UWC 360e Alumni Newsletter issue 17

CONTACT THE ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE: ISSUE 17 | JULY 2016

ISSUE 17 | JULY 2016

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UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE

ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

New Centre for Radio Cosmology

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he University of the Western Cape’s Department of Physics and Astronomy has launched its new Centre for Radio Cosmology (CRC), funded by the South African Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Project, to fully answer some of the deepest mysteries of space.

Led by UWC’s Professor Mario Santos, the chair of the international SKA Science Working Group for Cosmology, the new research centre aims to exploit the use of next-generation radio telescopes for measurements in cosmology – particularly with South African experiments at MeerKAT, HERA and SKA (when

completed, the SKA will be the largest radio telescope in the world). The Centre will help to develop the pipelines and technical knowledge required to have a world-leading group capable of conducting the radio surveys and tackling the huge data volumes that the telescopes will provide.

“A lot of preliminary work is required before we can actually deal with the real data, and the Centre will allow a coordinated team to tackle this task,” explains Prof Santos. “Once the data starts arriving, we will be in a privileged position to analyse it and provide some of the more stringent constraints on cosmology using radio telescopes.” Prof Santos’s team is conducting test observations with the

KAT-7 telescope to test calibration techniques with real data. They are also running simulations to determine the optimal process for cleaning measurements from contaminant signals.

The simulations are run on large computer servers and generate considerable amounts of data that will be processed by the team.

The CRC will also be analysing the data coming from large radio surveys in order to extract cosmological information. “These simulations are crucial if we want to understand what we are actually going to see. When doing an observation, the telescope changes the expected signal in many different ways, and we need to understand and correct these changes – for calibration,” says Prof Santos.

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ISSUE 17 | JULY 2016

Editorial Welcome to the second edition of Three-Sixt-e for 2016.

In this issue, we report on the launch of the new Centre for Radio Cosmology which will enable us to further unravel the mysteries of the universe. Another ground-breaking advance in research resulted in the unveiling of South Africa’s first prototype hydrogen fuel cell forklift and refuelling station by UWC’s Hydrogen Systems South Africa, in partnership with Implats and DST. We are also proud to announce that UWC’s Dr Stephen Devereux, of the NRF-DST Food Security Centre of Excellence, was endowed as the SA-UK Bilateral Research Chair in Social Protection for Food Security.

We chat to Isaac Adom-Aboagye and his son Kwadwo, who simultaneously completed their qualifications at UWC’s Department of Sport Administration. We also report on Siyambonga Matshawule, an nGAP lecturer and PhD student at our Department of Physics and Astronomy, who has been nominated to attend the 66th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in July in Lindau, Germany.

On the sports front, we congratulate UWC’s Beach Volleyball women’s team who were crowned champions of the 2016 Varsity Beach Volleyball tournament for the third consecutive year. Lastly, UWC’s Alumni Relations Office hosted another successful instalment of their annual Alumni Fashion Show, which is fast becoming a favourite among students and staff alike.

Happy reading!

Patricia Lawrence Pro Vice-Chancellor Department of Institutional Advancement

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FAMILY STORY

Father and son classmates Families that play together stay together. So goes the saying, but in one family’s case it’s ‘families that study together...’

Last year, Isaac Adom-Aboagye and his son Kwadwo enrolled for the Postgraduate Diploma in Sport, Peace and Development at UWC’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Sport Science and Development (ICESSD), and in April they graduated – with the son literally following in his father’s footsteps to be capped at the podium. Mr Adom-Aboagye’s daughter Nana Adom-Aboagye graduated with her master’s degree in Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science last year.

But how did the father and son end up doing the same course at the same time?

Although the son wanted to study further and the father wanted to challenge himself at the age of 66, daughter Nana, who was a research assistant at the University while reading for her master’s degree, was influential in Isaac and Kwadwo’s decision to undertake the diploma.

“It was much fun to study together with my son,” says Mr Adom-Aboagye. “There were occasions when we had to disagree on some issues in order to agree on a point

UPCOMING

Times and details to be announced

during discussions, though it was not a question of the son accepting the father’s views most of the time.” Mr AdomAboagye says that they never regretted the decision. “It was a good feeling and much advantageous to be on the same programme. It brought the idea of supporting each other in our studies and we were there for each other. The family unit was thus strengthened.”

For Kwadwo it was a great experience to see a side of his father he had not been exposed to before. “Our relationship has always been that of a father and son, but doing this course we were classmates, sharing knowledge and learning from one another.

At times when I was not in the mood to study, looking at the vigour with which my father attacked the assignments motivated me to get the work done. It was a real pleasure getting to share a classroom with my father and I would gladly do it again.”

Nana notes that it was interesting to watch her father and brother competing with one another. “They influenced each other’s success – the father assessing whether he was still young enough to compete and hold his own against the youth, and the son trying not to be outdone by his retiree father.”

n The UWC/Yale Alumni Leadership Exchange will be held at UWC on Friday, 8 July 2016. n The July 2016 Graduation takes place on Thursday, 21 July and Friday, 22 July 2016 at the UWC Main Hall.

n The Alumni Relations Office hosts the annual Kings of UWC Soccer Tournament on Sunday, 7 August 2016 at the UWC Liberty Sports Field.

ISSUE 17 | JULY 2016

EDUCATION

Creating role models In April 2010, over 800 delegates, including school principals, school governing bodies, councillors, parents and learners, and representatives of universities, colleges, community police forums, community-based and non-governmental organisations and SETAs, attended an education summit in Mitchells Plain.

The recipients of the 2015 Chancellor’s Outstanding Alumni Awards.

RESEARCH

First hydrogen fuel cell forklift prototype UWC’s Hydrogen Systems South Africa (HySA Systems), in partnership with Impala Refining Services (IRS) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), unveiled South Africa’s first prototype hydrogen fuel cell forklift and refuelling station in March at the Impala Refineries in Springs.

Over the last three years, IRS, a division of Impala Platinum Holdings (Implats), has provided R6 million in funding to HySA Systems to develop the prototype forklift and refuelling station.

Fuel cells are a family of technologies that use electrochemical processes rather than combustion to produce power. The technology will significantly enhance ventilation requirements, and reduce heat, noise levels, and noxious and sulphide emissions underground.

The metal hydride system brings significant benefits. It allows the forklift to operate at lower pressures, improving vehicle safety and costs (the cost of the local refuelling station is around R2 million compared to €500 000 for an imported system). The forklift also has lower noise levels, generates less heat and noxious emissions, and has longer operational times between refuelling.

There is sufficient fuel for two to four days before hydrogen refuelling is required, and the refuelling itself takes

only seven minutes. This investment follows over a decade of discussions and negotiations between Implats and UWC’s South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry (SAIAMC), under the leadership of SAIAMC’s Director, Professor Vladimir Linkov.

“With Impala Platinum becoming a partner to SAIAMC, UWC has achieved the long-term goal of entering into strategic research, development and innovation partnerships with an absolute national leader in one of the pillars of energy generation for current and future needs of the South African economy.

This partnership is unique in the national system of innovation, unparalleled by any other university laboratory or institute in South Africa,” says Professor Vladimir Linkov.

Dr Cordellia Sita, the Director of HySA Systems, says that fuel cell-powered forklifts are gaining significant traction worldwide and are now entering mainstream commercialisation.

“However, the limited availability of refuelling infrastructure, coupled with the challenge of finding the most appropriate on-board hydrogen storage technology remains a big challenge.

Through this demonstration project, HySA Systems has addressed both challenges through the use of a novel metal hydride material for both hydrogen compression and storage.”

UWC was well represented with former Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian O’Connell among the speakers. The summit led to the launch of the Mitchells Plain Bursary and Role Model Trust on 16 June 2011. The trust aims to produce a new generation of leaders and role models for Mitchells Plain by giving deserving students access to tertiary education in the hope that they will become active role models for the community.

The successful initiative has enabled scores of learners to access tertiary and further education. After providing bursaries with a total value of R1 million in 2015, the trust awarded bursaries to 56 students in May 2016, some of whom are currently enrolled at UWC. The success of the Trust has inspired other communities to establish similar initiatives. According to trustee and UWC alumnus Achmat Chotia, who is also principal of Glendale High School, many young people in the community had no hope for their future because of a lack of funding and role models. But that seems to be changing. “We have succeeded not only to get funding for students but to also inspire others to do well.

The matric results have improved in Mitchells Plain, with two schools having registered 100% pass rates in recent times,” Chotia says.

With the help of prominent leaders such as Trevor Manuel, who was instrumental in founding the Trust, the Trust also links students with scholarships and job opportunities, and wants to extend its reach to other areas. “We want to grow the seeds we have planted and let the crop become bigger and bigger,” says Chotia, who obtained his degree in education at UWC in 1988.

Achmat Chotia, one of the founders of the Mitchells Plain Bursary and Role Model Trust.

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ISSUE 17 | JULY 2016

RESEARCH

New research Chair tackles food security Food security research at UWC received a much-needed boost when Dr Stephen Devereux of the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE-FS) was endowed as the SA-UK Bilateral Research Chair in Social Protection for Food Security.

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he Chair was made possible by the Newton Fund and the National Research Foundation’s (NRF) UK-SA Bilateral Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI). It was one of the three bilateral research chairs launched by South African Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, and the British High Commissioner to South Africa, Dame Judith Macgregor, in May to strengthen research and innovation capacity between the two countries.

"I anticipate that these chairs will contribute to South Africa's growing importance as a centre of science and innovation excellence, best illustrated by the 2012 decision for SA to co-host the Square Kilometre Array giant telescope – one of the largest ever international science projects – and one of the most important partnerships between the UK and South Africa," reads a statement released by Minister Pandor.

Dr Devereux, a research fellow at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex in Brighton,

UK, will be based at UWC’s Institute for Social Development, and affiliated to the DST-NRF CoE-FS. “Food insecurity is not caused by lack of food at national level, but by a lack of access to food at the individual level, mainly due to poverty,” notes Dr Devereux. “One response to food insecurity is social protection, which improves access to food for the poor, either by giving food or by raising their income.”

The Chair will be funded to the amount of R1,5 million per annum for a period of five years, and will address questions on why food insecurity in South Africa remains so high, despite the comprehensive social protection system, and how the impact of social protection on hunger can be improved. The CoE-FS's vision is to become a global leader in research, capacity building, knowledge brokerage and service provision in food security and nutrition in Africa, achieved through collaborations with outstanding institutions and scholars on the continent and elsewhere.

ALUMNI PROFILE

Alumnus expands UWC's global footprint Life has come full circle for UWC alumnus Dr Gerald Abdoll. He was born on a farm, Waboomskraal, near George.

After graduating, he worked in the public and private health sectors before setting up a successful dental practice in rural south-west England.

Dr Abdoll established his practice in Exeter in Devon in 2002 with the help of his wife Maureen, who is a UWC alumna. His siblings Zenobia, Llewellyn and Brian are all UWC graduates too. Studying dentistry at UWC during the turbulent 1980s had its own set of challenges. “Apart from the obvious ones, developing a political consciousness/awareness, growing up, girls, etc, the lectures were entirely in English, a language that was foreign to me at that time. Needless to say, it took me longer than the average student to complete my degree.”

But it was worthwhile. “Looking back, I would not have done it any other way because I’m proud to have qualified at what is, in my view, one of the best dental faculties in the world. My course prepared me to practice dentistry in first and third world situations.”

Dr Abdoll notes that they have a fledgling UWC alumni group in the UK that gathers once a year. He believes it is important to stay in touch with the institution that gave them their grounding. “Having a strong alumni association will allow us to plough back into the UWC global community. I feel it’s our duty to build an alumni association that will help to create opportunities for those who will follow in our footsteps. I am proudly UWC!”

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ISSUE 17 | JULY 2016

INTERNATIONAL

UWC physicist to attend prestigious Nobel Laureate meeting UWC rising scientist Siyambonga Matshawule has been nominated by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) to attend the 66th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau, Germany.

ASSAf, as the official partner of the Lindau Foundation and with funding from the Department of Science and Technology, annually nominates young scientists to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings which are designed as a forum for young scientists from countries around the world to have an in-depth exchange with Nobel Laureates. The meeting will take place from 26 June to 1 July 2016 and around 30 Nobel laureates are expected to participate.

The participants are outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate students and postdoctoral research fellows under 35 years of age in the field of physics, which is the focus of this year’s meeting. They were selected after a multi-stage international selection process. Matshawule, a Next Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP) lecturer and PhD student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, is one of five top young physicists in South Africa to attend the meeting. He is the second scientist from UWC to have been nominated to attend the meeting. The meetings have been held annually at Lindau, Germany, since 1951.

BUSINESS

Creating young entrepreneurs

UWC alumnus Chris Kilowan has embarked on initiatives to reduce unemployment of young people.

Having developed excellent networks across Africa, the Middle East and the Asian markets, UWC alumnus Chris Kilowan regularly forms new collaborative ventures with small and medium enterprises to offer their products and services to a broad market. “In this way all of us become global players,” he explains.

His latest initiative envisions creating entrepreneurship opportunities for 500 000 unemployed young people in South Africa to start their own cellphone airtime and data selling micro-businesses. On Worker’s Day Kilowan posted information regarding the social conditions under which more than 80% of our 19 million youth survive every day. Through one of his companies, AMOSS Payments (Moya Cell in South Africa), he called for donations of at least R100 to enable one young person to start a business. “It is clear that those with or without matric make up by far the biggest segment of young people who are unemployed. We are focusing on that group.”

The response to his call was overwhelming. “Today I am happy to report that members of this group have responded positively to my call. We are now able to provide seed capital of R100

to 50 young people.” Kilowan studied law at UWC in the 1980s and led the Legal Aid Clinic for a number of years.

After he left UWC he obtained a number of qualifications from other universities and held top positions in several organisations. His goal for the next 10 years is to build the AMOSS Holdings companies across sub-Saharan Africa and make a positive contribution in the markets where his companies operate.

“As a leader, teacher and visionary I aim to constantly inspire and motivate young entrepreneurs and help them to build their dreams, the objective always being to make a positive difference in Africa,” he says.

Matshawule was excited about the nomination. “It serves as a great source of inspiration not only to me, but also other aspiring scientists,” he says. “I am more motivated to continue the work I am doing.

As a young researcher, the nomination shows that hard work indeed pays off and also that people in the field do recognise one’s potential to become a great researcher in the future.”

SAVE THE DATE GOLFING FOR EDUCATION When: Wednesday, 24 August 2016 Where: Killarney Country Club, 60 5th Street, Lower Houghton, Johannesburg For more information please call Marlene Scholtz at 021 959 2482 or mscholtz@uwc.ac.za SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE The proceeds from this event will support the Jakes Gerwel Education, Development and Endowment Fund FROM HOPE TO ACTION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE.

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ISSUE 17 | JULY 2016

MEET THE MEMBER

Making a positive impact UWC alumna Victoria Weyulu is passionate about empowering people, and gets to do just that as a Senior Legal Officer at the Directorate: Law Reform in the Ministry of Justice of Namibia.

UWC Beach Volleyball women’s team celebrates winning the Varsity Beach Volleyball competition.

SPORT

UWC beach volleyballers ace it again After winning the trophy three years in a row, UWC Beach Volleyball women’s team entered this year’s Varsity Beach Volleyball tournament as hot favourites – and they did not disappoint.

The quartet of Bejancke Della, Basetsane Malubane, Prudence Layters and Tamlyn Thomas were untouchable throughout the tournament in front of their home supporters as they cruised unbeaten through the pool stages, the semi-finals and the final at the UWC Sports Fields.

Since the beginning of the year, the UWC Beach Volleyball Club has cemented its stature as the top team in the game in South Africa. The women’s team also won the 2016 Volleyball South Africa Easter Splash Festival in Port Elizabeth in March, while their male counterparts defended their Flying Fish Beach Volleyball title for the third consecutive year. In the Varsity Beach Volleyball competition the Udubs team was stretched to the limit as they beat UP-Tuks 33-29 in a fiercely contested final.

Della, who captained UWC, commended Tuks for their impressive performance and the University's

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sports administration, home fans, event organisers and sponsors for making the tournament such a resounding success. Della attributed the team's performance to having played together for a long time (the team members played for the Western Cape Sports School before joining UWC). “We understand each other. We know each other’s moves and characters.”

Elmien Cloete, the UWC Beach Volleyball Club manager, attributed their success to the support of the University and the Western Cape Sports School. “UWC Volleyball appreciates the partnership established with Western Cape Sports School, which acts as a feeder focus school for our club. Many prospective students who play volleyball are now making UWC their choice of study. And UWC is recognising volleyball as one of the priority sports and therefore supports the athletes on all levels.”

UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tyrone Pretorius, congratulated the team on their success. “You, as the beach volleyball team and other sporting teams, are the rising tide and the staff, students and the whole University community are the boats that you are lifting.”

“My position enables me to make a positive impact on the lives of many Namibians through the review, reform and development of Namibia's legal landscape,” she explains. Weyulu’s interest in international law reform is reflected in her LLM thesis, titled ‘The Reform of Namibia’s Cross-Border Insolvency Framework’, which she submitted in 2015.

Weyulu participated in a special LLM programme in International Trade, Business and Investment Law at UWC from July 2014 to June 2015. The programme invited 20 individuals from African countries to focus on Africa with full exposure to the international world trade and investment.

“All our lectures were presented by representatives of international organisations such as the World Trade Organisation, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the Southern African Customs Union, the World Bank and leading law firms,” the 26-year-old Namibian remembers. “This gave me the chance to see beyond the work and professional opportunities offered at home and allowed me to see that you can use the law to advance almost any field that you are passionate about. It was an experience I would not exchange for anything in the world.”

Weyulu believes the alumni association is a great way to stay in touch and to reminisce, and should make an impact in the lives of students, particular those from Namibia.

Victoria Weyulu is a member of the UWC Alumni Association.

ISSUE 17 | JULY 2016

ALUMNI PROFILE

UWC alumna appointed as first female exco member of SA Rugby UWC alumna and former UWC Director of Sport Administration Ilhaam Groenewald has been elected to the Executive Council of the South African Rugby - the first woman ever appointed.

OBITUARIES The University of the Western Cape mourns the passing of alumni, students and staff, including:

As current Chief Director of Maties Sport at Stellenbosch University, she succeeded Mputumi Damani as one of two independent members of the 12-person Executive Council and attended the first meeting of the newly constituted Exco in Cape Town in May. The SA Rugby Executive Council – the body which reports to the General Council (made up of representatives of the 14 provincial unions) – was constituted at the beginning of 2011 as a consequence of the merging of the old amateur and professional arms of SA Rugby.

Groenewald was elated about her election.

“My passion is sports management and development, so when I was asked if I was happy to have my name put forward, I had no hesitation,” she said in a SARU press release. “You cannot work in sports administration in the Western Cape and not know about rugby so I have very good insight into the work that SA Rugby does.”

Groenewald brings a wealth of sporting expertise to SA Rugby. She has a degree in business administration and a master’s degree in sports management from UWC, and served as the Director of Sport

Administration at the University for over a decade before joining Maties in 2014.

Along with numerous positions she has held, Groenewald was the first woman to chair University Sports South Africa (USSA); has been head of delegation for SA teams at multisport events; has served on committees of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee; is chairperson of the Heads of Sport forum; is a member of Varsity Sports; and is a board member and trustee of Varsity Cup rugby.

John Edas, who was a part-time lecturer and administration officer in the Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science (SRES) for 10 years until his retirement in 2013.

Affectionately dubbed ‘Mr E’ by students, Edas worked as a teacher at several schools in the Cape Peninsula before joining UWC. He was a well-known political activist and church member, and was passionate about sport.

Jakes Gerwel Education, Development and Endowment Fund Building the UWC Legacy

Join us in building the UWC legacy by supporting the Jakes Gerwel Education, Development and Endowment Fund.

The Fund supports student bursaries, University projects and campus-wide improvements. With your support, we believe the Fund will grow significantly and ensure that future generations enjoy a quality education at our

beloved alma mater. With your help, the University of the Western Cape can continue to be a place of quality learning, a place to grow, and a place that turns hope into action through knowledge.

To make a donation, please visit the DONATE page at www.uwc.ac.za. Alternatively, contact Ms Somayah Barnes at sbarnes@uwc.ac.za or telephone +27 21 959 2143.

Ganas Thaver, who was a lecturer and coordinator for the Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) in the School of Business and Finance (the then Management Department).

Casey, as he preferred to be known among colleagues and friends, obtained a BCom Honours degree from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at UWC in the early 2000s.

FROM HOPE TO ACTION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE.

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ISSUE 17 | JULY 2016

DID YOU KNOW?

UWC is the only African institution that is a member of the Open Courseware Consortium – and the University was voted onto the OCWC Board in 2007?

EVENTS

Fashion Show builds pride Students got their creative juices flowing, budding models strutted their stuff and the packed Student Centre erupted with excitement when the Alumni Relations Office hosted its annual #IamUWC Alumni Fashion Show on 19 April.

The event, a partnership with the Campus Lifestyle Store and part of the UWC Student Alumni Programme, was preceded by a competition that required students to create a vlog (video blog) on campus that captured the theme of students being proud and happy to be at UWC. “We encouraged pride, versatility, passion, commitment, loyalty and positivity among students,” Alumni Officer Lynn Hendricks explains.

The winning vlogs were showcased at the show, which launched the 2016 alumni summer and winter clothing clothing range, modeled by 25 students. The clothing range is now on sale at the University’s Campus Lifestyle Store.

The fashion show aims to enhance the student experience, facilitate communication and a long-term relationship between the Alumni Relations

Celebrity Corner

Office and students, and create awareness of the Alumni Association. Hendricks says the function of the Alumni Relations Office is to build affinity and pride in the institution by encouraging alumni participation and interaction. “One of our key programmes focuses on students in order to prepare them to become engaged alumni by the time they leave the University.”

The #IAMUWC Alumni Vlogging Competition “was also an opportunity for students to understand the role alumni can play while showing their creative skills,” says Hendricks. The competition also contributed to establishing a student volunteer programme, with student volunteers actively promoting the competition on campus. The vlogs were uploaded to the UWC Alumni and UWC Online Facebook pages.

Students were entertained by the Blackcurrant Band and MC Vanessa Ntlapo, the star of SABC 1's new boxing drama, JAB. Cell C sponsored the tablets as prizes for the winning vlogs submitted by students Grant Davids, Vuyolwethu Tunguntwana, Bart Vandecandelaere and Ziphozihle Ntwatwa.

Vanessa Ntlapo, the star of SABC 1’s new boxing drama JAB, was the MC at this year’s Alumni Fashion Show, hosted on Tuesday, 19 April 2016 by the UWC Alumni Relations Office.

Join the UWC Alumni Association!

Get your free UWC Alumni T-shirt and much more for only R170 per annum (or R70 for the first two years after graduation)! To join, download and complete the Alumni Membership form at www.uwc.ac.za/alumni Contact us at alumni@uwc.ac.za or telephone 021 959 2143 if you have any questions.

Stay Connected!

Your alma mater wants to keep you updated with the latest UWC news, events and information.

Update your contact details at www.uwc.ac.za/alumni or send an email with your details to alumni@uwc.ac.za.

Find us… http://www.facebook.com/uwcalumni and follow us… http://twitter.com/UWConline

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Matter of fact: In issue 16 of Three-Sixt-e, we incorrectly reported that alumnus Stefan Sickel is a member of the UAE Alumni Chapter. We apologise for the error.