University of Cape Town News | UCT News

IARU Presidents’ Meeting: impactful global platform arrives at UCT

Global university leaders convened at UCT for the International Alliance of Research Universities Presidents’ Meeting.

Global university leaders convened at UCT for the International Alliance of Research Universities Presidents’ Meeting.

Oxford VC calls for bold university innovation

Prof Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, delivered the Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture at UCT on 5 March, challenging universities to tackle world challenges.

Prof Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, delivered the Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture at UCT on 5 March, challenging universities to tackle world challenges.

Historic moment as UCT and Services SETA break ground on skin health institute

The multi-storey ARISE building – a first of its kind for Africa – will be located on UCT’s Faculty of Health Sciences.

The multi-storey ARISE building – a first of its kind for Africa – will be located on UCT’s Faculty of Health Sciences.

UCT ranked first in QS Sub-Saharan Africa rankings

UCT ranked first out of 69 universities across Sub-Saharan Africa, which included 14 institutions from South Africa.

UCT ranked first out of 69 universities across Sub-Saharan Africa, which included 14 institutions from South Africa.

NEWS

News Ubunye’s student volunteers ready themselves for 2026’s educational outreach

UCT’s student-driven Ubunye seeks to help learners in under-resourced schools unlock their potential through tutorship and debate coaching.

17 Mar 2026 - 7 min read

News Blue Crane under threat from agricultural landscapes

A recent study suggests that intensive agricultural landscapes in the Western Cape may be reducing the breeding success of the iconic Blue Crane, South Africa’s national bird.

17 Mar 2026 - 6 min read

News ‘Teach what’s in front of you’

NAPP at UCT continues its work to provide opportunities for new academics to exercise their agency in a supported network.

16 Mar 2026 - 4 min read

News UCT-led project supports adolescent mothers through referral process

Assoc Prof Elona Toska delivered a presentation underscoring the Hey Baby study during the 3rd African Workshop on Women and HIV.

16 Mar 2026 - 7 min read

News UCT and global partners uncover vast hidden supercluster behind the Milky Way

Astronomers from UCT have uncovered the true scale of one of the largest hidden structures in the nearby Universe.

13 Mar 2026 - 7 min read

Engineering students compete in global high-performance computing challenge UCT electrical engineering students have proven that technical excellence, teamwork and determination can compete on the national and soon international stage. 12 Mar 2026

Invest in your networks, capital and connections VC Prof Mosa Moshabela thanked the Blue Carpet Scholarship students for making UCT their ‘university of choice’. 12 Mar 2026

Breaking the classroom language barrier UCT scholars have joined forces with their colleagues from UWC and the government to empower teachers for the implementation of mother tongue-based bilingual education at schools. 11 Mar 2026

Memorial honours brave fathers, sons aboard ‘SS Mendi’ The SS Mendi memorial was held on UCT’s lower campus on Sunday, 8 March. 10 Mar 2026

UCT hosts IARU Presidents’ Meeting The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) spring graduation was marked by historic milestones, including the awarding of honorary doctorates to four distinguished individuals and the official renaming of Jameson Hall to Sarah Baartman Hall, among other notable highlights. 09 Mar 2026

Prof Elena Moore champions the unseen labour of care Prof Elena Moore delivered her inaugural lecture on 4 March, titled: ‘Who Cares? The Directions of State–Family Relationships in Changing Times’. 09 Mar 2026

‘Let the science begin’ The first synchrotron beamline that performs X-ray absorption spectroscopy will be housed in UCT’s Catalysis Institute in the Department of Chemical Engineering. 04 Mar 2026

UCT researcher takes cryogenic breakthrough to NASA Glenn Prof Arnaud Malan recently presented on advances in high-fidelity modelling of heat and mass transfer in cryogenic tanks. 04 Mar 2026

Umfundi we-MSc wakhe ilinge lendlu ngomhlaba, nenkunkuma Umfundi weYunivesithi yaseKapa (UCT) we-MSc uMatimba Mabonda neqela lakhe basandula ukugqiba ukwakha indlu enamagumbi okulala amathathu, eyakhiwe kusetyenziswa umhlaba kunye nezinye izinto ezilahlwayo. 03 Mar 2026

Listen to the news

The stories in this selection include an audio recording for your listening convenience.

Breaking the classroom language barrier

UCT scholars have joined forces with their colleagues from UWC and the government to empower teachers for the implementation of mother tongue-based bilingual education at schools.

UCT scholars have joined forces with their colleagues from UWC and the government to empower teachers for the implementation of mother tongue-based bilingual education at schools.

11 Mar 2026 - 8 min read

‘The queue hasn’t moved’

Zakes Mda’s 1988 classic returns to The Baxter’s stage, holding a mirror to a South Africa still making its women wait: for rice, for dignity – and for a system that sees them.

Zakes Mda’s 1988 classic returns to The Baxter’s stage, holding a mirror to a South Africa still making its women wait: for rice, for dignity – and for a system that sees them.

02 Mar 2026 - 9 min read

Symposium scrutinises racial language in health research

UCT’s Faculty of Health Sciences hosted the first symposium on racial language in research, teaching and learning, challenging scholars to be critical in their use of racial terms.

UCT’s Faculty of Health Sciences hosted the first symposium on racial language in research, teaching and learning, challenging scholars to be critical in their use of racial terms.

23 Feb 2026 - 8 min read

Warden leads campus-wide push against GBV

Assoc Prof Rethabile Possa has been a leading voice in residence-based education on consent, accountability and healthy relationships to create awareness against GBV among students.

Assoc Prof Rethabile Possa has been a leading voice in residence-based education on consent, accountability and healthy relationships to create awareness against GBV among students.

20 Feb 2026 - 7 min read

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