AN OASIS OF LEARNING
a place of quality, a place to grow, from hope to action through knowledge
CONTENTS CHANGING THE KNOWLEDGE LANDSCAPE ENGAGING WITH CHANGE A PROUD LEGACY CHANGING PERCEPTION INVESTING IN THE FUTURE RESEARCH EXCELLENCE STUDENT SUCCESS
PRIDE, ENGAGEMENT, LEGACY WORLD KNOWLEDGE PARTNERS CONTACT DETAILS
CHANGING THE KNOWLEDGE LANDSCAPE The University of the Western Cape is located in the Northern Suburbs of greater Cape Town – an area that is central to all facilities and amenities on the Peninsula. Its campus includes a 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, on the southern boundary of the campus. Regional facilities, such as the Bellville central station and Cape Town International Airport are a few minute’s drive from campus.
Three shopping malls are five to 15 minutes off. Most of the major cultural or recreational facilities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch are within half an hour’s drive. These include international sports stadiums, fine theatres and concert halls, the wonderful beaches of False Bay and the Peninsula, and some of the most beautiful mountain hikes in the world. The Western Cape region is a place of vibrant cultural diversity. It has a rich history as a cultural crossroads on the continent of Africa. Those passing through or staying have contributed to what is undoubtedly South Africa’s most cosmopolitan environment.
ENGAGING WITH CHANGE True to its commitment to the disadvantaged, UWC provides education of high quality, leads South Africa in several fields of global research, and makes a major contribution to the nation’s human resources needs. UWC achieves this while keeping fees as low as possible in response to the socio-economic circumstances of most of its students. The University has seven faculties: Arts, Community and Health Sciences, Dentistry, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Law, Natural Sciences. In addition to its undergraduate degrees, UWC is home to a number of research schools, institutes and centres – all carrying out cutting-edge work towards building a better society for all. UWC positions itself as a vibrant intellectual space where people engage with matters of real significance at the highest levels of competence. Its focus is on building an Engaged University through an embedded culture of sense-making.
A PROUD LEGACY UWC has a history of creative 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. UWC’s key concerns with access, equity and quality in higher education arise from extensive practical engagement in helping the historically marginalised participate fully in the life of the nation.
Alert to its African and international context, it strives to be a place of quality, a place to grow. 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. EARLY DAYS In 1959, Parliament established the University College of the Western Cape as a constituent of the University of South Africa (Unisa) for
“Coloured”. The first group of 166 students enrolled in 1960. What they were offered was limited training for lower to middle level positions in schools, the civil service and other institutions designed to serve a separated South African community. In 1970 the institution gained University status and could offer degrees and diplomas. A FREER CLIMATE In 1975 protest action by students, academic and support staff led to the appointment of the first black Rector, Professor Richard E (Dick) van der Ross. In its mission statement of 1982 UWC formally rejected the apartheid ideology on which it was established, adopting a declaration of non-racialism. In 1983, through the University of the Western Cape Act of 1983, the University finally gained its autonomy on the same terms as the established “white” institutions. TOWARDS DEMOCRACY The term of Professor Jakes Gerwel, who took office as Rector in 1987, saw an
alignment with the mass democratic movement and a new academic project. Under the banner of “an intellectual home of the left”, space was created for curriculum renewal and for innovative research and outreach projects. The University also opened its doors to all South Africans. Despite severe constraints, students from the disadvantaged communities graduated in increasing numbers, equipped to make a professional contribution to the new South Africa. Former South African President Nelson Mandela lauded UWC for having transformed itself “from an apartheid ethnic institution to a proud national asset”.
NEW ROLE In the 1990’s UWC was able to play an important role in the emergence of the new democraticNEW order.ROLE It provided opportunities for many people to prepare for a wide In the UWC Cape playedhas an a The University of 1990’s the Western spectrum ofimportant higher-level careers, and playedofa role inagainst the emergence history of creative struggle leading partthe in new policydemocratic research and order. oppression, discrimination and disadvantage. formulation. UWC takes pride init the fact that so Among academic institutions has been in UWC takes pride in the fact that so many of many of its senior academics andits the vanguard of South Africa’s historic senior academics alumni found in public alumniaand found themselves Change, playing distinctive academic role in themselvesoffice in public office at a allnumber levels, ain at all levels, helping an equitable and dynamic the number to in build the national cabinet. national cabinet. nation. The decade also marked an increased UWC’s key concerns with access, equity and concentration teaching and learning Theon decade also marked quality in higher education arise froman excellence.increased In the words of Professor concentration onCecil extensive practical engagement in helping the Abrahams,teaching who became Vice-Chancellor and learning excellence. historically marginalised participate fully in from 1995, In UWC is committed to being “a the words of Professor Cecil the life of the nation. Place of Quality, a Place to became Grow.” ViceAbrahams, who Chancellor from 1995, UWC is NOW committed to O’Connell being “a Place of In 2001 Professor Brian assumed Quality, a Place to Grow.” the Vice-Chancellorship amidst a plethora of processesto restructure the higher education in South Africa. One of the outcomes was that UWC would retain its status as an autonomous institution. Under the visionary leadership of its new Rector, the University is now, more than
A PROUD LEGACY
NOW Professor O’Connell AlertInto2001 its African and Brian international context, it (left) the strives toassumed be a place ofVicequality, a place to Chancellorship amidst a plethora grow. processes restructure It is of committed to to excellence in higher teaching, education in South Africa. One of learning and research, to nurturing the the outcomes thatAfrica, UWC and to cultural diversity ofwas South would retain its status as an ways to the responding in critical and creative autonomous institution. needs of a society in transition. Under O’Connell’s visionary EARLY DAYS leadership, the University is now, In 1959, the University moreParliament than ever, established challenged to College of the Western Cape as a of constituent demonstrate that it is capable of the University of South Africa (Unisa) for competing with the best and of playing a prominent role in the intellectual, social and economic life of the nation.
CHANGING PERCEPTION UWC opened its doors in 1960 in an old school building for 166 students who could choose from a limited number of undergraduate courses. In the 1970s rudimentary buildings were erected on the present campus site with uninsulated prefabricated rooms serving as lecture theatres. UWC became autonomous by Law in 1983 and since then the campus has slowly and steadily been transformed from a barren and isolated site into an Oasis of Learning – a green lung in an industrial area which breathes new knowledge into society through cutting edge research and highly regarded undergraduate programmes within an emerging world class infrastructure. However, despite the quantum leaps, the institution continues to campaign against marginalisation in the media and within the regional and national psyche with Regards to the real transformation that has taken place over the decades.
A UWC VILLAGE Lying centrally in the greater Bellville precinct between two highways, and close to Cape Town International Airport, UWC is set to be a focal point in the development of the West Coast Corridor. Plans include expanding campus to a space that is urban in scale and density and is marked by facilities for innovation, learning, engaged living and working. In 2008 and 2009 UWC invested R600m on new buildings and the upgrade of existing facilities, including the Public Health and Life Sciences buldings and sport fields. Future developments include refurbishing the old JS Marais Hospital for the Department of Nursing. Discussions continue to transform the existing shunting yard opposite campus into a “University Village� that will link the campus, the new Department of Nursing and Tygerberg Hospital that is home to the UWC Faculty of Dentistry.
NEW CHEMICAL SCIENCE BUILDING The newest addition to the burgeoning Science precinct is the R220 million, New Chemical Sciences Building (NCSB). This development lies parallel to the UWC Life Sciences Building and comprises 8 600 sq m of research, teaching and
learning space for Applied Geology, the Department of Earth and Water Sciences, and the Department of Chemistry. Construction should be completed by the end of 2013.
SPORTS PRECINCT 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 pre Soccer World Cup friendly football match; 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. UWC Sport comprises of 22 university sports clubs and hosts League games, tournaments and other major sporting events. UWC also engages with Provincial and national federations (Centre of Excellence for Swimming South Africa and Learn to-Swim programmes), and with schools and community organisations for development programmes through Western Cape Sport School Sport.
A major renovation of the floodlit stadium is planned 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.;
PETROSA SYNTHETIC FUELS INNOVATION CENTRE The Science precinct was bolstered in 2012 with the addition of the PetroSA Synthetic Fuels Innovation Centre (PFSIC) - South Africa’s first academic facility offering research on improving the quality of diesel. The Centre, which forms part of UWC’s South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry (SAIAMC), houses a pilot plant size reactor for the study of the conversion of olefins to distillate (COD), which has proved to be an essential part of the intricate Gas-To-Liquids (GTL) process. PetroSA, South Africa’s National Oil Company and a world leader in the development of GTL technology, has funded R36-m to establish and operate the PSFIC for an initial five-year period. The PSFIC team totals 27 staff members, including PhD-level researchers, technicians, research assistants and students.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY HYRDOGEN SYSTEMS UWC has been designated by the Department of Science and Technology as a hub for the Development of the Hydrogen Economy, and has a track record of world class research and development to support the energy sector.
UWC is host to the Hydrogen Systems Integration and the Technology Validation Centre of Competence (HySA Systems), headed by world expert in this field, Prof Bruno G Pollet. To date the HySA team has produced a hydrogen powered tricycle and golf cart.
HIVE VIRTUAL TEACHING LAB The HIVE (Highly Immersive Visualization Environment) is a state-ofthe-art 3D visualisation facility within the Earth Science Department. This facility has been established through an investment by BP and is aimed at creating a modernised virtual environment for advanced research in academia, especially in Earth Sciences.
The HIVE has been equipped with a variety of seismic, reservoir, mining and structural modelling software (including Petrel®, Midland ValleyMove®, Kingdom Suite®, Surpac® and Geovisionary®). With advanced projection and computing facilities, the HIVE is a unique tool suitable for data modelling, management and analysis. The stereoscopic 3D capabilities of the HIVE allows for data visualisation in an exceptional manner, providing methods for data interpretation through various disciplines.
TEACHING & TECHNOLOGY HIGH-TECH DENTISTRY LABS The Dentistry Faculty – Africa’s largest dentistry school – uses state-of-the-art technical laboratories in its Mitchell’s Plain facility for virtual patient-training technology that includes a simulator with a set of acrylic teeth. The pre-clinic laboratory is used to train third year students for nine months before they set to work in the clinic that sees 120 000 patients a year.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPE UNIT The Electron Microscope Unit (EMU) has added an Auriga High Resolution Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscope (FEG SEM) to its array of equipment. Supplied by Carl Zeiss and worth R9 million, the instrument one of only two of its kind in the country, and is equipped with a range of state-of-the-art detectors and special components. This instrument allows biologists, chemists, materials scientists and nanoscientists to observe objects and conduct research at extremely small scales.
LIBRARY & MAYIBUYE ARCHIVES The Library has a collection of over 389 000 volumes of It also provides the Multimedia Collection, an interactive books with subscription to 1 200 electronic and printed online area designed to provide students with access to journals with more than100 electronic databases that faculty-selected resources in various media formats. contain more than 100 000 articles in various academic disciplines. The collection is constantly updated to meet the specific In addition to the open stack collections 2 special needs and objectives of the UWC community. collection sections, which houses South African and UWC publications, including UWC theses (and the electronic The Library provides 300 computerised workstations, with format) is maintained. 108 PCs with four interactive printers in the information retrieval hub (Knowledge Commons). MAYIBUYE ARCHIVES The UWC-Mayibuye Archives tell the inside history of the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa and comprises more than 100 000 photographs, 10 000 film and video recordings, 5 000 artefacts from Robben Island and elsewhere, 2 000 oral history tapes, 2 000 posters as well as 10 000 political cartoons. The art collection includes the UN-sponsored International Artists Against Apartheid Exhibition, and small collections. The papers collection consists of more than 300 items.
UWC NATURE RESERVE The UWC Nature Reserve is located within the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of the Western Cape and functions as an independent Unit in the Faculty. It is fast establishing itself in the fields of environmental education, indigenous greening and nature conservation. Focus of the Reserve is on developing a successful environmental education programme, a chief component of which, has been the development of resources. The comprehensive resource collection on topical issues is updated regularly, so that staff can stay informed. This collection also provides students and educators with relevant materials for research. A major aim is to create an awareness and understanding of the fundamental importance of ecological processes and how they relate to the individual and community; and the conservation and promotion of natural lowland systems
BLUE, GOLD … AND GREEN! UWC is officially Africa’s greenest campus – and has the African Green Initiative conference Green Campus of the Year award to prove it… UWC is on an exciting journey to manage its every day activities with the lightest footprint on the environment. As one of the universities that signed the Talloires Declaration, the Campus has a long standing commitment to sustainability. This declaration was made in 1990 in Talloires, France at an international conference and has been signed by over 350 universities in 40 countries. Reducing waste, water and energy use are part of our commitment to achieve more efficient management of resources on campus. With over 2 300 staff and 19 000 students, the potential for positive change is huge. Since UWC started its recycling programme in April 2010, approximately 1386,83 tons of materials have been recovered for recycling. Facilities Management has commissioned an audit of hot water and energy usage. Another aim is to replace electricity used to heat water with heat pump technology
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE UWC is a research-rich environment with 50 percent of the academic staff holding doctorates and 20 percent of all students at UWC registered as postgraduates. Most departments have graduate programmes, some with the largest intake in the country. There are many institutes and centres with a strong research emphasis. Research at UWC has an international dimension. UWC’s major network of international partners ensures a flow of students and eminent scholars from other countries to enrich the environment. Some major projects are undertaken jointly with partners abroad. There is a strong relationship with institutions in Africa, Europe and North America, leading to research partnerships, joint capacity building, and a flow of postgraduate students to UWC.
OF SOUTH AFRICA’S 23 UNIVERSITIES, UWC IS
UWC’S SARCHI RESEARCH CHAIRS (AWARDED 2012)
• 6th in the proportion of NRF rated researchers on the fulltime academic staff. • 5th in the proportion of academic staff with PhDs. • 7th in percentage of income from research contracts and other forms of third stream income. Research output at UWC in the form of books, chapters in books and journal articles has increased by 70% since 2005
• Nano-Electrochemistry and Sensor Technology (NEST) • Microbial Genomics • Earth Observation Applications for Water Resources Assessment and Management • Multi-level Government, Law and Development • Nuclear Science • Health Systems Complexity and Change • Cosmology & Multi-Wavelength Data.
UWC’S EXISTING NRF-FUNDED CHAIRS ARE IN • Bioinformatics and Human Health • Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies • Astronomy and Astrophysics • FirstRand Foundation Chair in Maths Education.
RESEARCH FOCUS UWC’s SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Human Resources for Health, and was recently awarded a SARChI Research Chair in Health Systems Complexity and Change. The INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT at UWC offers Honours and Masters Degree courses in Development Studies, as well a Ph.D programme by thesis. Designed for those planning a career in socio-economic development as decisionmakers, activists, researchers or practitioners, these courses attract international and South African students.
UWC is the hub of the NATIONAL NANOSCIENCE POSTGRADUATE TEA-CHING PLATFORM. In 2012 a new Masters degree in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL BIOINFORMATICS INSTITUTE (SANBI) hosts a SARChI Chair in Bioinformatics and Human Health, and is the leading research facility on the African continent.
RESEARCH FOCUS The FACULTY OF DENTISTRY IS A WHO COLLABORATING CENTRE FOR ORAL HEALTH, trains Oral Health personnel in Africa and undertakes research on infectious diseases in Dentistry like, Hepatitis, HIV and TB. UWC’s Faculty of Dentistry one of 5 dental schools in South Africa, produces 47% of the country’s Dentists. The WHO Collaborating Centre for Oral Health in the Faculty of Dentistry was first designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre in 1994.
The INSTITUTE FOR POVERTY, LAND AND AGRARIAN STUDIES (PLAAS) hosts a SARChI Research Chair in Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies and undertakes in-depth research on rural and urban poverty and inequality, land and agrarian reform, agro-food value chain restructuring and natural resource management in South Africa and the southern African region.
RESEARCH FOCUS SENSORLAB at UWC has grown to be the top national laboratory researching smart sensing devices, and in 2012 UWC was awarded a SARChI Chair in Nanoelectrochemistry and Sensor Technology.
The SOUTH AFRICAN HERBAL SCIENCE AND MEDICINE INSTITUTE (SAHSMI) is the only institute in SA accredited to offer research degrees in Herbal Sciences, on drug discovery and development of plant medicines for HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, Cancer and Diabetes.
The UWC HIV AND AIDS RESEARCH CENTRE conducts multi-disciplinary research in HIV and AIDS prevention and care, focussing on health policies and systems, education and gender-based violence. The new UWC HIV and AIDS Research Centre is a world-class hub for sharing, developing and implementing engaged policy and practice-related research that tackles HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care within a comprehensive, systemic, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary perspective.
RESEARCH FOCUS The DST/MINTEK NANOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION CENTRE: BIOLABELS UNIT works on the identification of molecular biomarkers for diseases such as cancer, diabetes and HIV. The DST/MinTek Nano-Technology Innovation Centre Biolabels Unit includes technology from the Proteomics Unit, the Genome Analyser Unit, the Medical Research Council Diabetes and Obesity Unit and the Apoptosis Group. The SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED MATERIALS CHEMISTRY (SAIAMC) has been designated by DST as a (HySA) Competence Centre in Systems Analysis, Integration and Technology Validation for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies. An industry and technology oriented institute at UWC, SAIAMC’s research is mainly focused on novel energy generation technologies.
The INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPORT SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT (ICESSD) is a leading interdisciplinary centre of excellence promoting sport as a powerful tool for development, health, well-being and social change. Launched in 2009, and endorsed by the United Nations Office on Sport for Development, the ICESS aims to be Africa’s leading interdisciplinary Centre.
RESEARCH FOCUS The UNESCO CENTRE FOR GROUNDWATER STUDIES engages in research and advocacy on sustainable groundwater utilisation and management in Africa. It is a major advisor to the African Council of Ministers and trains water scientists in the SADC region. Lead by the UNESCO Chair in Hydrogeology the centre is mainly involved in research and advocacy on sustainable groundwater utilisation and management in Africa.
The INSTITUTE FOR WATER STUDIES hosts a SARCHi Chair in Earth Observation Applications for Water Resources Assessment and Management.
MANUS/MATSCI PROGRAMME is a Masters in Accelerator and Nuclear Science and the Masters in Materials Science enable graduates to enter industry and government with appropriate skills or to progress to a PhD.
The INSTITUTE FOR MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND METAGENOMICS (IMBM) conducts research on the exploitation of microbial genome diversity, cloning and expression and researches biofuels technology and was awarded a SARChI Research Chair in Microbial Genomics in 2012.
RESEARCH FOCUS THE DST/NRF RESEARCH CHAIR IN ASTROPHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY Conducts research using the data from the SALT optical telescope at Sutherland and the MeerKAT array of radio tele scopes near Carnarvon to answer key questions about the Universe. A second SARChI Research Chair in Cosmology and Multi-Wavelength Data. UWC is in the forefront of the international SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY (SKA) radio telescope project that, when completed, will help to answer questions, such as: How did the universe originate? What is its destiny? And – is there any other life out there? The SKA will map the distribution of millions of galaxies and probe further than any other apparatus previously created. The SKA radio telescope will be located in the Karoo and 70 percent of the project will be managed by South Africans. UWC holds the SKA/Department of Science and Technology Chair in Astrophysics and has six SKA research fellows and several SKA-funded postgraduate students focused on what has been described as the most ambitious and extensive scientific research endeavours.
RESEARCH FOCUS For the past six years the CENTRE FOR HUMANITIES RSEARCH (CHR), an Arts Faculty project, has held seminars, public events, conferences and symposia on a wide range of subjects that intersect with and have grown out of the Centre’s core research on questions of race, subjectivity, war and violence, aesthetics and politics. The Centre offers fellowships for researchers in the humanities and is a space of lively debate and critique, and host to important thinkers. The Centre has persistently raised the question of what it means to pursue research in the humanities in the post-apartheid context. In addition, the CHR produced a total of 15 articles, 14 of which were accredited, two monographs published through international presses, and two non-accredited edited publications. Beyond these achievements, the CHR diligently pursues its core research project on the postcolonial critique of apartheid by exploring the intersections of knowledge and power as these impinge on the debate on the humanities in Africa.
RESEARCH FOCUS UWC’s COMMUNITY LAW CENTRE hosts a SARChI Research Chair in Multi-level Government, Law and Development and played a key role in drafting the South African Children’s Act and the 2008 Child Justice Bill and currently enjoys observer status with the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. The Centre works to realise the democratic values and human rights enshrined in South Africa’s Constitution. THE AFRICAN CENTRE FOR CITIZENSHIP AND DEMOCRACY (ACCEDE) engages in research and policy advocacy in the broad areas of citizenship, democracy and development. The UWC SCIENCE LEARNING CENTRE FOR AFRICA (UWCSLCA) of the Faculty of Education supports teachers and learners in mathematics and science education at both primary and secondary level. It reaches out to disadvantaged peri-urban schools on the Cape Flats and rural schools from Western, Northern and Eastern Cape through various developmentaldriven programmes. In 2011 UWC-SLCA added an infrastructure support programme to its outreach support and, with the assistance of various corporate partners, constructed 12 science learning centres (laboratories) at schools across the Western Cape. An additional 11 science learning centres are planned for 2013.
RESEARCH FOCUS THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND NANOSCIENCES GROUP (ENS) has a number of industrial projects in the areas of nanoscience, environmental remediation and water related research. UWC hosts the UNESCO CHAIR IN SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION, which engages in research in the areas of scientific and technological literacy and instructional issues in science education. The School is the only UNESCO/UNITWIN Centre of Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education in Africa. The UWC FIRSTRAND FOUNDATION SOUTH AFRICAN CHAIR IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION is located in the School of Science and Mathematics Education aimed at improving the quality of mathematics teaching and learning in schools, with the intention of addressing the crisis in Mathematics Education in South Africa.
The BRUKER ULTRAFLEXTREMETM MS is a stateof-the-art Mass Spectrometer (MS) instrument, which serves as the core of the PROTEOMICS UNIT within the Science Faculty. This facility high throughput, high resolution, ultrasensitive next generation protein de novo sequencing; accurate intact protein and peptide mass measurements; accurate prediction and measure of post-translational modification in proteins; HPLC (non gel)- based protein expression level quantification (via label-free, iTRAQ, ICAT and SILAC); digital MALDI “Histoproteome” imaging for in situ profiling of intact proteins in plant, animal tissues and microbial biofilms; microbe biotyping - an ultrafast and sensitive microbe identification facility; and metabolite identification (metabolomics).
