UCT Well-Being Conference and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

The first annual University of Cape Town (UCT) Well-Being and Flourishing Conference will be held at the UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) on Tuesday, 9 September 2025. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. UCT to host annual Well-Being and Flourishing Conference

The university has announced the call for abstracts for the inaugural UCT Well-Being and Flourishing Conference, which will mark the official launch of the Centre for Well-Being and Flourishing – an emerging institutional hub. The centre is part of the Department of Student Affairs’ Key Strategic Area 7, which focuses on student success. This initiative represents a strategic shift in how UCT defines and advances student and staff success.

The conference, with the theme “Flourishing Futures: Advancing Well-Being in South African Higher Education”, invites contributions that explore how flourishing can be embedded across teaching, learning, leadership and institutional culture. It welcomes academic, applied and cross-sector submissions that reflect innovation, collaboration and systems thinking.

The deadline for submission is 10 June 2025.

• Read the full DVC Desk: First Annual UCT Well-Being and Flourishing Conference.
• Make your submission.

2. Inaugural lecture by Professor Res Altwegg

Professor Res Altwegg will present his inaugural lecture titled “Adventures in Statistical Ecology” on Thursday, 8 May 2025 at 17:30 SAST at Hoeri LT2, second floor, Hoerikwaggo Building, upper campus.

Professor Altwegg will take the audience on an adventure through the fascinating intersection of statistics and environmental science, where data and models hold the key to solving some of the most urgent conservation challenges.

As a leading expert in the field, Professor Altwegg is at the forefront of statistical ecology. He is a professor in the Department of Statistical Sciences and the founding director of the Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation (SEEC). This innovative research group brings together ecologists and statisticians to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental issues. Under his leadership, SEEC has become one of the largest and most influential statistical ecology teams globally and the only one of its kind in Africa.

• Register to attend the lecture.

The other lectures in the UCT Inaugural Lecture series scheduled for May will be presented by Professor Ursula Hoadley on Wednesday, 21 May 2025; and Professor Jacqueline van Wyk on Thursday, 29 May 2025.

• Read the full VC Desk: UCT inaugural lectures for May 2025.

3. UCT Law Expo 2025 – Connect. Explore. Launch your legal career

The UCT Careers Service and the Faculty of Law are excited to host the 2025 Law Expo, which will take place from 13 to 14 May 2025 on middle campus.

This flagship event brings together a wide array of prestigious law firms, public sector organisations, and legal service providers, all under one roof at the Kramer Law Building. Whether you’re a first-year student exploring the field or a final-year student preparing to enter the profession, the expo is your chance to:

• have your CV reviewed by Careers Development consultants on site
• network with top-tier legal employers
• learn about internships, and graduate opportunities
• gain insights into different legal career paths
• ask questions and connect with recruiters face-to-face.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to take the next step toward your legal future. Bring your questions, your CV and your curiosity.

MyCareer and the Careers Service website will have an up-to-date list of exhibitors, so be on the lookout.

4. Mid-year final examination timetable

The UCT Examinations Office has published the final timetable for the mid-year examination cycle, starting from Monday, 2 June to Friday, 20 June 2025. Students can view their timetable on the UCT Examinations Site.

Any requests for amendments must be sent to the Examinations Office, where further approval will be attained by the appropriate committee chairperson.

Students who wish to defer their examination for reasons beyond their control can do so by applying to the Deferred Examinations Committee. Applications must be submitted via service request on PeopleSoft for processing by the committee as per the rules available on the Examinations website.

UCT wishes students all the best ahead of the exams.

5. Enter the EDHE intervarsity competition

Student entrepreneurs with an existing business or researchers ready to turn their academic work into a commercial venture are invited to enter the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Intervarsity 2025 and represent UCT nationally.

This year’s competition includes categories for existing businesses (tech, social impact and general) and the new commercialisation of academic research stream for postgraduate students and staff. Don’t miss this opportunity for exposure, mentorship and potential funding.

The closing date for entries is Friday, 9 May 2025.

• Visit the EDHE website for details and entry information.
• Make a booking.

6. Exciting d-school Afrika programmes

The Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika (d-school Afrika) is offering three exciting programmes from May to July 2025 to inspire the next generation of African innovators. The programmes are open to students aged 18 and 35 enrolled in or recently graduated from higher education. These opportunities promote fresh thinking, collaboration and real-world problem-solving.

• Introduction to Design Thinking: This free, beginner-friendly, in-person course will introduce the basics of human-centred design on Wednesday, 7 May, and Thursday, 8 May 2025. Ideal for newcomers to innovation, it will focus on empathy, teamwork and creative confidence.
• Design Thinking Week returns from Monday, 23 June, to Friday, 27 June 2025. It is a hands-on, in-person programme where South African students will tackle real-world challenges in diverse teams, guided by expert coaches from discovery to prototyping.
• The Design Thinking in Afrika programme will be presented online from Monday, 7 July, to Friday, 18 July 2025. This programme is a virtual, pan-African experience for final-year undergrads, postgrads and recent graduates. Participants will collaborate across borders to solve meaningful challenges, gaining local and global insights.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements