OASIS
AN OF LEARNING From hope to action through knowledge.
Department for Institutional Advancement University of the Western Cape
Welcome to our Oasis of Learning The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is located in the
Regional facilities, such as the Bellville central station
Northern Suburbs of greater Cape Town – an area that is
and the Cape Town International Airport are a few
central to all facilities and amenities on the Peninsula.
minutes’ drive from campus.
UWC is home to 20 000 students who engage in
Three major shopping malls and many historical
undergraduate and postgraduate studies in our
cultural and recreational facilities are within half
seven faculties. UWC’s residential village on campus
an hour’s drive of the University. These include
accommodates 5 000 students.
international sports stadiums, theatres and concert
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.
halls, beaches and some of the most beautiful mountain hikes in the world. The Western Cape region is a place of vibrant diversity,
The University is readily accessible by car, taxi, bus or
which has a rich history as a cultural crossroads on the
train, and even has its own railway station, Unibell.
continent of Africa.
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University of the Western Cape
A Proud Legacy
A METAPHOR FOR THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA The University of the Western Cape has a history
UWC opened its doors in 1960 in an old school
of struggle against oppression, discrimination and
building for 166 students who could choose from
disadvantage. Among academic institutions it has
limited undergraduate courses only. In the 1970s
been in the vanguard of South Africa’s historic change,
rudimentary buildings were erected on the present
playing a distinctive academic role in helping to build
campus with uninsulated prefabricated rooms serving
an equitable and dynamic nation.
as lecture theatres.
Alert to its African and international context, it strives
Since then the campus has steadily been transformed
to be a place of quality, a place to grow; and it is
from a barren, isolated site into an Oasis of Learning
committed to excellence in teaching, learning and
– a green lung in an industrial area that breathes new
research, to nurturing the cultural diversity of South
knowledge into society through cutting edge research
Africa, and to responding in critical and creative ways
and highly regarded undergraduate programmes within
to the needs of a society in transition.
an emerging world class infrastructure.
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University of the Western Cape
Changing the Knowledge Landscape TAKING THE LEAD IN RESEARCH
UWC has 20 000 registered students in its seven
The University boasts 10 South African National
faculties - Arts, Community & Health Sciences,
Research Chairs (SARChi Chairs) as well as a joint SKA/
Dentistry, Natural Sciences, Economic & Management
UCT/UWC Chair.
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
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.
to research and knowledge production. According to a National Research Foundation research Also, the Ministerial Committee for the Review of
report of 2007 to 2011, UWC leads South African
Funding of Universities recommended that UWC be
universities in Physics; Molecular Biology & Genetics;
placed in the top cluster because of its research output
and Biology & Biochemistry. It takes second place in
– which has grown by 365% in 12 years.
Computer Science.
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University of the Western Cape
Research Focus
GROWING KNOWLEDGE, SEEKING SOLUTIONS HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES
vocational education in order to address the challenges
The Centre for Humanties Research is a leading
facing Africa’s development needs that inhibit the
niche area, promoting cross-disciplinary research, and
youth and adults from reaching their full potential.
is supported by a team of senior researchers and an archival collection contained in the UWC-Robben Island Mayibuye Centre housed at UWC.
UWC hosts the UNESCO Chair in Science & Mathematics Education which researches areas of scientific and technological literacy, and instructional
UWC has recently established the Centre for
issues in science education.
Multiligualism and Diversities Research (CMDR) in order to focus on transmigrational and global
The UWC Science Learning Centre for Africa
economies of the South.
(UWC-SLA) supports primary and secondary teachers and learners in mathematics and science education,
The Institute for Post School Studies (IPSS) brings
specifically in disadvantaged pre-urban schools on the
together research, teaching and social engagement
Cape Flats and in rural schools in the Western and
in the areas of adult education, higher education and
Northern Cape provinces of South Africa.
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University of the Western Cape
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
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.
structural inequality. The DST/NRF Chair is situated within PLAAS.
The African Centre for Citizenship & Democracy (ACCEDE) focuses on civil society and democracy on
UWC’s Institute for Social Development (ISD) offers
the continent, and offers a postgraduate programme in
post graduate programmes to students in 24 countries.
Citizenship Studies.
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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 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;
The South African National Bioinformatics Institute
education; and gender-based violence.
(SANBI) hosts a SARChi Chair in Bioinformatics and Human Health. SANBI focuses on the development of
The Interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence for Sport
databases and genome annotation tools to support the
Science & Development (ICESSD) promotes sport as a
molecular epidemiology and drug resistant profile of
powerful tool for development, health, wellbeing and
HIV, trypanosomiasis, TB and cancers.
social change.
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INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY The Sensorlab hosts the SARChi Chair in Nanoelectrochemistry and Sensor Technology and is the top national laboratory for smart sensing devices.
(NNPTTP), offering Master’s degrees in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. ASTRONOMY & SPACE SCIENCE The DST/NRF Research Chair in Astrophysics conducts
UWC’s South African Institute for Advanced
research using data from the SALT optical telescope at
Materials Chemistry (SAIAMC) is a HySA Competence
Sutherland and the MeerKAT array of radio telescopes near
Centre in Systems Analysis, Integration and Technology
Carnarvon to answer questions about the universe. UWC
Validation for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell technologies.
also holds the SARChi Chair in Cosmology & MultiWavelength Data. In addition, UWC co-hosts the Chair
The Institute for Microbial Biotechnology &
in Radio Astronomy with the University of Cape Town
Metagenomics (IMBM) conducts research on the
and the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.
exploitation of the microbial genome diversity, and is home to the SARChi Chair in Microbial Genomics.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES The UNESCO Centre for Groundwater Studies
The MANuS/MatSci Programme offers a Master’s
researches and advises on sustainable groundwater use
Degree in Accelerator and Nuclear Science, and a Master’s
and management in Africa.
Degree in Materials Science. The Environmental & Nanosciences Group (ENS) has a UWC is the hub of the National Nanoscience
number of industrial projects in the areas of nanoscience,
Postgraduate Teaching & Training Platform
environmental remediation and water-related research.
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Investing in the Future LABS, LAND & LEARNING SPACES
Ironically, this academic success presents a new
density and is marked by facilities for innovation,
“struggle” for UWC – that of generating the capital to
learning, engaged living and working.
provide the necessary infrastructure to meet students’ needs, while still keeping fees the lowest in the country
Other developments include refurbishing the old JS
to enable formerly disadvantages learners to access
Marais Hospital for Nursing; and talks continue
higher education.
around changing the shunting yard opposite campus into a “University Village” to link the Bellville campus,
Plans for the next five years will see the campus expand
the new Department of Nursing and Tygerberg
into a more vibrant space that is urban in scale and
Hospital that is home to the Faculty of Dentistry.
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In 2008 and 2009 UWC invested R600m on new
In other areas of campus, UWC is in the process of
buildings and the upgrade of existing facilities,
upgrading the Sports Precinct.
including the Public Health and Life Sciences buildings. This will include a revitalisation of the 5 000 seat The newest addition to the emerging Science Precinct
stadium, that has played host to Iraq in a Soccer
is the R220 million New Chemical Sciences Building
World Cup friendly football match, has served players
(NCSB), comprising 8 600 sq m of research and teaching
in the Junior Rugby World Cup, and which is home
space for Applied Geology, the Department of Earth and
base to the UWC Rugby 15 which has been competing
Water Sciences, and the Department of Chemistry.
in Varsity Shield since 2011.
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UWC Sport comprises 22 codes, and engages with
a tartan athletics track; a cricket oval; netball, squash
provincial and national federations (Centre of
and tennis courts; hockey, rugby and soccer fields; a
Excellence for Swimming South Africa and Learn
fully equipped gymnasium; and indoor and outdoor
to Swim programmes) for development initiatives
swimming pools.
through Western Cape School Sport. In 2011 the University topped up its new outdoor A major renovation of the floodlit stadium is underway
diving and water polo swimming pool to add to the
to upgrade the sports precinct that currently includes
Olympic-sized heated indoor pool.
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UWC Foundation Jakes Gerwel Education Endowment and Development Fund As an institution that subscribes to sound governance
The UWC Foundation, under the umbrella of the Jakes
and responsible management, the UWC Foundation
Gerwel Education Endowment and Development Fund,
incorporates the expertise of key public professional
coordinates fundraising towards sustainability.
roleplayers and executive management, as members of the board, to oversee the strategic direction of
The trustees aim to ensure UWC’s sustainability through
fundraising and development at UWC.
professional networking.
TEACHER • LEADER • ACTIVIST • INTELLECTUAL ACADEMIC • FAMILY MAN • FRIEND University of the Western Cape
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UWC Alumni Association PRIDE, ENGAGEMENT, LEGACY
The Alumni Association, within the Department for
Africa and on the African continent. Our Alumni’s
Institutional Advancement, is tasked with helping past
research continues to have a positive global impact.
students remain connected through Chapters around the country; and through networking, knowledge-
The success of our Alumni, coupled with the
building and fundraising activities.
transformation of UWC, give staff, current students and Alumni reason to be Proudly Udubs!
The might and courage of the activists in the 1980s who rose up to fight for change, earned UWC the name:
The Association was launched in 2011 out of the
Intellectual Home of the Left.
former Alumni Office, and with it a range of campaigns to attract Alumni involvement; branded wear; and a
When South Africa became independent in 1994, 23
logo that says it all: Pride; Engagement; Legacy.
UWC staff members were called to serve in President Nelson Mandela’s government.
This logo is derived from the imposing pillared archway that leads students into the Main Square towards their
Today, UWC’s past students are continuing to drive
Orientation Ceremony; and which leads them into the
transformation in every sphere of society, both in South
world after Graduation. Oasis of Learning
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Join our Knowledge Evolution SUPPORT OUR VISION
INSTITUTIONAL
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.
Contact us:
ALUMNI RELATIONS:
PATRICIA LAWRENCE Pro-Vice Chancellor: Institutional Advancement plawrence@uwc.ac.za 021 959 3905
SAMANTHA CASTLE Manager scastle@uwc.ac.za 021 959 9790
DONOR RELATIONS: INGRID FOURIE Manager ifourie@uwc.ac.za 021 959 9517
BRANDING & MARKETING: TRISHA BAM Manager tbam@uwc.ac.za 021 959 9352 WWW.UWC.AC.ZA
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MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS: LUTHANDO TYHALIBONGO Manager xtyhalibongo@uwc.ac.za 021 959 9566
EVENTING: AMANDA WILLIAMS Manager awilliams@uwc.ac.za 021 959 2114
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.
UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE CAPE TOWN SOUTH AFRICA www.uwc.ac.za