ALUMNINEWS - A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN VISION 2020 - The University of Cape Town Trust
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2017
ALUMNI NEWS
A NEW
STRATEGIC PLAN
VISION 2020
TRANSFORMATION DISTINGUISHING A FOCUS
AT UCT UCT CAMPAIGN ON RESEARCH
MISSION
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
tranformation within our institution and beyond, including growing the next generation of academics.
UCT STRATEGIC PLAN
2020 Vision
Our vision for UCT is to be an inclusive, engaged and research-intensive African university. UCT will inspire
creativity through outstanding achievements in discovery and innovation. It will be celebrated for the quality
of its learning and contribution to citizenship. We will enhance the lives of students and staff and advance a
more equitable and sustainable social order. We aspire to be a leader in the global higher education landscape.
Our statement of values
• We embrace our African identity
• We widen educational and social opportunities
• We enhance the lives of individuals and communities
• We build an equitable social order based on respect for human rights
• We advance the public good by teaching, generating knowledge and actively engaging with the key
challenges facing our society.
Creating a university culture that is
creative rigorous curious
research-informed nurturing honest
accountable excellent collegial
responsible open inclusive
respectful open-minded
A new, inclusive identity for UCT
We want a student and staff body that is more representative of the country and the continent, and for students
and staff to see themselves – their cultures, values, heritage and knowledge systems – reflected at the university.
Global partnerships with a distinctive African lens
We want to advance the status and distinctiveness of scholarship in Africa, and attract and connect people
from all over the world, by promoting a vibrant and supportive intellectual environment at UCT.
A research-intensive university
We want UCT researchers to continue making a distinctive contribution to local and global knowledge and to
produce new solutions to challenges facing the African continent and the world.
Innovation in teaching and learning
We want to improve students’ success rates, broaden their academic perspectives, stimulate their social
consciousness and cultivate more critical citizens by renewing our approach to teaching and learning, and
pioneering new methods.
Social impact through engaged scholarship
We want to enhance UCT’s engaged scholarship to address critical development and social justice issues,
including the expansion of community and external partnerships.
UCT Alumni News 2017
Vice-Chancellor’s Foreword 2
From the Executive Director 3
Editor
Libo Msengana-Bam
A NEW INCLUSIVE IDENTITY
Writers Renamed Knowledge Commons honours struggle librarian 4
UCT Newsroom A new, inclusive identity: a vision for the future 6
Mills Soko 5 year milestone for UCT Schools Improvement Initiative 10
Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng GSB Philippi campus: a model for university spaces 11
Helen Swingler
Jess Oosthuizen ADVANCING THE DISTINCTIVENESS
Yusuf Omar OF SCHOLARSHIP IN AFRICA
Natalie Simon Lighting the fires to fuel Africa’s development 12
Michael Morris UCT’s d-school unlocks creativity to drive innovation 14
Carla Bernardo Nonhlanhla Khumalo: redefining black hair, defending black skin 16
Rita Stockhowe
Postgrads urgently need funding 20
Merlin Ince
Honorary Doctorates 2016 and 2017 22
Diana Caelers
Nametso Maikano
UCT AS A RESEARCH-INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY
Photographers Cracking the world marathon barrier 24
Pixabay Launch of new Mycology Unit 26
Michael Hammond Kelly Chibale named one of the 2017 Quartz Africa Innovators 27
Je’nine May UCT’s latest A-rated researcher 27
Alex Unger Adapting to water scarcity 28
Wikipedia A ray of hope for neglected African disease: sickle cell disease 30
Niklas Zimmer New smart crops to underpin food security in Africa 32
Kelvin Song via Human cell researcher gets funding boost 34
Wikimedia Commons
Heather Zar named 2018 Woman in Science Laureate 35
ICA
UCT Knowledge Co-op
INNOVATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING
Elia Fester under
Improving academic success rates at UCT 36
Creative Commons
Live Art 2017 40
Graphic Design Inspiring dialogue through creative art 42
Banss Design Lab
ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP: SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES
Produced by the The real meaning of social responsiveness 44
UCT Development and Research gets practical in local communities 46
Alumni Department Unpacking the spatial paradox 48
Mary Burton: Patron of the Black Sash 49
UCT Alumni News is the Respect and research: Lessons from the San Code of Ethics 50
annual magazine for UCT ‘Stare straight into the eye of the perpetrator’, said feminist scholar 52
Alumni. It is also available
online at UCT FUNDRAISING PROJECTS
http://www.uct.ac.za/main/alumni/ Another 40 years of theatrical excellence 54
publications/uct-alumni-news Distinguishing UCT campaign targets R1billion 56
UCT Student Wellness: supporting students in distress 58
Alumni helping to build sustainable student funding 59
2017 Absa increases support to UCT 60
Alumni Couple Remember their Alma Mater with a Gift 61
ALUMNI NEWS
Foundations, Trusts, and Corporates
ALUMNI NEWS
62
Workplace gender equity: a full-time job 68
Farewell to UCT Legacy Society president 69
Former DVC urges alumni to reflect on protests 70
Alumnus inspires the next generation of entrepreneurs 72
Message from the Chair of the Alumni Advisory Board 74
Botswana Chapter Gala dinner 75
Switzerland alumni chapter 76
UCT STUDENT NEWSMAKERS
A NEW Triple triumph for star sprinter Mhlongo 77
STRATEGIC PLAN PhD candidate wins international green award 78
VISION 2020
UCT group wins SA’s Got Talent 2017 80
TRANSFORMATION DISTINGUISHING A FOCUS
AT UCT UCT CAMPAIGN ON RESEARCH
ALUMNI EVENTS 81
IN MEMORIAM 84
1
VICE-CHANCELLOR’S FOREWORD With this being the last annual alumni news foreword that I will write as Vice-Chancellor it seems appropriate to reflect on some highlights of what UCT has achieved on my watch. Looking back, I feel enormously privileged to have led your alma mater during a decade of great achievements and many challenges: UCT as a globally competitive introduction of an optional course research university has been available to all students covering enhanced through strategies around global issues and social justice internationalisation – developing http://www.globalcitizen.uct.ac.za/; new institutional linkages and amongst other initiatives. research collaborations. UCT has responded to the There has been a concerted potentially disruptive developments focus on developing UCT’s in on-line learning technology by networks and partnerships on piloting some on-line qualifications, the African continent, as one designing and delivering the first way for UCT to differentiate itself MOOCs (massive open online amongst top universities globally, courses) at a South African conceptualised as a vision to be an university, and introducing “flipped ‘Afropolitan’ university. classroom” approaches in some We have intensified and expanded courses (i.e. lectures delivered on our efforts to deal with histories of line and face-to-face time used racialised educational disadvantage for tutorials). In 2016 the UCT was – with respect to student ranked as the second best institution admissions, staffing demography, globally creating MOOCs. Generally, institutional culture and curricula, lecturers are moving more seriously including a new admissions policy (but still too cautiously) towards the and a new financial aid system that use of educational technologies in enables needs-blind admission, and learning and teaching. Thousands of increased resources to interventions lectures are now routinely captured that will improve success rates. on video and available on the web We have moved UCT from ‘research- for revision purposes. led’ to ‘research-intensive’ through I established four flagship “Vice- the implementation of a sophisticated Chancellor Strategic Initiatives” research management system, training which are university-wide trans- and support for emerging researchers, disciplinary research initiatives to policy and projects promoting open Vice-Chancellor, Dr Max Price address key national challenges: access and discoverability, investment • African Climate and Development in equipment and high performance Our commitment to engaged Initiative http://www.acdi.uct. computing and data visualisation, scholarship, or socially responsive ac.za/about-us financial and organisational investment scholarship has been strengthened • Safety and Violence Initiative in post-doctoral programmes, through: the introduction of an http://www.savi.uct.ac.za/savi/ growth of post-graduate numbers annual report and awards to match aboutsavi and quality, and creating new those in teaching and research; • Poverty and Inequality Initiative interdisciplinary programmes. the introduction of the Knowledge http://www.povertyandinequality. With the goal of valorising Partners programme through uct.ac.za/about-us-29 teaching and elevating its status which post-graduates undertake • Schools Improvement Initiative in order to raise the commitment research for community based http://www.sii.uct.ac.za/sii/about/ to, and quality of, teaching, projects; the institution of ‘UCT Plus’ objectives we have amended promotion – which offers formal recognition Two of these are led by Pro- criteria and continue to recognise on the degree transcript of social Vice-Chancellors - positions which outstanding teachers. responsiveness activities; the did not exist before, and two by 2
UCT Alumni News 2017
directors, all reporting to the Vice- I am very proud of the record apartheid has also been intensely
Chancellor’s office, to ensure that levels of fund raising that we have controversial, demanding more
they operate across disciplinary and achieved with an enlarged office concerted attention – rightly so, in my
faculty boundaries http://www.uct. of Development and Alumni – over view – although methods of protest
ac.za/main/about/management/ 2,5 billion rand during my tenure. have sometimes been destructive
pro-vice-chancellors. We have reconnected with alumni and hostile. Protests have also
The Graduate School of all over the world, and drawn in, for paralleled similar student movement
Development Policy and Practice the first time, our black alumni. We protests around the world relating
has been established which has have also achieved increases in our to identity politics, LGBTIQA+ rights
raised our profile with senior public bequest programme that has gone and recognition, gender based
administration officials in SA and from less than 30 known bequest violence, and issues of disability
across the continent through its commitments to over 300. and mental health. A key outcome
training programmes, thematic In the last two years, we have of these protests at UCT was the
policy workshops, and fellowships. weathered the storms of challenging, insourcing of some 1300 workers who
http://www.gsdpp.uct.ac.za/gsdpp/ often traumatic student and labour had been outsourced in the 1990s, in
about/school protests, which were part of a the interests of better conditions of
After researching different national protest movement. This has employment and a more integrated,
models, and significant fundraising, tested the mettle and leadership of cohesive and humane workplace.
we have established the Hasso VCs nationally. The central issue has It is not possible in the space of a
Plattner Institute for Design been the demand for free education few hundred words to do justice to
Thinking, a sister institute to two - something beyond the control a decade of activity and progress.
other HPI d-Schools at Stanford and of individual VCs. However, the But the above mark of some of the
Potsdam universities www.dschool. continuing colonial imprint within highlights that I am most proud of
uct.ac.za. South Africa’s universities post- during my tenure as VC of UCT.
FROM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Change is never an easy process. And for universities,
which often go back many generations, change can be
particularly unsettling writes Dr Russell Ally, Executive
Director of the Development and Alumni Department
Next year UCT will be celebrating its strategic plan is about the future.
centenary as a dedicated degree- The plan recognises the solid
issuing tertiary institution and in academic platform of excellence
2019 it will commemorate the 190th that UCT’s complex history has laid
year since its founding. Over this for future generations of alumni.
long history deep traditions took But it also acknowledges UCT’s
root evolving into an institutional flawed past of racial exclusion and
culture and academic milieu that white privilege.The past cannot be
Executive Director, Development and
has had a profound influence on changed. But the future can.
Alumni Department, Dr Russell Ally
generations of students, staff and This unavoidably means
communities. Unsurprising then interrogating our past with your alma mater is conscientiously
that any perceived ‘overhaul’ of honesty and courage and putting working towards. Our wish is that
this past evokes strong reactions, in place in the present, the building you will realise this is not something
particularly among alumni whose blocks for a new and inclusive to fear but to embrace. And most
identities are often intertwined identity for UCT. importantly our fervent hope is
with this past. In the pages which follow in that you will continue to remain
UCT’s new strategic plan is NOT this edition of UCT Alumni News loyal to your alma mater and
about writing this past out of our we trust that you will gain better support it during these exciting and
history. Fundamentally the new insight into the bold new future that challenging times.
3
A NEW INCLUSIVE IDENTITY STORY BY HELEN SWINGLER RENAMED KNOWLEDGE COMMONS HONOURS STRUGGLE LIBRARIAN District Six-born community librarian Vincent Kolbe has taken a place of honour on UCT’s upper campus. This follows the renaming of the Knowledge Commons in the Chancellor Oppenheimer Library as the Vincent Kolbe Knowledge Commons on 23 March Kolbe joins AC Jordan, Neville at the event, the executive director to information at a restrictive time Alexander and Cissy Gool, whose of the Development and Alumni in South Africa’s history. He saw names grace buildings and a plaza Department, Dr Russell Ally, said the library as an indispensable on the main campus. They were the renaming of the Knowledge communal space with a strong social, activists and pioneers in the arenas Commons is part of creating a “new, recreational and educational role. It of language, race and gender, as inclusive identity for the university”. was for this that UCT conferred an was Kolbe, who created a legacy honorary Master of Arts degree in of reading and knowledge and Information for all 2002.Speaking at the launch, the an open and inclusive reading Kolbe’s story is one of commitment executive director of UCT Libraries, culture in Cape Flats’ communities to community and its development Gwenda Thomas, said: “The impact through public libraries. Speaking through reading, debate and access and influence of Vincent Kolbe The renamed Vincent Kolbe Knowledge Commons honours the late Vincent Kolbe, the ‘people’s librarian’, and is described as an innovative learning space embodying the values of blended learning and inclusive pedagogies. Photo UCT Special Collections. 4
UCT Alumni News 2017
lives on far beyond his lifetime.“The recalled. “Just before closing, I one an Anglican priest in Seattle
significance of this space reflects the would join the other assistants in the who sent him books by African
wall of honour where UCT’s robust backroom where Vincent regaled us American activist Angela Davis. He
and fraught journey in defence of with memories of his early library also received BBC recordings and
academic freedom is portrayed in and other experiences. As a school cassettes. Dick recalls, “These and
visual representation of both the boy, he ran errands for the City other banned materials were kept in
role and activity of this university as Councillor AZ Berman.”The nun who a sports tog bag under the lending
well as the histories and legacies of helped him with his studies told him desk at Observatory Library and
those activists and educationalists, he should apply for a job at the SA used secretly by activists. When
like Vincent Kolbe, who forged the Library. “A new world opened for there were police raids, of course, no
way for our nation’s democracy him in the four-and-a-half years he one knew whose tog bag it was or
by upholding and defending the worked there. He started as a stack how it had got there!”
principles of equitable access to all attendant and ran up and down
to information.” library stairs to collect materials for Separate libraries
Though delayed by campus researchers like Eric Rosenthal and Kolbe was a young professional when
unrest last year, the launch came TV Bulpin.” separate library associations were
at a significant juncture, she said. The library director arranged for introduced in 1962. He refused to
Last week was South African him to attend part-time studies at join the Cape Library Association for
Library Week, which intersected UCT’s School of Librarianship. But Coloureds despite UCT librarian Mr
strategically with Human Rights Day while UCT may have provided the [Rene Ferdinand Malan] Immelman’s
on 21 March.“The [Library Week] technical skills, Vincent’s style of attempts to persuade him.“When he
theme for 2017, My Library, Your librarianship was shaped by the retired in 1991, Vincent was described
Library, fittingly represents the spirit creole culture and people of District by a colleague as a ‘people’s
and ethos of Vincent Kolbe,” said Six, said Dick.“This style was based librarian’,” said Dick. “As proof of this,
Thomas. “The focus on the notion on the idea of the barber shop that his retirement party was attended
of ‘communal’ and ‘community’ is brought together the district’s rich by 80-year-old Mr PF Jacobs, who
pivotal to why we are here today.” and its poor, its oral and its literate was one of the first people he had
traditions, its professionals and its registered at Bonteheuwel Library.”
Pioneering concept workers. It was this tradition and Keynote speaker, Trevor Manuel,
UCT Libraries pioneered the concept style of librarianship that Vincent deputy chairperson of Rothschild
of Knowledge Commons in the 1990s carried into the Cape Flats townships (RSA), described Kolbe as an
under Joan Rapp, now UCT Librarian and impressed on young librarians eclectic person: “His life had so many
Emeritus. It was a model that rapidly like myself and others.” dimensions because he was a reader,
took hold at the country’s academic a storyteller, a jazz musician … and
libraries.“It’s an innovative service, Banned books in tog bags an amateur historian.“He invited us
which is a dedicated UCT learning But there was another aspect to to listen to his old cassettes, part of
and research facility where students Kolbe’s dissemination of knowledge his District Six oral history project …
can access the Libraries’ electronic and information. It was, of necessity, people who understood what changes
resources via high-end workstations more clandestine.“As a young, had taken place, the people who were
and software with skilled librarians on qualified librarian at the Cape Town there when the Group Areas Act came
hand to provide expert assistance,” City Libraries in the 1950s, he was into being, and who could relate to
said Thomas. When the project to expected to de-catalogue boxes their African neighbours who weren’t
rename UCT’s buildings was initiated of books that had been withdrawn there any longer.“He didn’t need to
in 2014, it was the Libraries’ staff from circulation and send them to be occupy a position of authority to
who persuaded the committee that pulped or burned at the municipal provide leadership … it’s about being
the Knowledge Commons was the incinerator. He vividly recalled the non-doctrinaire and about being able
most suited facility to honour Kolbe. collection of withdrawn materials to listen. It’s about embracing ideas
as a library of condemned books: and never being afraid of ideas.”
Library as a barber shop surprising titles like John Steinbeck’s Speaking on behalf of the family,
Kolbe had a shaky start. His mother’s Grapes of Wrath, Stuart Cloete’s The Kolbe’s daughter, Juliette Bourne,
illness forced him to leave school Turning Wheels and Anna Sewell’s said the nature of the Knowledge
and he matriculated through part- Black Beauty … even Martin Luther Commons fitted well with her father’s
time night school where a Catholic King’s “I Have a Dream” speech style and legacy.“When Gwenda
nun and teacher encouraged him to and LPs of the rock opera Jesus told us why they had chosen the
become a librarian.“I met Vincent in Christ Superstar were not spared by Knowledge Commons as the place
Bonteheuwel in 1974 when I worked the censors.” to remember him and to celebrate
as a student librarian,” guest speaker In the 1970s and 1980s Kolbe his legacy, it started clicking into
Archie Dick, professor of information became a source of banned place … He was a constant source of
science at the University of Pretoria, materials. He had many contacts, information to all of us.”
5
A NEW INCLUSIVE IDENTITY
A NEW, INCLUSIVE
IDENTITY: A VISION
FOR THE FUTURE
Transformation, or rather the perceived slow pace of transformation within
higher education, has been at the core of the student-led protests in South
Africa since 2015. Since then, the pressure has been on the government to
respond to calls for free tertiary education for all. At UCT, one of our new
strategic goals is: “To forge a new inclusive identity that reflects a more
representative profile of students and staff, and the cultures, values, heritage
and epistemologies of the diversity of UCT’s staff and students”
UCT Alumni News Magazine sat discourage it knowledge that sees of employment. The University
down with Deputy Vice-Chancellor, student as deficient or as diverse? Is has an Employment Equity plan
Professor Loretta Feris, who is it knowledge that sees the student (2015-2020) which has set targets
responsible for providing strategic as a receptacle or a co-creator? to support UCT in achieving its
direction on transformation policies transformation agenda. Council,
and implementation at UCT. Do you believe that the Higher has however, asked us to think
We wanted to understand why Education sector has lagged more aggressively about the
transformation is an imperative for behind transformation drives targets we have set for ourselves
the University; how much progress initiated in South Africa? If so, as an institution. So we are going
has been made to date and, to what would you attribute this to? back to the drawing board to look
get a sense of the road ahead. We LF: Our understanding of at what we have achieved with
started by asking her to explain transformation is constantly changing respect to current targets and how
what this process of change entails, and deepening. Thirty years ago, we can expand on those targets.
within a rapidly changing higher our focus was solely on changing The executive will working closely
education context. student profiles, but we haven’t with Human Resources to assist
interrogated institutional culture each department to reach these
LF: The University has come a long sufficiently. One reason for that targets and we are developing
way when looking at student profiles might have been that we [the older an employment equity strategy
- UCT is now a slightly majority black generation] couldn’t look further that will look at the drivers of
university, in line with the country’s than the end of the apartheid employment equity: recruitment,
demographics. When looking at era and were somehow still shell- promotion and retention. We have
staff demographics, particularly shocked from this brutal regime. already stepped up employment
academic staff and institutional While the new generation is able equity representative training
culture, we still have a long way to to see the bigger picture, they and are systematically reviewing
go. Classroom and workplace culture can see further than the end of the EE representative policy and
remains an unwelcome space for apartheid and are now challenging the data that emanates from
differently situated bodies (black, the notion of being ‘born free’. selection policies to strengthen
womxn, LGBT, disabled, etc). With Are they truly born into freedom? those policies. We have also
regards to teaching and learning we Through the student protests, this reviewed the employment equity
have to ask what knowledge do we new generation foregrounded the fund, a fund that is used to make
wish to impart : is it knowledge that call for decolonisation in all spheres strategic appointments to meet
includes or excludes, is it knowledge of education. our EE targets. Access to the
that is appropriate and contextually fund now requires a clear career
relevant, is it knowledge that takes How is your office addressing development trajectory for
into account indigenous knowledge the issues around equity at anybody appointed through the
systems, is it knowledge that the University of Cape Town? fund. I should mention by the way
bridges the divide with respect For instance, what systems are that contributing to the EE fund
to the varied contexts from which being developed to implement can be an important way in which
our students arrive, is it knowledge the call for equal remuneration alumni can partner with us in
that bridges the articulation gap regardless of gender or race? ensuring that we employ talented
in ways that empower rather than LF: Let’s talk about equity in terms black staff.
6
UCT Alumni News 2017
7
A NEW INCLUSIVE IDENTITY
What interventions are being soon. We have also started the who do not agree with me as my
developed to support talented process of drafting a gender policy enemy, whether they are protesting
black academics and other and of setting up a designated students or offended alumni. I
previously marginalised groups? sexual offences tribunal. am always open to courageous
LF: I have mentioned the conversations, robust or perhaps
development of a targeted EE Free education. A right or a more guarded; one-on- one, or in a
strategy, but already across privilege? more formal setting. As departments
departments and faculties, a LF: Probably both! In many or faculties we all have to come
variety of initiatives are under countries, it’s a right and I believe together and talk through the issues
way to develop the pipeline of black that access to higher education facing us as a university, whether it
and female talent, each taking into can be made possible through is curriculum change, decolonisation
account the unique circumstances of free education. The government or seemingly year -on-year protest
its own discipline and what it takes of South Africa has to evaluate its action. We are all affected by the
to recruit, develop and retain staff. contribution and funding for higher moment we find ourselves in as a
The DVC for research, Prof Phakeng education. At UCT a Free Education university and we need to be able
has taken the lead in providing Planning Group (FEPG) has been to articulate to each other our fears,
support for black postgraduates established and has, over the last concerns and anger. My portfolio
that will enable them to further year, worked towards the creation through the OIC is willing to facilitate
their studies and prepare them for a of a Free Education Research these conversations.
career in higher education. Another Unit (FERU) – a student-led and
intervention launched in 2015 is academically supervised research Since your appointment to the
the Next Generation Professoriate team, which is exploring models portfolio in January 2017 - what
(NGP) which aims to expand and for free and accessible education, changes have you observed and
accelerate transformation of UCT’s and comparing them with existing what would you consider to be
professoriate by providing support international models. One of the the most significant successes to
for mid-career academics. more promising models that have date?
