The University of the Western Cape is a national university, alert to its African and international context as 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. Drawing on its proud experience in the liberation struggle, the university is aware of a distinctive academic role in helping build an equitable and dynamic society. In particular it aims to:

• advance and protect the independence of the academic enterprise.
• design curricular and research programmes appropriate to its southern African context.
• further global perspectives among its staff and students, thereby strengthening intellectual life and contributing to South Africa's reintegration in the world community.
• assist educationally disadvantaged students gain access to higher education and succeed in their studies.
• nurture and use the abilities of all in the university community.
• develop effective structures and conventions of governance, which are democratic, transparent and accountable.
• seek racial and gender equality and contribute to helping the historically marginalised participate fully in the life of the nation.
• encourage and provide opportunities for lifelong learning through programmes and courses.
• help conserve and explore the environmental and cultural resources of the southern African region, and to encourage a wide awareness of these resources in the community.
• co-operate fully with other stakeholders to develop an excellent, and therefore transformed, higher education system.

 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

UWC is a research-rich environment. The academic staff is highly qualified, with 50% holding doctorates. Most departments have graduate programmes, some with the largest intake in the country. There are many institutes and centres with a strong research emphasis. And there are significant projects and programmes which draw on expertise across departments and faculties. There are also joint endeavours between the University of the Western Cape and the universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch. 20% of all students at UWC are postgraduates.

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. Many UWC scholars speak at international conferences and publish in internationally-respected journals and books. And there is a strong and growing relationship with institutions in other countries in Africa, Europe and North America, leading to research partnerships, joint capacity building, and a flow of postgraduate students to UWC. In addition, UWC Honours and Master’s graduates have won a number of major international scholarships. They have done well in doctoral programmes abroad.