Inaugural lecture by Professor Behari-Leak and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

Professor Kasturi Behari-Leak will deliver her inaugural lecture as part of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. 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 will examine academic and professional staff development as a driving force in institutional and sector-wide transformation. Professor Behari-Leak will explore how this work contributes to epistemic justice, curriculum renewal and socially responsive teaching and learning in higher education.

Drawing on her experience as an activist, scholar, practitioner and institutional leader, she will reflect on how universities can cultivate environments that support intellectual growth, inclusion and meaningful transformation. The lecture will position academic development as central to building engaged, humane and future-focused 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, including serving as president of the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa from 2017 to 2021; and president of the International Consortium for Educational Development from 2021 to 2023.

• Read the full VC Desk: Upcoming UCT inaugural lectures: May 2026.
• Register to attend the lecture.

2. Celebrating Africa Month

UCT will mark Africa Month with “Ubuntu in Sound”, a music-and-movement concert taking place on Friday, 22 May 2026 at 19:00 SAST in the Baxter Concert Hall. Inspired by the philosophy of ubuntu – “I am because we are” – the performance celebrates African heritage while exploring music and movement as shared and evolving cultural practices.

The concert will feature the UCT Ibuyambo and Pan-African Music Ensembles in a collaborative performance of music, rhythm, voice and dance. Audiences can expect a blend of African musical traditions and contemporary movement practices that reflect the connection between individual identity, community and collective expression.

The production is directed by the African Music staff of the South African College of Music. UCT staff and students will be able to attend the concert free of charge.

• Book a seat.

3. Annual Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and its impact on UCT

The UCT community is advised of several road closures related to the annual Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, which will – among others – affect the operation of the UCT Shuttle service. The marathon will take place on Sunday, 24 May 2026.

Staff and students are advised to take note of the following and make alternative arrangements where possible:

• All shuttle services (including Claremont and Residence loop) will be suspended until 13:00 on Sunday, 24 May 2026.
• Hiddingh: Shuttle services will be suspended for the full day on Sunday, 24 May 2026.

Shuttles will be on standby and will resume service earlier if road access becomes available.

For more information, please visit the route maps and timetables page on the UCT website.

In addition, the marathon will operate a Park & Ride from UCT’s P1 and P6 parking areas, which will not affect the UCT Shuttle service. 

For more information, please contact Megan Dick.

4. Share your 1976 story

The events of 16 June 1976 marked a defining moment in South Africa’s history. What began as a peaceful student protest against apartheid education policies was met with violent repression, sparking a nationwide uprising and drawing global attention to the injustices of apartheid. At UCT, the moment resonated deeply, with the campus becoming a site of protest, solidarity, debate and resistance.

Nearly five decades later, the legacy of 1976 continues to shape education, activism and identity in South Africa, yet many stories remain unheard. The UCT community – past and present – is invited to share memories of 1976 and its aftermath, experiences on campus and in surrounding communities, and reflections on how these histories continue to influence the present.

The Communication and Marketing Department (CMD) invites submissions in any form, including written reflections, interviews, photographs, art and poetry. This initiative aims to build a collective archive that honours those who stood up against injustice, preserves lived experiences and connects the struggles of the past to the realities of today.

• Make your submission.

5. Call for applications: Teaching Innovation and Curriculum Change Grant 2026

Applications are 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 goals of UCT’s Strategy 2030.

Funding is available for projects focused on teaching practice, curriculum and course design or redesign, and enhancing the student learning experience. This includes the development of digital learning materials for blended and online learning, as well as the creation and use of open educational resources.

A limited number of grants of up to R35 000 are available to support these projects.

Intention to apply: Please email Max Tommy by 9 June 2026 with your name and your intention to submit an application. No additional details are required at this stage.

Briefing session: A briefing session will take place on Friday, 29 May 2026.

• Register for the session.

Final submission: Completed proposals must be submitted online using Form TGA2 by Friday, 10 July 2026.

For further details, including eligibility criteria and guidelines, please visit the Teaching Innovation and Curriculum Change Grants page.

The Teaching Awards and Grants Sub-committee, a sub-committee of the Senate Teaching and Learning Committee, will oversee the application process.

6. Trans-Gariep Inter-Institutional Student Leadership Programme

The Department of Student Affairs (DSA) calls on all undergraduate students to participate in the Trans-Gariep Inter-Institutional Student Leadership Programme, taking place from Tuesday, 14 July, to Saturday, 25 July 2026. The programme offers students an opportunity to embark on a transformative journey focused on self-leadership and personal development.

• Read more about the programme.
• Apply to join.

Applications close on Monday, 25 May 2026.

Communication and Marketing Department