Teaching and Learning Framework and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has readjusted its Teaching and Learning Framework following the repealing of COVID-19 regulations. Read about this and other updates.

1. UCT’s current Teaching and Learning Framework

UCT’s Teaching and Learning Framework builds on previous versions which helped the university to navigate teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The university will, among other things, maximise face-to-face teaching for undergraduate programmes to enhance participation by students. Postgraduate programmes, which are varied in nature, will be guided by a set of principles in the Teaching and Learning Framework which encourage interaction, flexibility and safety.

• Read the DVC Desk:UCT’s current Teaching and Learning Framework.
• Read the full Teaching and Learning Framework.

2. Vice-Chancellor to go on sabbatical

Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng will embark on a five-month sabbatical from 1 September 2022 to 2 February 2023. During this period, she will be away from campus and her official duties. The responsibility to act as vice-chancellor will be shared among UCT’s three deputy vice-chancellors and the chief operating officer. This will be Professor Phakeng’s first sabbatical since she joined UCT and the second of her professional career.

• Read the VC Desk: VC’s five-month sabbatical.

3. UCT and GESDA competition

UCT and the Geneva Science Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) invites youth, 30 years or younger, to submit ideas to win an all-expenses paid trip to the GESDA Summit 2022 in Geneva. All of the competition requirements are now available on the UCT GESDA competition web page. Entries will need to be submitted by 12:00 on Friday, 19 August 2022, SAST. This competition is open to anyone, you do not need to be a UCT student or staff member. Now is the time to use the science of the future to shape our present. UCT and GESDA looks forward to receiving your creative, disruptive and innovative ideas.

4. SWS to host Wellness Drive

The Department of Student Affairs’ Student Wellness Service (SWS) will host a health promotion and awareness campaign, popularly known as the Wellness Drive, at the plaza on upper campus, from 25-26 August between 09:00 and 15:30 on both days.

On Saturday, 27 August, a Run/Walk4Mental Health will be hosted around the UCT rugby field.

The Wellness Drive will offer HIV counselling and testing, wellness screening with health education, mental health self-help tips, women’s health, gender-based violence support and many other health and wellness interventions.

• Read more about the SWS Wellness Drive.
• Register for the Run/Walk4Mental Health.

5. Bidding workshop for conference funding

The South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB) will host a bidding workshop on Friday,19 August at LT3, Level 2, Kramer Law Building on middle campus.

Staff who organise national, regional or international conferences; staff who are members of learned societies; and international associations staff are invited to attend.

Topics to be covered include:

• Funding and support offered by the SANCB towards bidding and hosting of national, regional and international conferences.
• Criteria for bid support programme for national learned societies.

The SANCB will provide planners/academics with free support on all aspects of successfully attracting, organising and hosting regional and international conferences in South Africa.

A light lunch will be offered, and attendees will receive a small gift of appreciation.

SANCB is a business events unit within South African Tourism. Its primary role is to market and promote South Africa as a business events destination. The SANCB has a number of financial and non-financial support services that are available to academic institutions and associations that wish to attract regional and international conferences to South Africa. This involves working with academics affiliated with international and/or regional associations to attract conferences linked to those associations to be hosted in South Africa.

Please RSVP by Monday, 15 August to vanja.karth@uct.ac.za.

6. Reimagining the Jagger Library

Over the past several months the Futures Think Tank held imaginariums and workshops with more than 300 stakeholders, including primary school learners, university students, academics and members of the Cape Town community. The purpose of these sessions was to create partnerships and invite fresh ideas on what the restored Jagger Library should look like, in the spirit and energy of Vision 2030.

• Read the VC Desk: Update on Reimagining the Jagger Library.

7. Public consultation on UCT’s spatial and infrastructure development framework

The first draft of UCT’s Integrated Development Framework was prepared during 2013/2014 at the request of the national Department of Higher Education and Training, which required the submission of a “University Campus Master Plan” as a guide to capital expenditure in the following five to 20 years.

Students, staff, alumni, neighbours and all interested and affected parties are now encouraged to provide input. The public comment deadline is 23 August 2022. Comments on the land use management application can be submitted to the City of Cape Town, while comments on the heritage process can be submitted to the university.

• Read the VC Desk: Public consultation on UCT’s spatial and infrastructure development framework.
• Read UCT’s Integrated Development Framework and Heritage Process.

8. Nominations for the UCT Open Textbook Award

It’s only a few days left before nominations for the 2022 UCT Open Textbook Award close on 15 August 2022. Nominations can be submitted either by open textbook authors or by a third party. The UCT Open Textbook Award aims to incentivise innovation in teaching and learning, recognise efforts of open textbook authors, and promote the creation and reuse of open educational resources. The UCT Open Textbook Award has a social justice focus and aims to recognise activities that support the university’s transformation efforts.

• Read the DVC Desk: Nominations for the UCT Open Textbook Award.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements