oasis of learning report 2015

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Department for Institutional Advancement

University of the Western Cape

AN OASISOF LEARNING

From hope to action through knowledge.

Oasis of Learning 1


The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is located in the

Northern Suburbs of greater Cape Town – an area that is

central to all facilities and amenities on the Peninsula.

UWC is home to 20 000 students who engage in

undergraduate and postgraduate studies in our

seven faculties. UWC’s residential village on campus

accommodates 5 000 students.

UWC’s campus includes an important nature reserve and

the mountains of the Cape Peninsula and Stellenbosch

afford beautiful landmarks to the east and west.

The University is readily accessible by car, taxi, bus or

train, and even has its own railway station, Unibell.

Regional facilities, such as the Bellville central station

and the Cape Town International Airport are a few

minutes’ drive from campus.

Three major shopping malls and many historical

cultural and recreational facilities are within half

an hour’s drive of the University. These include

international sports stadiums, theatres and concert

halls, beaches and some of the most beautiful

mountain hikes in the world.

The Western Cape region is a place of vibrant diversity,

which has a rich history as a cultural crossroads on the

continent of Africa.

Welcome to our Oasis of Learning

University of the Western Cape 2

Oasis of Learning

The University of the Western Cape has a history

of struggle against oppression, discrimination and

disadvantage. Among academic institutions it has

been in the vanguard of South Africa’s historic change,

playing a distinctive academic role in helping to build

an equitable and dynamic nation.

Alert to its African and international context, it strives

to be a place of quality, a place to grow; and it is

committed to excellence in teaching, learning and

research, to nurturing the cultural diversity of South

Africa, and to responding in critical and creative ways

to the needs of a society in transition.

UWC opened its doors in 1960 in an old school

building for 166 students who could choose from

limited undergraduate courses only. In the 1970s

rudimentary buildings were erected on the present

campus with uninsulated prefabricated rooms serving

as lecture theatres.

Since then the campus has steadily been transformed

from a barren, isolated site into an Oasis of Learning

– a green lung in an industrial area that breathes new

knowledge into society through cutting edge research

and highly regarded undergraduate programmes within

an emerging world class infrastructure.

A Proud LegacyA METAPHOR FOR THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA

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Oasis of Learning

UWC has 20 000 registered students in its seven

faculties - Arts, Community & Health Sciences,

Dentistry, Natural Sciences, Economic & Management

Sciences and Education – in both under graduate and

post graduate programmes.

Annually, UWC caps 4 000 students, including an

average of 70 Doctoral Degrees. Recently the Centre

for Higher Education Transformation (CHET) rated UWC

in the top tier of South African universities with regards

to research and knowledge production.

Also, the Ministerial Committee for the Review of

Funding of Universities recommended that UWC be

placed in the top cluster because of its research output

– which has grown by 365% in 12 years.

The University boasts 10 South African National

Research Chairs (SARChi Chairs) as well as a joint SKA/

UCT/UWC Chair.

The most recent cause for academic celebration is

the acceptance of the proposal to host the Centre of

Food Security with the University of Pretoria. This is the

first Centre of Excellence to be hosted by a previously

disadvantaged university.

According to a National Research Foundation research

report of 2007 to 2011, UWC leads South African

universities in Physics; Molecular Biology & Genetics;

and Biology & Biochemistry. It takes second place in

Computer Science.

Changing the Knowledge LandscapeTAKING THE LEAD IN RESEARCH

Oasis of Learning 5



Oasis of Learning

HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES

The Centre for Humanties Research is a leading

niche area, promoting cross-disciplinary research, and

is supported by a team of senior researchers and an

archival collection contained in the UWC-Robben Island

Mayibuye Centre housed at UWC.

UWC has recently established the Centre for

Multiligualism and Diversities Research (CMDR)

in order to focus on transmigrational and global

economies of the South.

The Institute for Post School Studies (IPSS) brings

together research, teaching and social engagement

in the areas of adult education, higher education and

vocational education in order to address the challenges

facing Africa’s development needs that inhibit the

youth and adults from reaching their full potential.

UWC hosts the UNESCO Chair in Science &

Mathematics Education which researches areas of

scientific and technological literacy, and instructional

issues in science education.

The UWC Science Learning Centre for Africa

(UWC-SLA) supports primary and secondary teachers

and learners in mathematics and science education,

specifically in disadvantaged pre-urban schools on the

Cape Flats and in rural schools in the Western and

Northern Cape provinces of South Africa.

Research FocusGROWING KNOWLEDGE, SEEKING SOLUTIONS

Oasis of Learning 7



Oasis of Learning

SOCIAL POLICY & DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCES

The Institute for Poverty, Land & Agrarian Studies

(PLAAS) focuses on policy and development studies

with regard to South Africa’s chronic poverty and

structural inequality. The DST/NRF Chair is situated

within PLAAS.

UWC’s Institute for Social Development (ISD) offers

post graduate programmes to students in 24 countries.

UWC’s Community Law Centre (CLC) hosts a SARChi

Chair in Multi-level Government, Law & Development.

The CLC played a key role in drafting the Children’s

Act and the 2008 Child Justice Bill, and enjoys observer

status with the African Commission on Human Rights.

The African Centre for Citizenship & Democracy

(ACCEDE) focuses on civil society and democracy on

the continent, and offers a postgraduate programme in

Citizenship Studies.

Oasis of Learning 9


HEALTH & WELLNESS

UWC hosts two World Health Organisation (WHO)

Collaborating Centres. The School of Public Health

is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Research &

Training in Human Resources for Health, and was

recently awarded the SARChi Chair in Health Systems

Complexity & Change. The Faculty of Dentistry is a

WHO Collaborating Centre for Oral Health.

The South African National Bioinformatics Institute

(SANBI) hosts a SARChi Chair in Bioinformatics and

Human Health. SANBI focuses on the development of

databases and genome annotation tools to support the

molecular epidemiology and drug resistant profile of

HIV, trypanosomiasis, TB and cancers.

The South African Herbal Health Science &

Medicine Institute (SAHSMI) is the only institute in

the country accredited to offer research degrees in

herbal sciences; and focuses on drug recovery and

the development of plant medicines for HIV/Aids, TB,

Malaria and Diabetes.

The UWC HIV & Aids Research Centre conducts

multi-disciplinary research into HIV/Aids prevention

and care, focusing on health policies and systems;

education; and gender-based violence.

The Interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence for Sport

Science & Development (ICESSD) promotes sport as a

powerful tool for development, health, wellbeing and

social change.


Oasis of Learning

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

The Sensorlab hosts the SARChi Chair in

Nanoelectrochemistry and Sensor Technology and is

the top national laboratory for smart sensing devices.

UWC’s South African Institute for Advanced

Materials Chemistry (SAIAMC) is a HySA Competence

Centre in Systems Analysis, Integration and Technology

Validation for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell technologies.

The Institute for Microbial Biotechnology &

Metagenomics (IMBM) conducts research on the

exploitation of the microbial genome diversity, and is

home to the SARChi Chair in Microbial Genomics.

The MANuS/MatSci Programme offers a Master’s

Degree in Accelerator and Nuclear Science, and a Master’s

Degree in Materials Science.

UWC is the hub of the National Nanoscience

Postgraduate Teaching & Training Platform

(NNPTTP), offering Master’s degrees in Nanoscience

and Nanotechnology.

ASTRONOMY & SPACE SCIENCE

The DST/NRF Research Chair in Astrophysics conducts

research using data from the SALT optical telescope at

Sutherland and the MeerKAT array of radio telescopes near

Carnarvon to answer questions about the universe. UWC

also holds the SARChi Chair in Cosmology & Multi-

Wavelength Data. In addition, UWC co-hosts the Chair

in Radio Astronomy with the University of Cape Town

and the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

The UNESCO Centre for Groundwater Studies

researches and advises on sustainable groundwater use

and management in Africa.

The Environmental & Nanosciences Group (ENS) has a

number of industrial projects in the areas of nanoscience,

environmental remediation and water-related research.

Oasis of Learning 11



Oasis of Learning

Ironically, this academic success presents a new

“struggle” for UWC – that of generating the capital to

provide the necessary infrastructure to meet students’

needs, while still keeping fees the lowest in the country

to enable formerly disadvantages learners to access

higher education.

Plans for the next five years will see the campus expand

into a more vibrant space that is urban in scale and

density and is marked by facilities for innovation,

learning, engaged living and working.

Other developments include refurbishing the old JS

Marais Hospital for Nursing; and talks continue

around changing the shunting yard opposite campus

into a “University Village” to link the Bellville campus,

the new Department of Nursing and Tygerberg

Hospital that is home to the Faculty of Dentistry.

Investing in the FutureLABS, LAND & LEARNING SPACES


Oasis of Learning

In 2008 and 2009 UWC invested R600m on new

buildings and the upgrade of existing facilities,

including the Public Health and Life Sciences buildings.

The newest addition to the emerging Science Precinct

is the R220 million New Chemical Sciences Building

(NCSB), comprising 8 600 sq m of research and teaching

space for Applied Geology, the Department of Earth and

Water Sciences, and the Department of Chemistry.

In other areas of campus, UWC is in the process of

upgrading the Sports Precinct.

This will include a revitalisation of the 5 000 seat

stadium, that has played host to Iraq in a Soccer

World Cup friendly football match, has served players

in the Junior Rugby World Cup, and which is home

base to the UWC Rugby 15 which has been competing

in Varsity Shield since 2011.


Oasis of Learning

UWC Sport comprises 22 codes, and engages with

provincial and national federations (Centre of

Excellence for Swimming South Africa and Learn

to Swim programmes) for development initiatives

through Western Cape School Sport.

A major renovation of the floodlit stadium is underway

to upgrade the sports precinct that currently includes

a tartan athletics track; a cricket oval; netball, squash

and tennis courts; hockey, rugby and soccer fields; a

fully equipped gymnasium; and indoor and outdoor

swimming pools.

In 2011 the University topped up its new outdoor

diving and water polo swimming pool to add to the

Olympic-sized heated indoor pool.


Oasis of Learning

As an institution that subscribes to sound governance

and responsible management, the UWC Foundation

incorporates the expertise of key public professional

roleplayers and executive management, as members

of the board, to oversee the strategic direction of

fundraising and development at UWC.

The UWC Foundation, under the umbrella of the Jakes

Gerwel Education Endowment and Development Fund,

coordinates fundraising towards sustainability.

The trustees aim to ensure UWC’s sustainability through

professional networking.

UWC FoundationJAKES GERWEL EDUCATION ENDOWMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FUND

a place of quality, a place to grow, from hope to action through knowledge

TEACHER • LEADER • ACTIVIST • INTELLECTUALACADEMIC • FAMILY MAN • FRIEND



The Alumni Association, within the Department for

Institutional Advancement, is tasked with helping past

students remain connected through Chapters around

the country; and through networking, knowledge-

building and fundraising activities.

The might and courage of the activists in the 1980s who

rose up to fight for change, earned UWC the name:

Intellectual Home of the Left.

When South Africa became independent in 1994, 23

UWC staff members were called to serve in President

Nelson Mandela’s government.

Today, UWC’s past students are continuing to drive

transformation in every sphere of society, both in South

Africa and on the African continent. Our Alumni’s

research continues to have a positive global impact.

The success of our Alumni, coupled with the

transformation of UWC, give staff, current students and

Alumni reason to be Proudly Udubs!

The Association was launched in 2011 out of the

former Alumni Office, and with it a range of campaigns

to attract Alumni involvement; branded wear; and a

logo that says it all: Pride; Engagement; Legacy.

This logo is derived from the imposing pillared archway

that leads students into the Main Square towards their

Orientation Ceremony; and which leads them into the

world after Graduation.

UWC Alumni AssociationPRIDE, ENGAGEMENT, LEGACY


Oasis of Learning

The Department for Institutional Advancement (IA) is tasked with advancing the image of the University and

communicating its excellence. This is done through its Media, Communications, Brand and Eventing units.

IA is also tasked with generating third stream income in order to help finance the infrastructure requirements needed to

realise the University’s Institutional Operating Plans and credo. This hefty task is managed by the Donor Relations Unit.

IA also binds the UWC Alumni through the Alumni Relations Office.

Join our Knowledge EvolutionSUPPORT OUR VISION

CONTACT US:

PATRICIA LAWRENCEPro-Vice Chancellor: Institutional [email protected] 959 3905

DONOR RELATIONS:

INGRID [email protected] 959 9517

ALUMNI RELATIONS:

SAMANTHA [email protected] 959 9790

BRANDING & MARKETING:

TRISHA [email protected] 959 9352

MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS:

LUTHANDO [email protected] 021 959 9566

EVENTING:

AMANDA [email protected] 959 2114

INSTITUTIONAL

WWW.UWC.AC.ZA

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UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE

CAPE TOWN

SOUTH AFRICA

www.uwc.ac.za

UWC is committed to creating, preserving and disseminating

knowledge that is dynamic and relevant to the challenges of a

modern world and a transforming society.

Inseparable from the notions of hope and knowledge, is that of

agency - the will and the ability to act, to be an agent of change.

This is UWC’s credo.

oasis of learning report 2015

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