Inaugural lecture by Professor Van Wyk and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

Professor Jacqueline van Wyk will present her lecture as part of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series on Thursday, 29 May 2025. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Jaqueline Van Wyk (Faculty of Health Sciences)

Professor Van Wyk will present her lecture, “Grounded in Context, Growing for Impact: Advancing African Scholarship in Health Professions Education,” on Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 18:00 SAST in the New Learning Centre Lecture Theatre, Anatomy Building, Health Sciences Campus.

In this lecture, Professor Van Wyk will reflect on her influential career in health professions education, tracing her journey in developing educational models that are socially accountable, locally relevant and rooted in inclusive pedagogy. She will explore how community engagement, mentorship and collaboration are vital to strengthening health systems and transforming health education across South Africa and the African continent.

A widely respected scholar and educator, Professor Van Wyk is currently the head of the Department of Health Sciences Education. She is also the editor-in-chief of the African Journal of Health Professions Education. Her leadership has shaped curriculum design, faculty development and postgraduate training in the health sciences. Through her work with organisations such as the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER), the Sub-Saharan Africa-FAIMER Regional Institute and the South African Association of Health Educators, she has championed emerging educators and expanded the reach of African scholarship in shaping policy and practice.

• Read the full VC Desk: UCT inaugural lectures for May 2025.
• Register to attend the lecture.

2. UCT’s ACDI to host global climate summit

UCT’s African Climate & Development Initiative (ACDI) has partnered with the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit hosted by the United Nations Human Rights and the University of Oxford, convened by the International Universities Climate Alliance (IUCA). The summit brings together convening global experts from various sectors to discuss impacts, obligations, effective responses and solutions to the human-rights climate crisis.

UCT will host the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit as part of a worldwide education coalition contributing to the 24-hour global plenary. It will be co-delivered by universities and partners worldwide and broadcast live via Zoom across time zones on Thursday, 5 June 2025 from 10:00 to 12:00 SAST at the Environmental and Seminar Room 5, Geographical Sciences Building, upper campus.

• Register to attend in person.
• Register to attend online.
• Read more about the session and speakers.

3. Step into leadership – from day one

Are you a first-year student looking to make the most of your university experience? The First-Year Foundational Leadership Programme is your chance to discover what leadership truly means –beyond titles, classrooms and conventional expectations.

Specifically designed for first-year students navigating university life, this eight-session programme invites you to explore your leadership potential – no previous experience required. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to share your voice.

You’ll explore various leadership pathways through dynamic workshops, immersive excursions, and inspiring discussions – art, activism, financial literacy, spirituality, sustainability and more.

You’ll learn to lead on your terms with authenticity, purpose, empathy and creativity.

The programme will explore the following themes:

• Introduction to leadership
• Financial literacy
• Design thinking for success
• Spirituality and culture
• Environmental sustainability
• Social responsiveness and community outreach
• Art and leadership
• Mental health and wellbeing

Applications close on 13 June 2025.

• Apply online.

4. First Annual UCT Well-Being and Flourishing Conference

UCT invites submissions for the inaugural UCT Well-Being and Flourishing Conference, taking place on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, at the UCT Graduate School of Business.

This event will also mark the official launch of the Centre for Well-Being and Flourishing – a new institutional initiative aligned with Key Strategic Area 7 of the Department of Student Affairs, which champions student success. The centre signals a transformative approach to how UCT envisions and supports the success of both students and staff.

The theme for the 2025 conference is: “Flourishing Futures: Advancing Well-Being in South African Higher Education.”

This conference is more than a gathering – it's a statement of purpose. It’s an open invitation to help shape the future of flourishing in higher education – guided by research, shaped by lived experiences and led by a university committed to real and lasting impact.

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

The submission deadline is Tuesday, 10 June 2025

5. UCT online PhD Preparedness Programme

Thinking about pursuing a PhD? Not sure what to expect in today’s academic landscape?

The Faculty of Health Sciences invites you to join its 12-week online PhD Preparedness Programme from Monday, 14 July to Wednesday, 17 September 2025. This programme is designed for those looking to strengthen or gain insights into key academic, research and thesis writing skills.

Open to participants from diverse disciplines and not limited to prospective UCT PhD candidates, the programme fosters a supportive and interdisciplinary learning environment. Many participants go on to form informal peer networks that provide valuable encouragement and connection throughout their doctoral journeys.

• Register for the programme.

The closing date for applications is Monday, 30 June 2025.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements