Report back from UCT Council meeting and other updates

Dear students and colleagues

This campus announcement aims to inform members of the University of Cape Town community about:

1. Report back from UCT Council meeting

The UCT Council met on Saturday, 17 March 2018, and made a number of key decisions. These included the appointment of Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng as incoming UCT vice-chancellor.

• Read the Chair’s Desk for more on Council decisions…
• Read the Chair’s Desk on Professor Phakeng’s appointment...
• Watch the press conference announcing UCT’s new vice-chancellor...

2. UCT sets itself a tighter water-saving target

The City’s Level 6B water restrictions, introduced on 1 February 2018, require UCT to reduce its water usage by 45% with reference to 2015 water usage levels. Failure to comply with this requirement will incur heavy fines. In response, UCT has set itself a 50% water-saving target, which will help keep the institution on a solid financial footing as well as set an example for responsible and sustainable water use.

• Read the VC Desk on a water-wise UCT...

3. UCT’s new food company

UCT has established a new food company, UCT Foods Services (Pty) Ltd, to provide a retail food offering on campus. The university will initially manage and operate eight food outlets. These outlets will operate as The Food Co. and will provide a variety of fresh and exciting food offerings at affordable prices. It is envisaged that these will be operational in the second term.

Until that point, food trucks have been placed around the campuses so that the food service can continue. These food trucks can be found outside the Menzies Building, between the Neville Alexander and Leslie buildings, outside the Health Sciences building and on middle campus near the School of Dance.

• Read more about UCT’s new food company...

4. Professor Caroline Ncube’s inaugural lecture

The second Vice-Chancellor’s Inaugural Lecture of the year will take place on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, in Lecture Theatre 2 in the Kramer Law Building on middle campus. The lecture, titled “The public interest in intellectual property law: African solutions to global challenges”, will be presented by Professor Caroline Ncube. Please RSVP by Monday, 26 March, if you wish to attend.

• Read more about Professor Ncube’s inaugural lecture...

5. National Excellence in Teaching and Learning Awards

The Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa (HELTASA), in collaboration with the Council on Higher Education, has called for nominations for the annual National Excellence in Teaching and Learning Awards for 2018. The deadline for UCT applications is 2 May 2018 to allow for an internal selection process before submitting institutionally supported candidates to HELTASA on 25 June 2018. Applications can be sent to Cindy Gilbert.

• Read the DVC Desk on the National Excellence in Teaching and Learning Awards...

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements