Join the UCT Day celebrations on 6 October

Dear colleagues and students

The University of Cape Town (UCT) campus community is reminded to join us for the inaugural UCT Day, a campus-wide celebration scheduled to take place as follows:

When: Friday, 6 October 2023
Time: 12:00–20:00
Where: Upper Campus

UCT Day is for everyone. We have an exciting schedule of in-person and online events planned, including team challenges, on the day. We invite you to:

1. dress in UCT branded clothing or, in UCT blue
2. round up fellow UCT alumni in your department, unit or corporate company to take a group photo or videos
3. share your UCT story by participating in the ‘I am UCT because…’ virtual challenge
4. post your videos or photos on social media tagging @UCTalumni, using #CelebrateUCTDay
5. amplify our call to support UCT students across your social networks.

Support our students

One of the ways you can demonstrate your love for UCT is by donating to one of the four UCT student fundraising causes listed below. You can choose a programme that holds special significance to you and in so doing, help us deliver on our vision of excellence, transformation and sustainability at UCT. Whether big or small, once-off or over a longer period, your donation matters. Please consider making a gift to one of the following:

1. unlocking Futures Bursaries (student financial support)
2. student wellness programmes
3. anti gender-based violence programme
4. food sovereignty programme.

Get ready for some fun on upper campus

Our UCT Day website is now live. On this website, you can access all events information, and sign up for the team activities. You can challenge other departments and faculties to do the same! This is what you can expect on the day:

• Food trucks on the Green Mile: you can look forward to familiar campus favourites along with several external food trucks.
• Bring a picnic blanket and seating to chill with us on the Green Mile for the afternoon. Events start at 12:00.
• Live music presented by UCT Radio.
• A Zumba warm-up session: before the sport challenges begin, stretch those muscles with us on the Green Mile at 12:00. Anyone can join. Have fun moving to music.
• Don’t miss the UCT executive challenge, featuring members of the senior leadership team who will compete in a relay race, taking place at 15:30 on the Green Mile.
• Cheer on the wheelchair rugby team in Hall 1 of the UCT Sports Centre. Come and support our amazing sports men and women!
• Sign up for the following walking UCT tours:
  • UCT Libraries Tours: on 6 October at 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00 (Jagger Library and Birkdale House).
  • UCT Campus Sustainability Guided Walking Tours: on 5 and 6 October from 12:00 to 13:30.
• We end UCT Day with an outdoor movie experience hosted by our event partners, Sunshine Cinema, from 18:00 to 20:00. Free popcorn will be provided. Bring friends, family members, a picnic basket and comfortable seating along! Book via Webtickets.
• Visit the UCT Day events page for the full schedule of exciting activities.

Register your team for one of the three sports challenges

UCT Day features three main sports challenges in which teams, drawn from across the university, will compete against each other. Participation will levy a small fee which will go towards one of the four UCT student fundraising projects. Visit the UCT Day events page to register for one of the following UCT Day activities. Start times are available on the website:

1. Five-a-side soccer (eight teams) in Hall 1 and 2 of the Sports Centre.
2. 5 km Walkathon: Walk for Good. October is Mental Health Awareness Month. Participate in our 5 km walkathon lapping the Green Mile. Bring your friends and family for a gentle stroll or power-walk activity designed to increase your energy and wellbeing. So get a team together, get creative with a dress up theme for your team and come and have some fun to relieve any stress of anxiety.
3. UCT Amazing Race, powered by BMW: 25 teams of four people will compete in the ultimate race on upper campus. Meet on the Green Mile.

Participation fee

• R100 per person (alumni, staff and members of the public)
• R50 per person (students)
• For more information on these events and to sign up your team, visit the UCT Day events page.

Please note: there are a finite number of places available for each of the above activities so make sure to register your team this week, and extend a challenge(s) to other faculties and departments who you think you can take on.

Don’t forget to participate in the ‘I am UCT because…’ digital challenge that was launched on the UCT official social media channels. We want to hear your unique UCT story! Your story will be shared on the UCT Day website and on our social media platforms.

We look forward to seeing you at UCT Day on Friday, 6 October for a day of fun, reconnecting and fundraising in support of UCT students!

Sincerely

The UCT Day 2023 Team

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements