Campus announcements
Inaugural lecture by Professor Fischer and other updates
03 June 2026Dear colleagues and students
Professor Nico Fischer will present his inaugural lecture as part of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series on Tuesday, 9 June 2026. Read more about this and other updates.
1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Nico Fischer (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)
Professor Fischer will deliver his inaugural lecture, “Catalysis as key enabler of a just and sustainable transition”, on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 at 17:00 SAST in the Chemical Engineering Building, Chemical Engineering Seminar Room, upper campus.
This lecture will explore the pivotal role of catalysis in modern industry and its connection to both economic development and climate change. While catalytic processes underpin much of global manufacturing, they also contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
It will also examine how advances in catalytic science can help address these challenges by enabling cleaner industrial processes, alternative energy systems and new value chains. Professor Fischer will argue that catalysis is not only part of the problem but also a critical part of the solution, with the potential to support a transition away from fossil resources while advancing economic inclusion and sustainable development.
Professor Fischer is director of the Catalysis Institute at UCT and holds the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation/National Research Foundation (DSTI/NRF) SARChI Chair in Sustainable Catalysis. A chemical engineer and catalysis scientist, his research focuses on advanced catalytic materials for sustainable chemical transformations. He has published extensively, holds several international patents and has played a leading role in translating research into innovation through UCT spin-off companies C*STAR Holdings and Moya Scientific.
2. UCT to host TLC2026
UCT will host its annual Teaching and Learning Conference (TLC2026) from 17 to 18 November 2026, with pre-conference workshops taking place on 16 November. Co-hosted by the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED) and the UCT AI Initiative, the conference will provide a platform for the university community to engage with critical issues shaping teaching and learning.
To be held under the theme, “Connection, Reconfigured: Reimagining Teaching and Learning with AI”, the UCT TLC2026 will bring together educators, students, researchers and professional staff to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education. The conference aims to build capacity, foster collaboration and encourage critical reflection on the future of teaching and learning.
As AI continues to reshape education and research, TLC2026 will examine questions that extend beyond technology. The conference will consider what it means to be human in an era when AI can increasingly perform tasks once seen as uniquely human, inviting participants to reflect on the evolving roles of educators, students and knowledge producers in a rapidly changing world.
- Read the full DVC Desk: Connection, Reconfigured: Reimagining teaching and learning with AI.
- Submit proposals.
- Register to attend.
For more information or queries, please email the organising team.
3. Call for nominations: UCT Open Textbook Award
Nominations are open for the 2026 UCT Open Textbook Award. Now in its fifth year, the award recognises innovative open education initiatives that improve the affordability and accessibility of teaching and learning materials while supporting curriculum transformation and multilingualism at UCT.
Open textbooks are freely available, openly licensed educational resources that enable collaborative approaches to authorship, quality assurance and publishing. Beyond reducing costs for students, they create opportunities for students to participate as co-creators of knowledge and allow educational materials to be shared more widely beyond the university.
With a strong social justice focus, the UCT Open Textbook Award celebrates projects that advance the university’s transformation agenda. The award highlights the role of open education in promoting equitable access to knowledge and fostering inclusive teaching and learning practices.
The UCT Open Textbook award carries a prize of R30 000 and may be shared between more than one recipient. Nominations can be made by open textbook authors or by a third party. The deadline for nominations is 3 August 2026.
- Read the full DVC Desk: Call for nominations: UCT Open Textbook Award.
- Read more about the award and how to submit a nomination.
4. Outstanding UCT achievements recognised nationally and globally
A number of national and international honours were recently awarded to members of the UCT community, which reflects the institution’s enduring commitment to excellence and societal impact.
Among these recognitions are South Africa’s National Orders, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Professor Keertan Dheda received the Order of Mapungubwe in Silver for his transformative contributions to tuberculosis and respiratory disease research, while Professor Karen Sliwa-Hahnle was awarded the Order of Mapungubwe in Bronze for her pioneering work in cardiovascular medicine. UCT PhD candidate Gavin James Krastin received the Order of Ikhamanga in Bronze for his contribution to performance art, curation and arts education.
The university also celebrates Professor Liesl Zühlke, who was named the 2026 Laureate for Africa and the Arab States in the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards for her contributions to cardiovascular science and advocacy for vulnerable communities. Professor Mark Solms was recognised among South Africa’s top five researchers in the 2026 Research.com rankings, while Dr Mubeen Goolam was awarded a prestigious 2026 – 2027 Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship for his work on ethics, governance and equitable policy frameworks in stem cell and organoid research.
5. Submit your annual declaration of interests form
In accordance with the Higher Education Act, all UCT staff members and members of university committees are required to submit an annual Declaration of Interest, disclosing their financial interests, fiduciary roles and those of their immediate family members. This requirement applies to all staff, regardless of role or position, and forms an important part of the university’s governance, risk and compliance framework.
All staff members are required to verify, update where necessary and submit their Declaration of Interest form annually, even if there have been no changes since the previous declaration or if there is nothing to declare. Staff with joint appointments, including those employed under the Western Cape Government and National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) conditions of service, are also required to complete a UCT declaration. Retirees are exempt unless they have ongoing business dealings with the university.
The closing date for submission is Tuesday, 30 June 2026.
- Access the personalised declaration form through the UCT Service Now platform.
- View the frequently asked questions relating to conflicts of interest.
6. Reminder: Call for applications: Teaching Innovation Grant 2026
The UCT community is reminded that applications for the 2026 UCT Teaching Innovation and Curriculum Change Grant are still open. The grant supports academics, teaching teams and departments undertaking initiatives that enhance teaching and learning and contribute to the objectives of UCT’s Strategy 2030.
Funding is available for projects focused on teaching practice, curriculum and course design or redesign, and initiatives that improve the student learning experience. This includes developing digital resources for blended and online learning, as well as creating and adopting open educational resources.
A limited number of grants of up to R35 000 will be awarded. Prospective applicants are required to submit an expression of interest by emailing Max Tommy with their name and intention to apply by Tuesday, 9 June 2026. No further details are required at this stage.
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.
Communication and Marketing Department
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Please view the republishing articles page for more information.
