Inaugural lecture by Professor Ziervogel and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

The next lecture in the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series will be presented by Professor Gina Ziervogel on Wednesday, 12 August 2026. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Ziervogel (Faculty of Science)

Professor Gina Ziervogel will deliver her inaugural lecture, “Water under or over the bridge? Governing trade-offs in climate adaptation”, on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 at 18:00 SAST in Lecture Theatre 1, Neville Alexander Building, lower campus.

This lecture will reflect on Professor Ziervogel’s journey, which includes examining climate vulnerability in Southern Africa and exploring what is required to achieve more just and transformative climate adaptation. Using drought and flooding as case studies, she will demonstrate how adaptation is influenced by governance, competing development priorities, power dynamics and institutional capacity. She will argue that recognising and navigating these trade-offs is essential to develop collaborative, equitable and transformative responses to climate change.

Professor Ziervogel is the director of the African Climate and Development Initiative and a professor in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at UCT. An internationally recognised scholar in climate change adaptation, urban governance and resilience, her work connects research, policy and practice to strengthen climate resilience across Africa. She was a lead author of the Sixth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and has received several prestigious honours, including UCT's Social Responsiveness Award and the South African Young Woman in Science Award.

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

2. World Academic Summit 2026: An update

UCT will host the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World Academic Summit from 29 September to 1 October 2026, marking the first time the prestigious global event will be held on the African continent. Hosted in partnership with the University of Bristol and THE, the summit will bring together vice-chancellors, presidents, policymakers and industry leaders under the theme, “Knowledge, justice and futures: Universities in the age of intelligence”. The event presents a significant opportunity to showcase Africa's intellectual leadership and contribution to global scholarship.

• View the programme for the summit.

The summit will provide a platform for global discussions on the future of higher education in a rapidly changing world. Key topics include the evolving role of universities, the public good, equitable international partnerships, ethical artificial intelligence, innovation and entrepreneurship, and the creation of knowledge that is inclusive, impactful and responsive to societal challenges. The programme has also been designed to elevate African and Global South perspectives while creating opportunities for emerging scholars to contribute to shaping the future of higher education.

• Read the full Campus Announcement: World Academic Summit 2026: An update.

3. UCT Language Indaba to be held in August

The Centre for Higher Education Development invites staff and students to the third annual UCT Language Indaba on Friday, 28 August 2026 at ZK Matthews Gallery, upper campus from 10:00 to 14:00.

The theme for this year's indaba is "Sharing lessons learned”. As universities transition from the Department of Higher Education and Training-funded Language Development Plan towards institutionalising multilingualism, the indaba seeks to provide a platform for sharing experiences, lessons learned, good practice and sustainable approaches to language policy implementation.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela and representatives from national language structures such as the Pan South African Language Board and the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources will address the indaba.

Faculties and divisions will showcase their multilingual work as part of their language policy implementation plans. External universities and contributors will also share insights on language policy implementation and support for multilingualism in higher education.

• Register to attend the indaba.

For more information, please contact Ms Zukiswa Zono.

4. Call for presenters: 2nd Annual UCT Wellbeing and Flourishing Conference

UCT’s Centre for Wellbeing and Flourishing invites academics, practitioners, professional staff, students and others working across wellbeing and flourishing to submit proposals for the 2nd Annual UCT Wellbeing and Flourishing Conference to be held on Friday, 30 October 2026 at the New Lecture Theatre, upper campus. The theme for 2026 is “Flourishing within and beyond fractures: Possibility, connection and wellbeing in a changing world”. The conference will bring together research, theory, practice and lived experience to explore what it means to flourish within and beyond the fractures, constraints and possibilities of a changing world.

Contributions are invited across seven broad themes: Who gets to flourish?; Flourishing when life is hard; Belonging, connection and community; Places that make flourishing possible; African perspectives on flourishing; Measuring what matters; and Reimagining flourishing. Submissions may include research, conceptual, practice-based and reflective contributions. Prospective presenters can indicate a preference for a 10-minute presentation or poster presentation, with final formats curated as part of the overall conference programme.

Alongside the main conference, participants will also have the opportunity to attend a series of small-group pre- and post-conference masterclasses at the UCT Graduate School of Business on 29 and 31 October 2026, exploring grit, shifting from languishing to flourishing, flourishability, and character strengths in context.

• Submit an abstract/register as a presenter.
• Register as an attendee.

Abstract submissions close on 1 September 2026 and notification of outcomes will be shared on 8 September 2026.

5. Reminder: SRC and Faculty Council 2026 election season gets underway

UCT reminds students that nominations for the 2026 Students' Representative Council (SRC) and Faculty Council (FC) elections are still open. Students who are passionate about representing their peers, influencing decision-making and helping shape student life are encouraged to submit their nominations before the closing dates.

Students interested in serving on their FC have until Friday, 14 August 2026 to nominate themselves, while nominations for the SRC close on Friday, 21 August 2026. Elected representatives play a vital role in advocating for students, contributing to university governance and strengthening the student experience across UCT.

Students can access nomination forms, election regulations and other important election information through the UCT Linktree. Those considering standing for election are encouraged to submit their nominations before the respective deadlines.

Communication and Marketing Departmen