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 minutes 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 hours 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
Africas most cosmopolitan environment.
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 nations 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.
ENGAGING
WITH CHANGE
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 Africas historic Change, playing a distinctive academic role in
helping to build an equitable and dynamic
nation.
UWCs 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.
A PROUD LEGACY The University of the Western Cape has a
history of creative struggle against
oppression, discrimination and disadvantage.
Among academic institutions it has been in
the vanguard of South Africas historic Change, playing a distinctive academic role in
helping to build an equitable and dynamic
nation.
UWCs 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
NEW ROLE
In the 1990s UWC was able to play an important role in the emergence of the new
democratic order. It provided opportunities for
many people to prepare for a wide
spectrum of higher-level careers, and played a
leading part in policy research and
formulation.
UWC takes pride in the fact that so many of its
senior academics and alumni found
themselves in public office at all levels, a
number in the national cabinet.
The decade also marked an increased
concentration on teaching and learning
excellence. In the words of Professor Cecil
Abrahams, who became Vice-Chancellor
from 1995, UWC is committed to being a Place of Quality, a Place to Grow.
NOW
In 2001 Professor Brian OConnell assumed 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
NEW ROLE
In the 1990s UWC was able to play an important role in the emergence of the new
democratic order. It provided opportunities for
many people to prepare for a wide
spectrum of higher-level careers, and played a
leading part in policy research and
formulation.
UWC takes pride in the fact that so many of its
senior academics and alumni found
themselves in public office at all levels, a
number in the national cabinet.
The decade also marked an increased
concentration on teaching and learning
excellence. In the words of Professor Cecil
Abrahams, who became Vice-Chancellor
from 1995, UWC is committed to being a Place of Quality, a Place to Grow.
NOW
In 2001 Professor Brian OConnell assumed 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
NEW ROLE
In the 1990s UWC played an important role in the emergence of
the new democratic order.
UWC takes pride in the fact that so
many of its senior academics and
alumni found themselves in public
office at all levels, a number in the
national cabinet.
The decade also marked an
increased concentration on
teaching and learning excellence.
In the words of Professor Cecil
Abrahams, who became Vice-
Chancellor from 1995, UWC is
committed to being a Place of Quality, a Place to Grow.
NOW
In 2001 Professor Brian OConnell (left) assumed the Vice-
Chancellorship amidst a plethora
of processes to restructure higher
education in South Africa. One of
the outcomes was that UWC
would retain its status as an
autonomous institution.
Under OConnells visionary leadership, the University is now,
more than ever, challenged to
demonstrate that it is capable of
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 under-
graduate 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.;
The Science precinct was bolstered in 2012
with the addition of the PetroSA
Synthetic Fuels Innovation Centre
(PFSIC) - South Africas first academic facility offering research on
improving the quality of diesel.
The Centre, which forms part of UWCs 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 Africas 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.
PETROSA SYNTHETIC FUELS
INNOVATION CENTRE
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.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
HYRDOGEN SYSTEMS
The HIVE (Highly Immersive Visualization Environment) is a state-of-
the-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.
HIVE VIRTUAL
TEACHING LAB
TEACHING & TECHNOLOGY
HIGH-TECH DENTISTRY LABS
The Dentistry Faculty Africas largest dentistry school uses state-of-the-art technical laboratories in its Mitchells Plain facility for virtual patient-training technology that includes
a simulator with a set of acrylic teeth.
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.
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.
LIBRARY & MAYIBUYE
ARCHIVES The Library has a collection of over 389 000 volumes of
books with subscription to 1 200 electronic and printed
journals with more than100 electronic databases that
contain more than 100 000 articles in various academic
disciplines.
In addition to the open stack collections 2 special
collection sections, which houses South African and UWC
publications, including UWC theses (and the electronic
format) is maintained.
It also provides the Multimedia Collection, an interactive
online area designed to provide students with access to
faculty-selected resources in various media formats.
The collection is constantly updated to meet the specific
needs and objectives of the UWC community.
The Library provides 300 computerised workstations, with
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 Africas 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. UWCs 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 AFRICAS 23 UNIVERSITIES, UWC IS
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
UWCS SARCHI RESEARCH CHAIRS (AWARDED 2012)
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.
UWCS 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 UWCs 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 decision-
makers, 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. UWCs Faculty of Dentistry one of 5 dental
schools in South Africa, produces
47% of the countrys 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, SAIAMCs 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 Africas 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 Centres 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 UWCs 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 Childrens Act and the 2008 Child Justice Bill and currently enjoys observer status with the African Commission on
Human and Peoples Rights. The Centre works to realise the democratic values and human rights enshrined in South Africas 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 developmental-
driven 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
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 ENVIRONMENTAL AND
NANOSCIENCES GROUP (ENS)
has a number of industrial projects in
the areas of nanoscience,
environmental remediation and water
related research.
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).
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.
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
universitys 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 UWCs 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.
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 institutions 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).
TEACHING & LEARNING
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.
KNOWLEDGE PARTNERS
IMAGES
IMAGES