior lecturer), Elsamarie Botha (senior lecturer), Salah Kabanda (senior lecturer), Alison Meadows (senior lecturer, teaching-focused), Shaun Parsons (senior lecturer) and Maureen Tanner (senior lecturer).

In the Graduate School of Business: Dr Hamieda Parker (associate professor).

In the Faculty of Health Sciences: Lorna Olkers (senior lecturer), Dr John Lazarus (associate professor), Dr Ambroise Wonkam (associate professor), Dr Michael Levin (associate professor), Dr Collet Dandara (associate professor), Dr Jo-Ann Passmore (associate professor), Associate Professor Linda-Gail Bekker (professor), Associate Professor Susan Fawcus (professor), Associate Professor Arieh Katz (professor), Associate Professor Malcolm Collins (professor), Associate Professor Tania Douglas (professor), and Associate Professor Lauriston Kellaway (professor).