been examined is that of a graduate LF: It has been the year in which
What initiatives are being tax, which taxes graduates at a we had to face and resolve the issues
developed to support gender progressively higher tax rate than students have persistently raised
equity and sexuality? non-graduates. Another question over the last few years – financial
LF: We need to talk about this group is raising, evolves around exclusion, academic exclusion,
gender equity not only in relation the future of higher education - does accommodation and social and
to employment, but also in terms higher education have to be in the psychological well-being. These are
of culture. All the initiatives form of universities or are there issues that ultimately have an impact
mentioned above are aimed at other possible models to achieve on how students experience UCT
ensuring gender equity. But we academic excellence? and on student success. We have set
also need to ask ourselves: “Do up the Rapid Response Task Team
we as the university provide a How are you facilitating change (RRTT) a unique interim structure
positive workplace, free from sexual and rebuilding trust between with representation of the executive,
harassment and insult?” As an the University and its internal student movements and the SRC
answer to this question, the newly constituency: staff and students? which looks at both operational and
restructured Office for Inclusivity LF: I believe in collaboration. academic issues that impede student
and Change (OIC, previously There is a book by Adam Kahane progress. It is not a decision-making
DISCHO and HAICU) works with the Collaborating with the Enemy - body, but it works to resolve issues
a Sexual Assault Response Team How to Work with People You Don’t more rapidly or sometimes not so
(SART) which was set up in 2016 Agree with or Like or Trust. Even rapidly. Students are frustrated that
to ensure that survivors of sexual though I don’t necessary like the processes are bureaucratic and
violence access survivor-centered, title of the book, I agree with the slow, but we are making headway
compassionate care, while assisting sentiment that even if you do not and progress.
the campus community in matters agree with somebody, you can still
of discrimination, sexual harassment, build trust through collaboration, as What have we learned from the
domestic violence and rape. The OIC long as you have a shared vision and student and worker protests which
uses an intersectional approach in a willingness to engage. Kahane also took place on campuses across SA
its advocacy, awareness and training tells us that we need to re-imagine in 2015 and 2016?
on issues pertaining to sexual collaboration and that conflict LF: One of the many things we
harassment and discrimination. A should not necessarily be a barrier have learned from the student
new policy on sexuality has recently to collaboration, but it can in fact be protests in 2015 is that they have
been approved by Senate and will an opportunity for innovation and forced us to interrogate who we
hopefully be approved by Council transformation. So I do not see those are as a university, whether we
8UCT Alumni News 2017
I was born into
a family that
questioned social
justice. I was raised in
a critical family, so one
can say my whole family
- my upbringing - is my
inspiration.”
UCT Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformation, Professor Loretta Feris
truly are inclusive and importantly
it has forced us to reflect on the Getting to know Professor Loretta Feris
academic project – the very core Loretta Feris is professor of law in the Institute of Marine and
of the university. As a result we Environmental Law. She joined the department of public law, at the
now reflect much more deeply on University of Cape Town in July 2009. She holds a BA(law), LLB and
curriculum, pedagogy, assessment LLD from the University of Stellenbosch and a LLM from Georgetown
and classroom practice. The worker University in the USA. Previously, she was associate professor of law at
protests have similarly forced us to the University of Pretoria, where she was also a research associate at the
revisit who we are as an employer Centre for Human Rights. Prior to joining the University of Pretoria, she
and the conditions on which we was based at American University’s Washington College of Law first as
have previously employed people. an international fellow and later as Assistant Director of the International
Insourcing of staff has therefore Legal Studies Programme. She remained an adjunct faculty member
been an important step forward for of this institution until 2006. She was also a senior research fellow at
the university. the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). Loretta is an
NRF rated researcher and her research interest includes environmental
As a professor of law, why justice and trade and environment. Recently she started focusing on
are you passionate about the connection between, space, identity and rights. She advises the
transformation? Who inspires you United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on priority areas for
in this regard? the environmental law agenda in respect of the Montevideo Programme
LF: Law is a discipline that IV process. She has also served on a UNEP experts group which has
allows you to question notions drafted a model law on liability for environmental damage. Loretta has
of justice and fairness. I was served on the board of the South African Maritime Safety Authority
drawn to law because I was born (SAMSA), is a Law Commissioner of the World Conservation Union
into a family that questioned (IUCN) and a member of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law
social justice. I was raised in a where she served on the teaching and capacity building committee
critical family, so one can say my for three years. She was also the Western Cape regional representative
whole family – my upbringing – is of the ELA (the Environmental Law Association of South Africa) and
my inspiration. serves on a number of editorial boards.
9A NEW INCLUSIVE IDENTITY
5 YEAR MILESTONE
FOR UCT SCHOOLS
IMPROVEMENT
INITIATIVE
On the 26th of August, 150 donors, supporters and high school learners
gathered at the Centre of Science and Technology in Khayelitsha, Cape
Town to celebrate a five year milestone for the University of Cape Town’s
innovative Schools Improvement Initiative
Launched in May 2012, the Schools Mathematics (STEM) schools in the improving the quality of teaching
Improvement Initiative (SII) was Western Cape. and learning in the classroom. One
established at UCT to assist The SII anniversary event held in way we achieve this is by engaging
the Western Cape Education August, provided an opportunity in teacher-professional and school-
Department in improving the quality for learners, teachers, UCT staff and organisational development, which is
of education in the province and students to reflect on milestones undertaken by the SDU. Our modus
to strengthen the UCT Schools achieved as well as critical insights operandi here is a combination
Development Unit’s (SDU) obtained since inception. Speaking of university-approved and South
interventions to address the crisis at the event, director of the SDU African Council of Educators-
of education in the country. To date, and SII, Professor Jonathan Clark registered short courses, backed up
20 Khayelitsha schools now form said, “The negative impacts of the by classroom-based support.”
part of the SII schools network. The socioeconomic circumstances of the The 100UP programme is one
Centre of Science and Technology communities these schools serve, of the SII’s flagship initiatives.
(COSAT), a senior secondary school press heavily on every classroom. Selected high school learners from
in Khayelitsha,is one such partner One of the programme’s strengths disadvantaged backgrounds are
institution. Established in 1999, it is that it works to support each mentored and supported over a
is also the first of three Science, partner school’s self-identified three-year period by members of
Technology, Engineering and development needs related to UCT staff and students. Established
as a pilot project in 2011 with five
Grade 10 learners identified from
each of the 20 high schools in the
area, 100UP now boasts an enrolment
of 300 learners per annum, across
grades 10 to 12. An additional group
of ‘university potential’ Grade 12
learners, identified as the GILL
NET group, is brought on board
after June each year from the 20
Khayelitsha schools. In 2014, 70
of the first cohort of 100UP and
GILL NET learners entered UCT as
100UP+ students.
The Schools Improvement Initiative
is one of several priority fundraising
projects at the University of Cape
Town. A longer-term objective is
to use 100UP to build institutional
knowledge and experience that
can better inform the University’s
Students from COSAT impressed the audience at the Schools Improvement Initiative bridging programmes and school-
anniversary event held in August 2017. based interventions.
10UCT Alumni News 2017
Solution Space Philippi is a vibrant hub for innovators and entrepreneurs, say team members (pictured from L-R): Tsepo
Ngwenyama, Sivuyise Nomana, Ndileka Zantsi, Sarah-Anne Alman and Simnikiwe Xanga.
GSB PHILIPPI CAMPUS:
A MODEL FOR
UNIVERSITY SPACES
The University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business has launched a
novel satellite campus, on the site of a disused cement factory in the Cape Flats.
The new Solution Space Philippi is the first community campus to be established
by UCT in the institution’s history. The initiative forms part of a long-term
strategy to support local entrepreneurship and to facilitate stakeholder and
student interaction beyond the traditional spaces of the University.
UCT is one of the anchor tenants at Innovation and Entrepreneurship), is develop empathy and resilience and to
Philippi Village, a 6 000m2 mixed- one of two founding partners in the open their eyes to wider perspectives
use entrepreneurial zone, located Philippi Village initiative; the other – all of which are vital attributes for
at the intersection of the Nyanga, being Cape Town-based NGO, The the modern leader, especially one
Gugulethu, Mitchell’s Plain and Business Activator. Although the operating in an emerging market,”
Khayelitsha communities. The new Philippi campus has been operating said Soko. He believes that the Philippi
development zone in Philippi was first for almost year, the official launch or site fulfills other important goals
conceptualised in 2012 and according ‘ukuvulindlu’ (house-warming) event, such as deepening roots in the local
to Manager Sarah-Anne Alman, the was held on 24 July 2017. community, cementing the GSB’s
Graduate School of Business (GSB) Solution Space Philippi offers UCT relevance as an African business school
was involved right from the start. She students, alumni, clients and local while developing socially relevant
explains that the vision was to create entrepreneurs in the community, solutions to African challenges.
broader economic opportunity for a place to meet and to exchange On-site facilities at UCT GSB’s
residents and to reverse the exodus ideas. GSB students based at the Solution Space Philippi include fully-
of resources from the township to Breakwater campus are encouraged equipped meeting rooms, state-of-
the CBD. Fast forward five years and to take at least one course on the the art work spaces, a lounge area as
a once derelict site has now become Philippi satellite site. For the director well as lecture venues. To date, more
a vibrant, creative hub for innovation, of the GSB, Professor Mills Soko, this is than 100 workshops and educational
technology and entrepreneurship one of the key advantages of the new programmes have been held in the
involving community members, private satellite site. “This ‘transfer’ is essential space. Visitors have included the
stakeholders, donors, corporate if students are to become comfortable World Bank, Columbia University,
entities and university students. with uncertainty and paradox in a the University of Warwick, George
The Bertha Foundation (sponsor of complex and fast-changing world,” he Washington University and Esade
the GSB’s Bertha Centre for Social said. “Being here helps our students to Business School.
11ADVANCING THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF SCHOLARSHIP IN AFRICA STORY BY MILLS SOKO LIGHTING THE FIRES TO FUEL AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT To meet the scale of the continent’s challenges, African entrepreneurs and innovators need to re-orientate their enterprises towards good business principles – and business schools must make sure they are on hand to support them Things are looking tougher for having a clear and articulate vision Africa this year. After a decade of of what they are trying to achieve exuberant growth, recent GDP data and a strong business model for shows that key economies in sub- how they plan to do this, along with Saharan Africa (SSA) continue to clear measures in place to track and slow, dragging growth in the region demonstrate impact. down to a disappointing average In short, they need to embody 1.1% per annum, its lowest for six good business principles first years. Add to that global threats, and innovative potential second. including uncertainty surrounding a Innovation is frequently touted Trump administration in the US, and as the cure-all for creating new you could start to get quite gloomy markets, jobs and solutions to age- about prospects on the continent. old development problems, but Such pessimism, however, would despite its seductive lure as a quick be misplaced. As businessman fix for Africa’s challenges, innovation and philanthropist Tony Elumelu – in and of itself is never going to be champion of the concept of Africans a substitute for sound business. investing in Africa – has pointed It is not – as Christian Seelos and out, the commercial rewards for Johanna Mair put it in their article in investing on the continent are still the SSI – a shortcut to development. significant. And done right they Innovation, they argue, does not can bring significant economic and magically solve big problems faster. much needed social benefits. More dangerously, the belief that it There is already significant does can mean that value created investment interest in the continent by incremental improvements both at home and abroad, of the core, routine activities of particularly in the impact investment organisations (which are altogether a coordinated effort from business, space, which looks for businesses less glamorous) can be side lined – government, civil society, media that deliver social value along with creating more harm than good. and academia working together financial returns. A recent analysis of KPMG to support and build business on According to Rachel Keeler, writing International Development Advisory the continent. Business schools, of in the Stanford Social Innovation Services’ (IDAS) investment portfolio course, have a special role to play Review (SSI) recently, Africa has across Africa confirmed, perhaps here, and collaborations like the been the top geographic focus for unsurprisingly, that successful African Academic Association on impact investment in the past few businesses also have the most Entrepreneurship (AAAE) too will years. The only problem is that the impact. If we want to create impact play a crucial role. number of interested investors far in Africa, we need to attend therefore An institution like the GSB, which outstrips the number of investable to the task of creating successful is a founding member of the AAAE enterprises. business – that includes paying and rated as the top business school To better position African business more attention to the businesses on the continent, has a duty to to take advantage of this interest, that fail and understanding why facilitate and promote the growth entrepreneurs need to learn to this is, in addition to celebrating the of business on the continent. We think like investors. This starts with ones that succeed. This will require can do this not only by making sure 12
UCT Alumni News 2017
Mills Soko is director of UCT Graduate School of Business
business leaders and entrepreneurs are equipped
with the right skills and attitudes to build successful Professor Mills Soko is director of the University
and profitable businesses that also move society of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. He
forward, but also by convening spaces to enable the is a UCT alumnus who holds a Bachelor of Social
necessary conversations and connecting the right Science degree (1992); a Masters in International
people. Studies from the University of Stellenbosch as
If we don’t do this, we risk the tragedy of exciting well as a Master’s degree in International Political
new ideas – no matter how good they are – burning Economy from the University of Warwick. In
brightly and briefly before crashing to the ground 2004, he completed a doctoral thesis on the
never to be seen again because they do not have the political economy of trade policy reform in post-
right business infrastructure in place to support them. apartheid South Africa at the same university. His
When it comes to the development challenges areas of academic interest and expertise include:
facing this continent, we don’t just need bright flares International trade; Foreign direct investment;
and dazzling innovations – we need slow burning Doing business in Africa; Government-business
and sustainable fires that bring about systemic relations in South Africa; Economic diplomacy;
changes – and the GSB is positioning itself to Regional economic integration, with a specific
ignite these. focus on Southern Africa.
