Campus announcements
Rescheduled lecture by Professor Behari-Leak and other updates
14 May 2026Dear colleagues and students
The UCT Inaugural Lecture by Professor Kasturi Behari-Leak has been rescheduled for Tuesday, 26 May 2026 at 18:30 SAST. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.
1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Kasturi Behari-Leak (CHED)
Professor Behari-Leak will present her inaugural lecture, “Biographies and Geographies: Who Teaches Matters – Reimagining Knowledge, Belonging and the University”, on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 at 18:30 SAST at The Atrium, Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika (d-school Afrika), middle campus.
This lecture, which was initially scheduled for Thursday, 14 May 2026, will position academic and professional staff development as a key driver of institutional and sector-wide transformation. Professor Behari-Leak will explore how this work advances epistemic justice, curriculum renewal and socially responsive teaching and learning within higher education.
Reflecting on her journey as an activist, scholar, practitioner and institutional leader, she will consider how universities can create environments that foster intellectual growth, inclusion and meaningful transformation. The lecture will present academic development as central to building engaged, humane and future-oriented institutions.
Professor Behari-Leak is the dean of the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED). Her scholarship focuses on higher education transformation, decolonial and social justice pedagogies, curriculum change, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. She has also held several national and international leadership roles.
2. Trans-Gariep Inter-Institutional Student Leadership Programme
The Department of Student Affairs (DSA) invites all undergraduate students to join the Trans-Gariep Inter-Institutional Student Leadership Programme from Tuesday, 14 July to Saturday, 25 July 2026 for a transformative self-leadership journey.
Applications close on Monday, 25 May 2026.
3. Reminder: Global survey on AI in higher education
Staff and students are reminded to participate in the Digital Education Council Regional AI in Higher Education Survey 2026.
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape higher education, credible, evidence-based data is essential to support informed decision-making and policy development. Understanding how staff and students engage with AI across institutions and regions can help strengthen institutional support and guide future approaches to teaching and learning.
UCT has already contributed to this work through initiatives such as the AI in Education Framework, supporting broader regional and global conversations on AI in higher education.
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.
4. Reminder: Call for 2027 TB Davie Memorial Lecture speaker nominations
The Academic Freedom Committee reminds the UCT community that nominations for the 2027 TB Davie Memorial Lecture speaker close on Friday, 15 May 2026. Members of the university community are encouraged to submit nominations.
The TB Davie Memorial Lecture is one of the key events on the UCT calendar, offering an opportunity to engage with and reflect on the principles of academic freedom in a contemporary context. The lecture also aims to encourage thoughtful discussion and debate on issues affecting higher education and society.
Nominations should not exceed three pages; and should include a brief curriculum vitae of the nominated speaker and a motivation.
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