Inaugural lecture by Professor Lubbe and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

Professor Darlene Lubbe will deliver her lecture as part of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series on Thursday, 28 August 2025. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Darlene Lubbe (Faculty of Health Sciences)

Professor Lubbe will deliver her inaugural lecture, “Otolaryngology Through a South African Lens – Journeys, Innovations and Global Perspectives”, on Thursday, 28 August 2025 at 17:30 SAST in Lecture Theatre 2, Neuroscience Institute Atrium, Groote Schuur Hospital.

In this lecture, Professor Lubbe will reflect on her professional journey through otolaryngology, which was shaped by the unique challenges and opportunities of practising in South Africa. She will also trace her path from being a young student to becoming one of the pioneers of transorbital surgery. This technique has gained international recognition and influenced Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) practice worldwide.

This lecture will highlight how adversity and limited resources have often led to innovation and problem-solving with impact beyond South Africa. She will share how these experiences and mentorship have shaped her career and inspired her commitment to training the next generation of surgeons. This includes supporting young professionals locally and building knowledge networks globally, where her influence continues to reach across borders.

Professor Lubbe is based in the Department of Otolaryngology. She graduated top of her class in general surgery at Stellenbosch University, where she received the Ethicon Prize for best student in surgery. Her work centres on endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery, where she has led several innovations. She works closely with Professor Kris Moe of the University of Washington, who pioneered the transorbital technique, and directs the Karl Storz Sub-Saharan Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery Programme. She has also advanced global surgical training and co-developed the Trachealator, a non-occlusive balloon device that won gold at the 2021 Medical Design Excellence Awards in the United States of America.

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

2. Have your say on UCT’s Strategy 2030

UCT Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela marked his first year in office on 1 August 2025 with the launch of Strategy 2030, a milestone aligned with the university’s Vision 2030.

He has invited all staff and students to share their feedback on the draft strategy, encouraging the UCT community to co-create a university that is “the best home for you – a place to explore your talents, push the boundaries of excellence, and activate the best version of yourself while contributing to the success of others and the advancement of society”.

Staff and students are encouraged to share their input and play an active role in shaping UCT’s future.

• Read the full VC Desk: One year in office: Expressing gratitude and unveiling Strategy 2030.
• Visit the UCT Strategy 2030 page.

3. Themed review on modes of learning and teaching provision

UCT will participate in the forthcoming themed review by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) on modes of learning and teaching provision.

This review responds to the shift in teaching and learning modalities since the COVID-19 pandemic, when institutions were granted a special concession to offer contact-mode programmes through blended or online formats. The concession ends in 2026. From 2027, only institutions that successfully complete this review will be permitted to continue offering such programmes in alternative modes without resubmitting each programme for re-accreditation.

The review will take place in 2025 and will follow a focused desktop review format. The CHE panel will evaluate UCT’s Self-Evaluation Report (SER) and portfolio of evidence, without an on-site visit. It will assess the university’s capacity, quality assurance systems and strategic approach to delivering programmes through contact, blended and online learning. For UCT, the review is an opportunity to reflect on how its teaching and learning practices align with institutional strategy, and to consider how best to balance its identity as a residential university with the flexibility of digitally enabled education.

The UCT community is encouraged to contribute actively when approached by the steering committee for insights and experiences, as this will help shape UCT’s future provision of teaching and learning in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape.

For more information, please consult the CHE’s Manual for the Themed Review on Modes of Learning and Teaching Provision on the CHE website.

For any questions about the review, please contact Amanda Barratt.

• Read the full DVC Desk: Themed review on modes of learning and teaching provision.

4. Complete the 2025 Student Engagement Survey

UCT is participating in the 2025 South African Survey of Student Engagement (SASSE) and the Lecturer Survey of Student Engagement (LSSE). These national surveys collect feedback from undergraduate students and academic staff across South African universities, providing institutions with valuable data for reflection and comparison. SASSE is open to all undergraduate students, while LSSE is for staff involved in teaching at the undergraduate level. Both surveys close on Friday, 10 October 2025.

SASSE asks students about their participation in teaching and learning practices, co-curricular activities, and experiences of campus culture and life. It also explores the quality of student interactions on campus, levels of support, and overall engagement within the UCT environment. The survey concludes with a key question: “What one change would most improve the educational experience at this institution?” Students who complete SASSE will be entered into a lucky draw for a small number of prizes.

LSSE complements SASSE by capturing staff perspectives on student engagement, graduate outcomes, teaching practices, workload and the balance between teaching and research.

Both surveys are designed to strengthen understanding of the teaching and learning environment at UCT, offering insights that support institutional improvement and alignment with the needs of students and staff. The SASSE and LSSE surveys have been approved by the University of the Free State Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee and UCT’s CHED Research Ethics Committee, the Department of Student Affairs and Human Resources.

• Read the full DVC Desk: Complete the 2025 Student Engagement Survey.
• Complete the South African Survey of Student Engagement 2025.
• Complete the Lecturer Survey of Student Engagement 2025.

For more information, please contact the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching Helpdesk.

5. Inaugural UCT Well-being and Flourishing Conference

UCT, through its Centre for Well-being and Flourishing and in partnership with the Department of Student Affairs, will host the inaugural Well-being and Flourishing Conference on Tuesday, 9 September 2025 at the UCT Graduate School of Business.

Led by Professor Elelwani Ramugondo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness, the conference affirms UCT’s commitment to embedding flourishing into every aspect of university life. It highlights wellbeing as central to academic excellence, transformation, redress and sustainable innovation.

The conference is open to staff, student leaders, researchers and wellbeing practitioners at UCT and beyond, with relevance for those engaged in pedagogy, student affairs, mental health, curriculum design, transformation and institutional strategy. Spaces are limited, and early registration is encouraged.

• Register for the conference.

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