The University of Edinburgh will confer an honorary Doctor of Laws on UCT's deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Danie Visser, in July this year.

The honour recognises Visser "as a consummate scholar with a strong international reputation and as a leading figure in the transformation of higher education in South Africa in the post-apartheid years". The University of Edinburgh's statement also said that Visser had been singled out for "working tirelessly to promote academic co-operation between South Africa and Scotland, and in particular between the University of Cape Town and the University of Edinburgh". In a message to staff and students, Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price invited the campus community to join him in congratulating Visser for this recognition of his achievements.

The graduation ceremony will take place in the McEwan Hall at the University of Edinburgh on Wednesday 3 July 2013. On that date, at 15h00, members of the UCT community will be able to follow the ceremony on live webcast from the University of Edinburgh's main webpage at www.ed.ac.uk.