Inaugural lecture by Professor Nefdt and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

The next lecture in the University of Cape Town (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series will be presented by Professor Ryan Nefdt on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Nefdt

Professor Nefdt will deliver his inaugural lecture, “Language, Patterns and Automata: The Algorithms Behind Linguistic Reality”, on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 at 18:00 SAST at the Mafeje Room, Bremner Building, lower campus.

This lecture will explore the formal foundations of natural language, presenting the view that language consists of real patterns grounded in both cognitive structures and social use. Professor Nefdt will examine how grammars can be understood as formal compression algorithms, bridging theoretical linguistics, philosophy and computational approaches.

Professor Nefdt is a professor in the Department of Philosophy, working at the intersection of philosophy of language, linguistics and cognitive science. His research focuses on the foundations of linguistic theory and the role of formal models in explaining language.

He is the author of several books and has received multiple awards, including the National Research Foundation P-rating and the Universities South Africa medal for emerging researcher in the humanities and social sciences.

• Register to attend the lecture.

2. Celebrating Africa Month

UCT will celebrate Africa Month through “Ubuntu Sound”, a vibrant music-and-movement concert on Friday, 22 May 2026 at 19:00 SAST in the Baxter Concert Hall. Rooted in the philosophy of ubuntu – “I am because we are” – the performance honours African heritage while highlighting the evolution of music and movement as living, communal practices.

The programme features the UCT Ibuyambo and Pan-African Music Ensembles in a collaborative showcase of music, rhythm, voice and dance. Audiences can expect an exploration of African musical traditions alongside contemporary movement practises, highlighting the relationship between individual identity and community through shared responsibility and collective expression.

This concert is directed by the South African College of Music African Music staff.

UCT staff and students can attend the concert free of charge.

• Book a seat.

3. UCT and HyperionDev partnership

UCT has entered into a strategic partnership with HyperionDev, a global leader in online tech education. The collaboration marks an important step in advancing the university’s commitment to innovative teaching and learning, while preparing students for success in an increasingly digital economy. Through the partnership, UCT will introduce a portfolio of career-focused online programmes aimed at developing in-demand digital and leadership skills.

The initial offering will include a leadership and management programme, with additional programmes in full-stack web development, front-end development and cloud computing expected to follow as part of a broader rollout.

The partnership supports one of UCT’s key strategic priorities of widening access to credible, career-focused programmes for diverse student communities across South Africa and beyond. While HyperionDev will lead aspects of programme delivery, including curriculum development, student support and marketing, all programmes will be developed in close collaboration with UCT to maintain alignment with the university’s academic standards and institutional values. The first student cohort is expected to begin in June 2026.

• Read the full DVC Desk: UCT and HyperionDev in partnership to expand access to future-focused skills.

4. Design Thinking camp

Take part in the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika (d-school Afrika) D-Camp, a free one-day introduction to Design Thinking programme. Scheduled for Tuesday, 19 May 2026, the programme is not about sitting in a lecture – it's about learning by doing: building creative confidence, developing problem-solving skills and walking away with a practical framework for tackling real-world challenges.

• Apply for the programme.

5. Share your 1976 story

The events that took place on 16 June 1976 were not just moments in history, they were a turning point that reshaped South Africa’s political and social landscape. What began as a peaceful student protest against apartheid education policies was met with brutal force, igniting a nationwide uprising and global awareness of injustice. 

At UCT, this moment reverberated deeply. Campus became a space of protest, solidarity, debate and resistance where students and staff stood against oppression and engaged critically with the issues of language, education and freedom.

Now, nearly five decades later, these histories still shape who we are, but many stories remain untold.

The UCT community – past and present – is invited to contribute:

• Your memories of 1976 or its aftermath
• Your experiences on campus or in surrounding communities
• Your reflections on how 1976 has shaped education, activism or identity today.

Whether you lived through it, inherited its legacy or are engaging with it for the first time, the Communication and Marketing Department would like to hear from you.

Submissions can take any form: written reflections, interviews, photographs, art or poetry.

This is more than remembrance. It’s about building a collective archive that honours those who stood up, preserves lived experience and connects past struggles to present realities.

• Make your submission.

6. Global survey on AI in higher education

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming higher education and increasing the demand for credible, evidence-based data. Understanding how staff and students engage with AI across institutions and regions can help shape policy, inform decision-making and strengthen institutional support systems. UCT has been actively engaged in this area through initiatives such as the development and implementation of its AI in Education Framework, positioning the institution to contribute meaningfully to broader regional and global conversations on AI in higher education.

Against this backdrop, staff and students are invited to participate in the Digital Education Council Regional AI in Higher Education Survey 2026. The global benchmark study aims to provide institutions, policymakers and educators with practical insights into AI adoption, literacy and governance expectations across the higher education sector.

• Read the full DVC Desk: Participate in a global survey on AI in higher education.
• Complete the survey.

The survey closes on Friday, 15 May 2026.

For any questions about the surveys, please contact the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching Helpdesk.

7. Call for nominations: 2027 TB Davie Memorial Lecture

The UCT Academic Freedom Committee invites members of the UCT community to nominate speakers for the 2027 TB Davie Memorial Lecture.

The TB Davie Memorial Lecture is a significant event on the university calendar, providing an opportunity to engage with and reflect on the principles of academic freedom within a contemporary context. The lecture also seeks to promote thoughtful discussion and debate across the university community on issues affecting higher education and society.

• View a list of previous TB Davie speakers.
• Access recordings of previous lectures.

Nominations should not exceed three pages; and should include a brief curriculum vitae of the nominated speaker and a motivation.

Submit a nomination by Friday, 15 May 2026.

8. Call for applications: Teaching Innovation Grant 2026

Applications are now open for the 2026 UCT Teaching Innovation and Curriculum Change Grant. The grant supports individual academics, teaching teams and departments undertaking initiatives that strengthen teaching and learning at UCT and advance the objectives of UCT’s Strategy 2030.

Funding will support projects focused on teaching practice, curriculum and course design or redesign, and enhancing the student learning experience. This includes developing digital learning materials for blended or online learning, as well as creating and using open educational resources.

A limited number of grants of up to R35 000 will be awarded. Applicants are required to submit an intention to apply by emailing Max Tommy before 9 June 2026. A briefing session for prospective applicants will take place on Friday, 29 May 2026. Completed proposals must be submitted online using Form TGA2 by Friday, 10 July 2026.

• Read the full DVC Desk: Call for applications: Teaching Innovation Grant 2026.
• Register for the briefing session.

9. ICTS scheduled maintenance on Sunday, 17 May

The UCT community is advised to note that Sunday, 17 May 2026 will be an ICTS scheduled maintenance slot from 09:00 to 17:00.

Unless advised to the contrary, do not expect any on-premise ICT services to be available for the duration of the maintenance slot. However, please note that external connectivity to the UCT network (ie connecting to the UCT VPN) will be unavailable from 7:00 on the day.

Cloud-based services (including Amathuba, email, Microsoft 365, and ServiceNow) are not affected and remain accessible.

Please remember to consult the scheduled ICTS maintenance slots page for more information, including the reasons for regular monthly maintenance and to assist with planning any teaching, conferences, meetings, etc that require ICT services.

Communication and Marketing Department