13ADVANCING THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF SCHOLARSHIP IN AFRICA
STORY BY JESS OOSTHUIZEN. PHOTO BY MICHAEL HAMMOND
UCT’S D-SCHOOL
UNLOCKS CREATIVITY
TO DRIVE INNOVATION
The Hasso Plattner Institute of Design Thinking (d-school) at UCT is one
of only three in the world. Richard Perez, the founding director of the UCT
d-school, was the guest speaker at the most recent Café Scientifique. He
described how the d-school aims to equip multidisciplinary research teams
at UCT with essential design thinking skills for developing innovative
solutions to tackle real-world problems
“Volatile, uncertain, complex and centred on the principles of design unlock our creativity,” says Perez.
ambiguous are the new normal,” thinking. The first school opened in “It’s about making space for and
says Perez. Stanford in the USA in 2005 and a allowing failure to enable people
So, supporting innovation second school followed in 2008 in to become more creative.”Those
in professional and academic Potsdam, Germany. familiar with the Lean Startup
environments requires a workforce Plattner had wanted to open up methodology will know that design
that can respond and adapt to a d-school at UCT ever since his teams have a particular idea at
challenges as they arise. Design daughter studied here; the UCT the outset and work on refining it
thinking involves developing d-school opened doors in 2016 and until it is perfect. By comparison,
a particular mindset to tackle is the first of its kind in Africa. design thinking involves starting the
problems and develop solutions process without having any idea of
within a changing environment. Holding the problem space what your solution will look like.
“Finding sustainable solutions is “You can’t go into solution mode
about letting go of having the answer until you’ve held the problem space” Design thinking ecosystem
and dealing with the uncertainty,” says Perez. “It’s about holding the In conceptual terms, the design
says Perez. “We teach our students problem space for as long as you thinking space – or ecosystem, as
to be more comfortable with being can.” Einstein reportedly said that Perez describes it – is made up
creative, explorative and to step into if he only had one hour to solve of three key elements: diversity, a
uncertainty”. a problem, he would spend 55 process to follow and the space to
minutes defining the problem and do it in.“The innovation sits within
Origins of design thinking the remaining five minutes solving the diversity,” says Perez.Team work
The d-school’s approach is centred it. This approach is echoed in the is at the heart of d-school activities,
on the principals of design thinking: principles of design thinking. and the focus is on working with
a creative, human-centred approach Perez refers to the importance interdisciplinary teams to achieve
to problem-solving that has its of taking an abductive approach, results by drawing on each
roots in industrial design.The theory which involves relying on incomplete individual’s different perspective
behind the d-school’s design observations to develop a solution and expertise.“Design thinking
thinking approach emerged from to a particular problem. Part of this offers a paradigm shift in the way
Stanford University’s product design process involves becoming familiar problems can be approached. It
major in the early 2000s. Academics with failure. dismantles competition by fostering
at Stanford began to explore the “You’ll probably fail the first time, collaboration,” says Professor Ulrich
thinking processes that lead to a good but over time the solution emerges,” Weinberg, director of the d-school in
design outcome. Instead of focusing says Perez. Potsdam.
on the aesthetic appeal of good The UCT d-school aims to “Real human needs should inform
design, they began to investigate the empower students and staff to feel the initial search for solutions to a
approach that designers followed to confident to embrace failure. One of particular problem.”
conceptualising good design.This the school’s founding principles is to Perez does not divulge what
new school of thought prompted recognise that failure is instrumental process is followed in detail, but it’s
the German businessman, Hasso to the learning process.“Embracing clear that design thinking occupies
Plattner, to start a school that was failure is crucial to being able to both a mental and a physical space.
14UCT Alumni News 2017
Richard Perez, the founding director of the UCT d-school.
Most importantly, it retains a human- led a project team to recognise the space they’re working in.“As the
centred approach throughout.Real that a large chunk of the patient project evolves, the space evolves,”
human needs should inform the initial experience involves looking at the he says.
search for solutions to a particular ceiling. The design-thinking process The UCT d-school itself is also
problem. One way to identify human also equips teams with the ability to evolving. It is still in its infancy
needs is to understand issues from take a variety of constraints – such as and Perez does not know how
the perspective of the people access to technology – into account Plattner will measure its return on
affected, in the context in which and suspend these while they work investment.“Part of the challenge is
they experience them. Identifying together to identify the best-fit to use design thinking to solve this
solutions to optimise patient care solution.“It’s about being agile and and to let the solution emerge,” he
within a hospital environment, for iterative,” says Perez.Flexibility is says.
example, could start with observing key in both mental and physical Interested UCT postgraduates
a patient lying in a hospital bed to terms. The d-school is located in an in any discipline can sign up for
understand their experience. Perez open-plan space that allows project a foundation programme taking
reports that this very exercise teams to rethink how they occupy place in the first semester of 2018.
15ADVANCING THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF SCHOLARSHIP IN AFRICA
COMPILED BY UCT NEWSROOM
NONHLANHLA
KHUMALO:
REDEFINING BLACK
HAIR, DEFENDING
BLACK SKIN
This is the story of how a child who regarded a comb as an instrument of
apartheid repression became an expert on hair research and dermatology,
making headlines across the world with her revelations about the poisonous
side effects of Brazilian hair straighteners and skin-lightening products
“I would see my mom coming with
that Afro comb, and I would just want
to run away,” Associate Professor
Nonhlanhla Khumalo remembers. “I
think at that time I really believed
that the comb was so painful, it
must have been a tool of apartheid
repression.” Eventually, she and her
mom declared a truce: her mother
would put aside the comb, and
Khumalo would keep her hair short.
Rewind to two years after the
1976 Soweto uprisings. Khumalo –
then 12 years old – found herself on
a train headed from the centre of
Johannesburg to Inanda Seminary,
an elite boarding school near
Durban. The school was an anomaly
in apartheid South Africa. It was an
all-girls school where the learners
were all black, and the staff was
multiracial and multinational; the
school was known for its academic
rigour, and as the preferred school
for the daughters of the middle
class. Even more importantly for
Khumalo, it also had a black woman
as a principal: “Mrs Khoza, the
principal, would always say to us,
‘Girls, chests out, walk straight, be
proud,’” recalls Khumalo. “You only
had to look at her – a black woman
who was the one in charge, and who
did it all in sky-high heels – to know
that anything was possible.”
Khumalo excelled academically
at high school, but it wasn’t until
she visited the University of Natal
Associate Professor Nonhlanhla Khumalo.
in her matric year that she had an
16UCT Alumni News 2017
inkling of her future career. “I walked “I chose dermatology because it is a complete lack of original data on
into a lab, and saw an electron so visual,” she explains. “The skin the subject – and, for that matter,
microscope for the first time,” she gives you clues for the diagnosis; little understanding of African hair
said. “It was love at first sight.” you just need to learn the art of in general. It was this that led her
She enrolled in a medical degree piecing the puzzle together.” Two to working with Professor David
course at the university; her first years later, when her husband won Ferguson to create the first electron
year coincided with the declaration a fellowship to complete his PhD at microscopy ‘root-to-tip’ scan of
of a national state of emergency. Oxford University, Khumalo went black African hair. She published
Khumalo remembers it as a dark too. Thanks in part to Professor this study in 2000 in the Journal of
time: “The night before the Moroko Saimon Gordon (a fellow South American Academy of Dermatology,
Three were to be assassinated, African, and Oxford professor), and under the title “What is normal black
all of us Alana Taylor Residence in part to the fact that she offered to African hair: a light and scanning
students held an all-night vigil. The work for free, Khumalo started work electron microscopy study”.
next morning, we did not go home in the Oxford University Department Not content to return to being
as we were supposed to: instead, of Dermatology soon after. She a practising dermatologist when
we started marching. The police hadn’t been there long when Fenella her family moved back to South
waited until we reached an industrial Wojnarowska, a professor, and – as Africa, Khumalo then embarked
part of town, and that’s when they Khumalo describes her – “a genius on a public health doctorate under
announced that we should disperse
within three minutes. At the time I
was with a new friend who was from
I chose dermatology because it is so
the Transkei. He said, ‘Don’t worry, visual. The skin gives you clues for the
we have plenty of time,’ but I was diagnosis; you just need to learn the
from Soweto and knew better. The art of piecing the puzzle together.”
next moment the police let the dogs
loose on us – well, let me tell you, my
new friend changed his mind pretty
quickly, and we all ran for our lives!” at understanding auto-immune the supervision of Dr Susan Jessop
That new friend, Bongani Mayosi, disorders” – called Khumalo into and Prof Rodney Ehrlich, in which
would later become her husband, her office, and told her she thought she focused on a wide-ranging
the father of their two daughters, she could handle doing a laboratory population study. In 2013, she was
and dean designate of the Faculty of project on immunofluorescence for appointed head of the division of
Health Sciences at UCT. bullous pemphigoid, a skin-blistering dermatology at Groote Schuur
After graduating, the newlyweds disease. “I had never done research and UCT.
completed their internships in Port – I had always been a clinician; but Her continuing research further
Elizabeth and then moved to Cape I was determined to prove her right, entrenched her concern over the
Town, a city they had fallen in love so I worked harder than ever before, long-term effects of commonly-used
with on their honeymoon. Khumalo and in due time I published that hair and skin products, especially
began practising as a general paper,” Khumalo remembers. “Later, those – such as chemical relaxers
practitioner, first in Khayelitsha and I found out I was not special; it was – used on black hair. “Do you know
later in Langa. “I remember it as a something she did with every new how chemical hair relaxers were
happy, busy time,” she said, “but arrival. But by that time, it was too invented?” Khumalo asks. “They were
there was still so much violence. late – I was hooked.” discovered accidentally by a tailor
Too often, people would come to When Khumalo embarked on an called Garret Morgan, in 1909, when
my practice with severe trauma; and evidence-based medicine course at he was trying to find a substance
because there was no after-hours Oxford she returned to the subject, that would prevent needles from
casualty close by, I felt it was my publishing a seminal paper on snagging fabric. Apparently he
obligation to always be on duty.” the treatment of the disease and wiped the chemical off his hands on
Khumalo became a common sight later becoming a member of the a piece of fleece, and noted that the
on the streets of Langa, doing house committee that compiled treatment texture changed. Later, he showed
calls with her doctor’s bag in hand. guidelines for the British Association its straightening effect on hair, and
“It was during these years that I also of Dermatologists. It was also in registered the first patent. The main
had my two babies, but I never took Oxford that Khumalo first started ingredient then, as now, was sodium
maternity leave; I just took them with researching hair. For a long time hydroxide – the same substance
me to the practice,” she said. she had wondered at the high used to clean blocked drains.”
After five years, Khumalo prevalence of alopecia, or hair loss, Khumalo began to work towards
started her training to become a she saw in black women patients in opening a laboratory in which skin
dermatologist at Groote Schuur particular. When she investigated and hair products could be tested
hospital. Why this specialisation? further, she realised there was almost specifically for toxic and illegal
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