The mission of the Centre for Open Learning (COL) is to contribute to the University's social responsiveness through the support of student success and by acting to make the academic and knowledge resources of the University accessible to a wider range of participants. The COL provides a range of courses and learning opportunities for local and overseas university students as well as participants from commerce and industry, government departments, NGOs and the general public.
COL coordinates several different initiatives including the annual Summer School, short courses for the general public, continuing education courses for working people, Third Term credit-bearing courses for current UCT students and specialised programmes for visiting international student groups.
COL also produces theContinuing Education Handbookwhich consolidates information about the various opportunities for learning at UCT while continuing to work.
Summer School
The annual Summer School runs for two weeks in January each year and is the largest public education programme of its kind in South Africa, regularly attracting around 3 000 people. This public education programme offers courses on a range of topics from arts, humanities and current issues to the physical and environmental sciences and aims to make specialised knowledge accessible to a wide audience, regardless of educational qualifications. These courses are for non-degree purposes and do not involve examinations or certification, though written or practical projects and reading may be required. The programme is available from October each year on the Summer School website. The 63rd annual Summer School will take place from Monday 21 January to Friday 1 February 2013.
LSE-UCT July School
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the University of Cape Town (UCT) are pleased to offer the inaugural LSE-UCT July School in July 2013. This innovative programme provides students, graduates and professionals from across the globe an exciting new opportunity to study important social sciences issues relevant to Africa today. The programme is taught by outstanding faculty from the University of Cape Town and LSE, two of the world’s leading institutions for teaching and research.
From 1-12 July 2013, this two-week summer school-style programme will offer a range of exciting university-level courses, considering the academic and policy responses to the major social sciences issues of the 21st century, all with reference to Africa and its relations with the world today.
The programme is taught by outstanding faculty from the University of Cape Town, the leading university in Africa, and LSE, the world's foremost specialist social science institution.
The questions raised, and issues dealt with, by the courses on this programme allow participants from a wide range of backgrounds to come together to discuss issues of importance today, with academic rigour and the benefit of new scholarly insights.
If you are interested in gaining a global perspective on the study of Africa, at the continent’s top university, in a beautiful, cosmopolitan city, we hope that you will consider applying to the LSE-UCT July School, and look forward to meeting you in Cape Town in July 2013.
Full details of the academic programme for the 2013 LSE-UCT July School are available on the LSE website or you can download a brochure.
If you would like to be added to our mailing list, to be updated when further information is available, please contact lse-uct.july.school.
Applications are now open, and can be completed online.
Global Citizenship Programme
The UCT Global Citizenship: Leading for Social Justice Programme is an extra-curricular programme that provides students with an opportunity to engage critically with contemporary global debates and to reflect on issues of citizenship and social justice. While voluntary and not credit-bearing, the programme is recognised on students' academic transcripts as a UCT Short Course.
Public and Continuing Education (PACE)
In addition to the annual Summer School, short courses are offered for professional development, organisational capacity development and public interest. A variety of courses have been offered over the years and can be customised for particular organisations. Each year a selection of courses are run as public open programmes and are advertised on this website and in the media. For details see Current Public Courses.
For more information about the 'Languages for life' language learning courses, click here.
Third Term
COL's Third Term Division offers a limited number of UCT accredited courses to local and international students during University vacations.
International Programmes
COL offers customised short programmes by special arrangement to international student groups which combines high quality learning with an unusual travel experience.
Confucius Institute
The Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Town promotes the learning of Chinese language and culture as well as a broader and more informed understanding of China in Cape Town and across South Africa. We seek to attract more interest in the Chinese language and understanding of Chinese culture among students and faculties at UCT, as well as the broader community in Cape Town. For details visit the Confucius Institute website.
Contact us
Physical address
Level 3, Kramer Bldg, Middle Campus
Postal address
Centre for Open Learning, UCT, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701
Tel: 021 650 2888
Fax: 021 650 2893
ems@uct.ac.za
Downloads
Continuing Education Handbook 2013
Links