RESEARCH FOCUS The BRUKER ULTRAFLEXTREMETM MS is a state-of-the-art Mass Spectrometer (MS) instrument, which serves as the core of the PROTEOMICS UNIT within the Science Faculty. This facility high throughput, high resolution, ultrasensitive next generation protein de novo sequencing; accurate intact protein and peptide mass measurements; accurate prediction and measure of post-translational modification in proteins; HPLC (non gel)- based protein expression level quantification (via label-free, iTRAQ, ICAT and SILAC); digital MALDI “Histoproteome” imaging for in situ profiling of intact proteins in plant, animal tissues and microbial biofilms; microbe biotyping - an ultrafast and sensitive microbe identification facility; and metabolite identification (metabolomics). DIVISION FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES The vision of the Division for Postgraduate Studies is to create a “one stop shop” for postgraduate students that will serve as a first port of call. Central to this approach is a focus on strengthening the university’s research niche areas as important domains for postgraduate education. To achieve this vision, the role of the Division includes the establishment of developmental programmes for students and supervisors; development of a monitoring scheme for the study programme of each student in order to expedite time for completion of the degree; reviewing and making accessible all relevant policies to promote quality and working with other stakeholders in streamlining administrative processes
TOWARDS STUDENT SUCCESS Students- and their successes are the reason for UWC’s existence and the focus of a number of programmes and activities across University departments. The key division geared towards retaining and enabling the development of students is the Centre for Student Support Services that features a staff of 29 and five units, each dedicated towards a specific service to the student body. These are: • Student development – • Academic Support – • Leadership & Social Responsibility • Therapeutic Services • Disability Unit
CHARTER OF UWC GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES SCHOLARSHIP - A CRITICAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS KNOWLEDGE: UWC graduates should be able to demonstrate a scholarly attitude to knowledge and understanding within the context of a rapidly changing environment. UWC graduates should have the ability to actively engage in the generation of innovative and relevant knowledge and understanding through inquiry, critique and synthesis. Graduates should be able to apply their knowledge to solve diverse problems and to communicate their knowledge confidently and effectively. CRITICAL CITIZENSHIP AND THE SOCIAL GOOD – A RELATIONSHIP AND INTERACTION WITH LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT: UWC graduates should be engaged, committed and accountable agents of social good. They must aspire to contribute to social justice and care, appreciative of the complexity of historical contexts and societal conditions through their roles as professionals and members of local and global communities. Graduates should demonstrate leadership and responsibility with regard to a environmental sustainability. LIFELONG LEARNING – AN ATTITUDE OR STANCE TOWARDS THEMSELVES: UWC graduates should be confident lifelong learners, committed and capable of continuous collaborative and individual learning and critical reflection for the purpose of furthering their understanding of the world and their place in it.
TEACHING & LEARNING THE DIRECTORATE: TEACHING & LEARNING was established in 2008 and its focus is on professionalising and enhancing the status of teaching and learning; promoting and developing the scholarship of teaching and learning; infusing technology and embedding graduate attributes into the curriculum; developing a more responsive teaching and learning environment and enhancing epistemological access. A further focus is on authentic and inquiry-based learning and the development of online resources for lecturers. The activities of the Directorate of Teaching and Learning are designed to support Faculty Deputy Deans of Teaching and Learning and Teaching and Learning specialists to take forward the priorities of the institution’s Strategic Plan for Teaching & Learning and its associated Charter of Graduate Attributes – developed as one of the tactical rolling plans at the end of 2009 to guide the implementation of the IOP (2010 -2014).
KNOWLEDGE PARTNERS The OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS creates an environment that allows for successful educational and personal experiences through orientation, advising, programmes and outreach.
PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE: • SANORD-Southern African Nordic Network • DBBS-Dynamics for Building a Better Society (Belgium) • DAAD (Germany) • Missouri System (Columbia, Rolla, St Louis and Kansas City); Howard University; Kentucky University; Marquette University; Pennsylvania State University; Wisconsin-Madison University. • HAN Arnheim en Nijmegen University of Applied Sciences, Vrije Universiteit • Humbolt University; Ruhr Bochum; Neu-Ulm; German Sport University Cologne
• Ahfad University Sudan; University of Dar Es Salaam Tanzania; Namibia Polytechnic • Johannes Kepler University • KU Leuven; Ghent • Sciences Po; • Oslo University; Bergen University; Bodo University; Tromso University • Technical University of Madrid; Universitat Rovira 1 Virgili • Karlstad University; Linkopings University • Shanghai University of Traditional Medicine There are also networks and consortiums in which UWC participates. Not all of the UWC partnerships are coordinated in the IRO. Many are managed and championed from the individual departments/faculties.
IMAGES
IMAGES