VC’s Excellence Awards 2025 and other updates

Dear colleagues

Nominations are open for the Vice-Chancellor’s (VC) Excellence Awards, which celebrate outstanding service to the university. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Nominations open for VC’s Excellence Awards

In November 2025, the University of Cape Town (UCT) will celebrate the outstanding contributions of its staff through the VC’s Excellence Awards. These awards recognise individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond expectations, demonstrating dedication, innovation and impact. They highlight the collective strength of the university community built on collaboration, shared purpose and a commitment to excellence.

Over the past year, UCT has drawn on the resilience and hard work of its staff to strengthen its role as a leading institution in higher education. Acts of service, innovation and leadership across departments and teams have continued to shape the university’s success and sustain its vision of excellence. The awards offer a platform to honour these efforts and acknowledge the daily contributions that make a lasting difference.

Nominations for the VC’s Excellence Awards are now open, and staff are encouraged to put forward colleagues or teams who have inspired them through their work. Professional, administrative support and services staff are invited to submit nominations for the Global Citizenship Award and the Service Excellence Award. All staff engaged in transformation work are encouraged to nominate themselves or their colleagues for the Transformation Award.

• Read the full VC Desk: Nominations open for VC’s Excellence Awards 2025.
• Read more on the guidelines and criteria for the awards.
• Download the nomination form.
• Submit a nomination.

The deadline for submission is Friday, 24 October 2025.

2. Opera UCT presents Die Fledermaus

The Opera UCT invites the campus community and friends to Johan Strauss II’s operetta Die Fledermaus on 23–26 October 2025 at the Pam Golding Theatre. With mistaken identities, masked revenge and a whirlwind of wit and romance, this timeless classic is all set to receive a bold and fashionable update.

Directed by Christine Crouse, with musical direction by Jeremy Silver, costumes by celebrated fashion designer Gavin Rajah, bringing contemporary sophistication and a fresh edge to the stage, and set design by Allegra Bernacchione.

This features the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jeremy Silver.

• Buy tickets.

3. Farewell to ED Research: Dr Mtwisha

UCT has bid farewell to the Executive Director (ED): Research, Dr Linda Mtwisha, who left the institution at the end of September 2025. Dr Mtwisha joined UCT in October 2020 and, over the past five years, has made a significant impact on the university’s research enterprise through her leadership, commitment and dedication.

During her tenure, Dr Mtwisha provided oversight of the Research Office, led the development of the inaugural Research Office strategy, and spearheaded several strategic initiatives. These include enhancing research data intelligence, positioning UCT as the interim host of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)-NRF Institute for the Preparedness and Prevention of Pandemics and launching the Grand Challenge Initiative to drive interdisciplinary research and societal impact. She also developed the industry postdoctoral fellowship programme, introduced the Research Leadership Programme, and initiated the Collective Conversations series to encourage inclusive dialogue. Her work has strengthened systems, built capacity and fostered collaboration across the university and beyond.

The Director for Research Support Enterprise in the Research Office, Ms Christina Pather, has been appointed as acting ED: Research with effect from 1 October 2025.

• Read the full VC Desk: Farewell to ED Research: Dr Linda Mtwisha.

4. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of The Pitch UCT

UCT marked the 10th edition of its flagship student entrepreneurship programme and competition, The Pitch UCT, on Monday, 29 September 2025. Held under the theme “From Campus to Continent: 10 Years of Entrepreneurial Vision,” the event was led by the Academic Representative Council in the Department of Student Affairs in partnership with the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, with support from the Hasso Plattner d-school Africa, the Solution Space at the Graduate School of Business, the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, UCT Career Services, the Residence Academic Development Committee (RADC) and the Development and Alumni Department.

Since its inception as a project of the RADC, The Pitch UCT has empowered more than 1 000 students to transform ideas into ventures and scale initiatives that benefit communities. Over the years, it evolved into a vital platform that showcased the role of entrepreneurial thinking in addressing societal challenges. The programme became embedded in UCT’s broader entrepreneurial ecosystem, which advances innovation and entrepreneurship as part of the university’s Vision 2030 and its commitment to inclusive, innovation-led development.

More than a milestone, the 10th anniversary served as proof of what students could achieve when provided with ownership, guidance and a supportive ecosystem.

• Read the full VC Desk: Celebrating the 10th anniversary of The Pitch UCT.

5. College of Fellows awardees 2025

Induction into the College of Fellows is among the highest honours conferred on academics at UCT. It recognises scholars whose research expands the frontiers of knowledge and reflects the university’s commitment to excellence, innovation and impact. In 2025, three distinguished academics were inducted into the College of Fellows: Professor Jeff Murugan from the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Professor Jaco Barnard-Naudé from the Faculty of Law, and Professor Andy Buffler from the Department of Physics.

Professor Murugan was recognised for his transformative contributions to theoretical and mathematical physics, including groundbreaking work in quantum field theory, quantum information and quantum technologies. Professor Barnard-Naudé was honoured for his pioneering role in critical legal theory and his influential scholarship on post-apartheid jurisprudence, contractual justice and civil rights. Professor Buffler was celebrated for his expertise in applied nuclear physics and his leadership in developing innovative neutron detection technologies and facilities, including the establishment of the “n-lab” and contributions to the UCT Proton Therapy Initiative.

The university also announced the recipients of the 2025 College of Fellows Young Researcher Awards: Dr Simon Mendelsohn from the Department of Pathology, Professor Malebogo Ngoepe from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Dr Emily Garman from the Department of Psychiatry. Their research spans tuberculosis diagnostics and therapies, biomechanics and computational modelling in health, and the integration of mental health care into primary and community settings. Together, these achievements highlight UCT’s research excellence and the dedication of its scholars to advancing knowledge with local and global impact.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements