Inaugural lecture by Professor Burgers and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

Professor Wendy Burgers will deliver the last lecture of the year as part of the University of Cape Town (UCT) 2025 Inaugural Lecture series on Thursday, 20 November 2025. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Wendy Burgers (Faculty of Health Sciences)

Professor Burgers will present her lecture, “In Defence of Us All: Engineering Immunity in the Age of Outbreaks”, on Thursday, 20 November 2025 at 18:00 SAST at the New Learning Centre Lecture Theatre, Anatomy Building, on the health sciences campus.

Professor Burgers’ lecture will explore how viruses have shaped human biology and society. She will reflect on viral evolution, immune escape and the ways vaccines activate the immune system to protect against infection. The lecture will explore the connections between key discoveries in immunology and the collaborative efforts that drive vaccine innovation and pandemic preparedness. She will also consider how science can strengthen both resilience and equity in global health.

A professor of virology in the Department of Pathology and the deputy director of the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) at UCT, Professor Burgers focuses her research on T-cell immunity, vaccine evaluation and immune responses to viruses. She founded and leads the Clinical Cellular Immunology Platform at UCT, a hub for research and capacity building that partners with Afrigen and Biovac. Her work has been published in leading journals such as Nature, The Lancet and Science Translational Medicine.

Professor Burgers is a fellow of UCT and a recipient of the South African Medical Research Council Silver Medal. She has served on national advisory committees on COVID-19 vaccines and biotechnology; and is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of African scientists – most of them women. Through her leadership and teaching, she advances UCT’s vision of science that serves society.

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

2: TLC2025 provisional programme and abstracts

The UCT Teaching and Learning Conference (TLC2025) will take place on 18 and 19 November 2025, with an additional workshop day on Monday, 17 November 2025. Hosted by the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT), in partnership with the Data Analytics for Student Success (DASS) programme, TLC2025 explores how data can support inclusive, ethical and evidence-informed teaching and learning.

The provisional programme and book of abstracts are now available as a combined PDF document, which outlines the planned schedule of sessions, keynote topics and abstracts submitted by UCT staff and partners.

Please note that the programme is subject to change.

• Download the provisional programme and abstracts.

The conference is open to all UCT staff.

3. Distinguished Teacher Awards 2024 recipients

Each year, UCT honours members of the academic community whose teaching embodies excellence, innovation and a profound commitment to student learning. The Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA) is the university’s highest recognition of teaching, celebrating educators who exemplify the transformative power of education through their pedagogy, leadership and scholarly engagement.

Awardees are selected through a rigorous review by the DTA Committee, which assesses nominees against criteria of excellence, inclusivity, curriculum renewal and impact on students and colleagues.

UCT is pleased to announce the following Distinguished Teacher Award recipients for 2024:

• Dr Kate Angier (School of Education)
• Dr Chiv Gordon (Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
• Associate Professor Jameelah Omar (Department of Public Law)
• Dr Juana Sánchez-Ortega (Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics)

The 2024 awardees exemplify the depth and diversity of teaching excellence at UCT. Their work spans disciplines as varied as mathematics, law, education and medicine, each illustrating how teaching can reimagine disciplinary practice, nurture humanity and inspire the next generation of scholars and professionals.

• Read the full DVC Desk: Distinguished Teacher Awards 2024 recipients.

4. UCT to co-lead institute for the pandemic preparedness

UCT is leading the early phase of the new Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the National Research Foundation (DSTI–NRF) Institute for the Preparedness and Prevention of Pandemics (IP3) as its interim administrative hub. Approved in 2024 by DSTI–NRF, the institute is a national initiative aimed at strengthening South Africa’s capacity to prevent and respond to pandemics. In this role, UCT is laying the groundwork for the institute’s governance and operations while coordinating national activities during its formative stage.

The IP3 unites 10 universities and partners from government, civil society and industry under one collaborative platform. With initial funding from a three-year DSTI–NRF grant, the institute aims to build capacity in research, innovation and systems for pandemic preparedness and recovery. UCT’s leadership is central to ensuring that the IP3 fosters cooperation, knowledge exchange and resilience within South Africa’s health research landscape.

• Read the full DVC Desk: UCT to co-lead institute for the pandemic preparedness.

5. Exam support services offered by SWS

UCT’s Student Wellness Service (SWS) will continue to provide a full range of support services throughout the ongoing examination period to help students manage their health and well-being.

The examination period started on Tuesday, 4 November, and will run until Friday, 21 November 2025.

Students are encouraged to use the available resources, including assistance with deferred examinations, the main SWS clinic located in the Ivan Toms Building, the Upper Campus Clinic, counselling and pharmacy services, as well as other support options offered by the university.

• Read the full Campus Announcement: Exam support services offered by SWS.

6. First-ever THE World Academic Summit in Africa

UCT has been selected to host the first-ever Times Higher Education (THE) World Academic Summit (WAS) in Africa in 2026. Scheduled for 29 September to 1 October 2026, the gathering will be held in collaboration with the University of Bristol (UoB), one of UCT’s long-standing global partners dedicated to advancing research for public benefit.

The summit represents a landmark opportunity for Africa’s higher education sector and underscores UCT’s growing role in shaping global academic discourse. Guided by the theme “Knowledge, justice and futures: Universities in the age of intelligence”, it will convene thought leaders from universities, research institutions, industry, government and civil society. Discussions will explore how higher education can promote justice, innovation and sustainability in a rapidly changing world. The event reflects UCT’s Strategy 2030 priorities, particularly its focus on inclusive excellence and meaningful global collaboration.

UCT’s selection to host comes amid continued academic recognition. The university climbed from 180th to 164th place in the 2026 THE World University Rankings, positioning it among the top 7.5% of institutions worldwide. It also achieved a rise to 150th in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, marking its best result in 10 years. These advancements highlight the university’s commitment to research excellence, social impact and innovation, strengthening its standing as Africa’s leading institution on the global stage.

• Read more about the 2026 summit.
• Read the full VC Desk: UCT to host first-ever THE World Academic Summit in Africa.

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