Wamkelekile, Welkom
Get connected
03 March 2021
Information and Communication Technology Services (ICTS) keeps you connected to all of UCT’s online services. Read on to find out how to connect, how to find software and how to stay safe while you’re online.
The quick guide
For a short guide on all you need to know about digital at UCT, take a look at the ICTS checklist.
Connect to Wi-Fi
Connect to eduroam, UCT’s Wi-Fi network, using your username (studentnumber@wf.uct.ac.za) and your UCT network password. After registration, you can reset your password.
Sign in to your UCT email
Sign in to your email account. Remember to check it regularly — this is where you’ll find all official university communications.
Hook up your phone
Go to your app store (Android/iOS) and download the UCT Mobile App to access timetables, library services, maps and more. For support, email uctmobile@uct.ac.za.
Get to know Vula
Vula is UCT’s online environment for teaching and learning, research and collaboration. It’s also where your lecturers will post a lot of your academic course content.
Get free software
Before buying any software, first check what site-licensed software is available for free. Office365 is available via your myUCT account, and UCT has signed up to use Google Apps.
Be responsible
Don’t use the internet for anything illegal — especially not streaming, sharing or downloading copyrighted content. Also, respect the email and internet usage policy in A Student Guide to ICTS Services, which you can find on the Student Computing page on the ICTS website.
How to get IT help on campus
- The IT Helpdesk. Get support by logging a call online, sending an email to icts-helpdesk@uct.ac.za or calling 021 650 4500 (during office hours).
- The ICTS front office. Get walk-in support in room 201 of the Computer Science Building on upper campus. The office is open from 08:00 to 16:30 during the week (but closes at 15:15 on Thursdays).
- ICTS-on-Main Walk-in Centre. For those nearer to lower campus, it’s in room 1.10 of the ICTS building, located at 7 Main Road, Mowbray, and operates at the same times as the upper campus office.
- Social media. ICTS provides basic support on Facebook and Twitter, but if they can’t help, they’ll escalate your issues to someone who can. They’re online seven days a week from 07:00 to 22:00.
- Student labs. Lab administrators and assistants are on hand to help you in any of the ICTS-managed labs around campus. Some labs may be closed from time to time due to changing lockdown restrictions, so please check with your faculty.
6 tips for staying cyber secure
- Use strong passwords. The longer and more complex your password is, the better. A password should contain numbers, symbols and upper- and lower-case letters.
- Install anti-virus. Up-to-date anti-virus applications should be on all your computers. Download McAfee for free from the ICTS website, and find a good anti-virus for your mobile devices.
- Back up, back up, back up. Make sure you have a backup (or two). You can back up data to physical devices or to the cloud (UCT offers Google Drive and OneDrive).
- Spread the word. If you know of a cyber security threat or incident, please inform everyone you know who might be affected.
- Report it to CSIRT. If you experience any cyber security threat, please contact UCT’s Computer Security Incident Response Team at csirt@uct.ac.za.
- Avoid identity theft. Dispose of sensitive paperwork safely, enable SMS alerts for your banking, and never share personal information online.
Read more about which website URLs have been zero-rated by each mobile network.
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Welcome
Hello, first-years! Hallo almal! Molweni! Sanibonani! Dumelang!
Welcome to the University of Cape Town (UCT) and thank you for choosing this great institution. Here you will experience life-changing learning, relationship-building and personal transformation.
I know that you are joining us fresh out of an extremely challenging 2020, and you’re probably feeling nervous about what this new year holds. So, I want to acknowledge the grit and perseverance that has brought you this far – these are the same qualities that will help you earn your degree!
Although South Africa’s lockdown and restrictions helped to reduce the impact of COVID-19, the pandemic remains a real threat. Much of the university’s work will continue online for at least the first semester as part of our programme of physically distanced learning. Where teaching and learning can’t be conducted remotely, it will take place under strictly controlled conditions to keep you safe and healthy.
We have been combining face-to-face learning with online teaching over the years, and we have learned a lot from our experiences with emergency remote teaching in 2020, especially in terms of students who have limited access to online resources. Our revised teaching and learning models for 2021 reflect all these lessons, and I assure you that you will experience the best of our trusted academic excellence.
UCT remains the top-rated university in Africa and one of the top-ranking in the world. We strive for excellence, and are committed to the kind of transformation that will allow each of you to fulfil your true potential. We want you to realise your goals, to graduate, and to go on to contribute optimally to the global economy and the socio-economic development of South Africa and the continent. At UCT, this hope is captured in our new vision, a vision to ‘unleash human potential to create a fair and just society.’
Your physical and mental health, and well-being are very important to us. Please don’t struggle alone. If you need any assistance, please reach out to our Student Wellness Service, which offers online and telephonic counselling and support, or contact the UCT Student Careline (0800 24 25 26 or SMS 31393 for a callback), which is available 24/7.
In this “new normal” of COVID-19 health and safety regulations, I urge you to take individual and collective responsibility to keep yourself and those around you safe. Wear your masks, wash your hands, maintain social distancing and engage with others with positive energy.
You’ve made the right choice in UCT, and we will walk beside you every step of the way on this new and exciting journey!
Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng
Vice-Chancellor
