News

UCT officially launched the UCT Proton Therapy Initiative at an event held at the Neuroscience Institute Auditorium at Groote Schuur Hospital on 29 January.

With the appointment of former Bafana Bafana international Nasief Morris as UCT Women’s Football team coach, excitement is building for their Hollywoodbets Super League debut.

UCT’s upper campus came alive on Saturday, 1 February, as more than 4 000 first-year students were officially welcomed.

The UTF recently announced the launch of UTF II, a new phase of investment aimed at furthering the commercialisation of innovative research emerging from South African universities.

Disinformation has thrived in South Africa with the assistance, oftentimes of people within the system, leading to unsettling consequences, according to author Caryn Dolley.

Urban agriculture not only promotes sustainable cities but also strengthen social cohesion by creating shared spaces for collaboration and learning.

Legacy was uppermost on UCT VC Prof Mosa Moshabela’s mind when he addressed the attendees at Summer School.

A recent outcome of this focus area is the South African Universities – Mapping the Sustainable Development Goals report, based on a USAf-commissioned study in 2023. Read more The post University of the Free State, in Collaboration with Universities South Africa appeared first on Universities South Africa.

In many African countries, the green energy transition is not solving historical inequalities or socio-economic challenges.

As outlined in a new publication, progressive policies that can reduce inequalities in Africa are needed to speed up poverty reduction and economic growth on the continent.

The higher education sector is losing its spark due to several factors. UCT master’s student Charline Chikomo has some sage advice to get back on track.

The Springboks can’t fix South Africa’s problems, but they are one thing that is the best in the world, according to sports editor Craig Ray.

South Africa’s succulents are sought after by an increasingly international collector market.

The annual Dr Stuart Saunders Memorial Lecture was held on Tuesday, 28 January, and celebrated the legacy of the colossal scholar and champion of the people.

A team from the Polar Engineering Research Group at UCT has set off on their first field expedition to Antarctica.

On Tuesday, 28 January 2025, Universities South Africa (USAf) and Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA) signed a collaborative agreement that the chief executive officers (CEOs) of both organisations admitted was long overdue. USAf is a representative body of all 26 public universities of South Africa, which combines universities of technology, traditional and … The post USAf and THENSA sign a formal agreement to collaborate for the common good of higher education in South Africa and beyond appeared first on Universities South Africa.

There is little escape to the mushrooming of organised crime as it sets into the country, according to investigative journalist Caryn Dolley.

Author John Matisonn took stock of the 2024 elections during his Summer School lecture and offered a path to the country achieving rapid growth.

The quality of South Africa’s teacher training programmes came under scrutiny during a high-level discussion convened by the national Department of Basic Education with education deans from South Africa’s universities on 17 January 2025.  The all-afternoon meeting was chaired by Mr Hubert Mweli, Director-General in the Department of Basic Education. The objective was to … The post Teacher training programmes must respond to South Africa’s national priorities appeared first on Universities South Africa.

Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town

The challenge of economic development during the financialised phase of capitalism lies in the growing financialisation of our lives, according to Professor Seeraj Mohamed.

In a Summer School lecture, Jonny Steinberg gave the audience a glimpse into the marriage of Winnie and Nelson Mandela.

The First-Year Campus Reception (FYCR) kicks off on Saturday, 1 February, until Monday, 3 February, at the Sports Centre.

A newly proposed Draft Fee Regulation Framework for South African universities, released on 1 November 2024, by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has sparked a debate over its feasibility and potential impact on the long-term sustainability of the sector. Developed by a team of retired vice-chancellors, the Framework came about as … The post New fee capping framework sparks debate over higher education sustainability appeared first on Universities South Africa.

A novel initiative to empower township learners with algorithmic thinking and digital art – even traditional African fabric shweshwe is being used as a teaching tool – was presented amid delegates’ wide applause at the final meeting for 2024, of the Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics (TLM CoP). The … The post Using Digital Art to teach Mathematics: a practical, fun, innovative way of teaching Mathematics appeared first on Universities South Africa.

The extensive achievements of Universities South Africa’s (USAf) Teaching and Learning of Mathematics Community of Practice (TLM CoP) were named, and applauded, at the group’s last meeting of 2024 on 13 November. These were outlined by outgoing Chairperson of the TLM CoP, Professor Pragashni Padayachee, Head of the Mathematics Academic Support Programme for Engineering … The post Goodbyes in the TLM CoP as two office bearers vacate their seats for new incumbents appeared first on Universities South Africa.

At its last sitting for 2025, on 13 November, the Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics (TLM CoP) elected a new Chairperson and Deputy to succeed Professor Pragashni Padayachee, Head of the Mathematics Academic Support Programme for Engineering (ASPECT) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), and Professor Kabelo Chuene, … The post Two new office bearers elected to lead Universities South Africa’s TLM CoP from 1 January 2025 appeared first on Universities South Africa.

There was thunderous applause when a young student farmer from rural Eastern Cape and Studentpreneur of 2023, committed at the EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity finals on 22 November, to give back to the programme that has helped him to grow his business and achieve success. Read more The post Intervarsity 2023 winner pledges to give back to the EDHE programme that supported him appeared first on Universities South Africa.

Bridget’s Learning Hub, an e-learning hub that provides tutoring and mentoring services to primary and high school students all across South Africa, won its 24-year-old founder the 1st Runner-up prize in the Existing Business: Social Impact category. Read more The post Helping a sister study leads innovator to a prize winning tutoring and mentoring business appeared first on Universities South Africa.

“Can you drive Africa? Well, I can.”  So began Hope Mapheto, founder of Greatfuel, her business which was established in 2021 and produces biodiesel from cooking oil. Her desire is to see her sustainability-inspired biodiesel powering vehicles across the African continent, and beyond.  Read more The post Greatfuel produces biodiesel from cooking oil appeared first on Universities South Africa.