Friday, 17 April

12:30

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has rearranged the academic year to ensure students complete the semester and the full academic year. The executive is aware that some students may experience some remote working challenges and have made provision for this.

Here’s what undergraduate students need to know:

• UCT purchased laptops for students and these will be distributed based on financial need. The laptops will be delivered as soon as government approves the courier service clearance.
• UCT has established agreements with Cell C and Telkom for zero-rated data for South African websites. This guarantees free access to UCT websites like Vula, video lectures, the Library website, Open UCT, and UCT’s primary website.
• A call centre and referral system will be established to handle connectivity queries, as well as health and psycho-social issues. The university will also monitor student participation in remote learning via Vula.
• For students who can’t access the internet in any form, the university will distribute printed learning materials and USB drives to keep up with their courses. Due to the extended lockdown this has proceeded slowly, but UCT will keep students informed about the progress.
• Orientation Week starts on Monday, 20 April, and will help students adapt to the online learning environment. The university expects students to engage with learning for at least 30 hours per week.
• Formal teaching starts on Tuesday, 28 April.
• The deadline for dropping courses has moved to 8 May, and a special version of the change of curriculum form will be available next week.
• For most courses there will be continuous assessment through quizzes, tests and assignments. First semester courses will not be examined through invigilated examinations (there are a few exceptions to this in the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment). Annual courses will have invigilated examinations at the end of the year.
• Lab, field and studio work cannot be taught remotely and the necessary adjustments will be communicated directly to students via their faculties.

The UCT community is invested in getting students through this difficult and uncertain time.

Read the DVC’s Desk.