University of Cape Town (UCT)

The University of Cape Town (UCT) is South Africa's oldest university, and is one of Africa's leading teaching and research institutions. UCT aspires to become a premier academic meeting point between South Africa, the rest of Africa and the world. Taking advantage of expanding global networks and our distinct vantage point in Africa, we are committed, through innovative research and scholarship, to grapple with the key issues of our natural and social worlds. We aim to produce graduates whose qualifications are internationally recognised and locally applicable, underpinned by values of engaged citizenship and social justice. UCT will promote diversity and transformation within our institution and beyond, including growing the next generation of academics. The strategic plan for the University of Cape Town 2010 - 2014 The strategic plan for the University of Cape Town highlights the interventions we believe we need to make in order to develop UCT in particular ways over the next five to 10 years. The six key strategic goals are: 1. Internationalising UCT via an Afropolitan Niche 2. Transformation of UCT Towards Non-Racialism - Redress, Diversity, Inclusiveness and the Recognition of African Voices 3. Working Towards a Desired Size and Shape for UCT 4. A Vision for the Development of Research at UCT: Greater Impact, Greater Engagement 5. Enhancing the Quality and Profile of UCT's Graduates 6. Expanding and Enhancing UCT's Contribution to South Africa's Development Challenges Social Responsiveness UCT has set a strategic goal to expand and enhance its contribution to South Africa's development challenges. They are committed to engaged, policy-relevant research and teaching, as well as to expanding opportunities for students to become directly involved in socially-responsive learning. Their aim is to ensure that their research contributes to the public good through sharing knowledge for the benefit of society and through fostering in our students the acquisition of the civic literacy, knowledge and skills necessary to build a more just, equitable and unified South African society. Work in this regard continues across campus, reflecting innovative partnerships between UCT academics and external stakeholders, including government at all levels, local communities, national and international social movements, continent-wide organisations, institutions from the global South, and various international organisations. Their social responsiveness engagements take varied forms including: - research activities - engagement with policy development - public commentary on development issues and strategies - social outreach activities by students - programmes to empower external constituencies - the improvement of the relevance of the curriculum - providing opportunities for lifelong learning UCT's response to HIV/AIDS UCT continues to play an important role in responding to the HIV/AIDS challenge within the education sector. Through its programmes, the university aims to provide prevention, treatment, care and support for its thousands of students and employees. The university's response has four distinct components: - Leadership, policy, management and service provision; - Curriculum responsiveness; - Research development; - Social responsiveness, consulting and materials development