ALUMNI & DEVELOPMENT

Annual appeal

Expanding Student Residences

Growing student numbers have characterised UCT's consistent expansion during the past decade. With a staggering increase of 50% in our student population, the need to expand accommodation facilities has become urgent. A considerable number of UCT students are from beyond the Western Cape, with 20% from beyond South Africa. Ensuring that UCT continues to be the 'university of choice' for local and international students largely depends on our capacity to provide appropriate accommodation. Furthermore, many poorer students from surrounding townships are faced with extremely unstable living environments and unsafe travelling conditions, making it impossible for them to remain on campus for after-hours study. Accompanied by the challenges of insufficient mentoring and limited access to computer facilities at home, these students' academic achievement is adversely affected. Being in residence therefore becomes their most critical factor for success.

In our goal to create a secure environment for all our students, we recently constructed Obz Square, a brand new 900-bed residence on Main Road, Observatory which is close to the renowned Groote Schuur Hospital. We are now working to expand our residence capacity by a further 700 beds through the refurbishment of existing residences. In order to do this, we need support from you - our community of alumni and friends.

Your partnership in this project will give you the opportunity to leave a significant legacy. Each contribution of R100 000 (US$ 15 000 or GBP 10 000), donated between a one- to five year period, will be recognised on a plaque in the Obz Square residence. In addition, your investment is a unique "gift that keeps on giving," since the annual rental of the residence room becomes permanent income for the university.

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Student Financial Aid

Insufficient funding presents a major barrier to students enrolling and succeeding in both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. Without money to fund this lifelong asset, unfulfilled life goals become the reality that many talented young people face.

UCT distinguishes itself with a long tradition of policies and programmes to ensure that talented undergraduate students in need are given an opportunity to enter the university and succeed here. These interventions include financial assistance and a range of psycho-social programmes to ensure that UCT’s graduates are globally competitive, locally relevant and socially responsive individuals, who are fully representative of South Africa’s diverse population.

Being a research-led university means that we must constantly produce graduates with advanced degrees: a formidable force of young specialists who directly contribute to the growth and development of the country. However, due to financial stress, many graduates seek employment as only a few are able to pursue advanced studies. The potential contribution that these innovative minds can bring to renewing social, political and economic systems is therefore lost.

Although UCT and the government commit considerable resources to funding postgraduates, the need is greater than we can currently meet. In addition, it is crucial that we provide assistance to candidates from African countries outside of South Africa, as well as refugee students. Your contribution will enable UCT to create additional scholarship support to fund meritorious postgraduate students in areas of strategic importance.

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Faculty of Health Sciences Centenary Campaign

In 2012, UCT's Faculty of Health Sciences celebrates 100 years of educating some of the finest minds in the country and producing among the greatest medical advances from Africa. Since the birth of the Faculty in 1912, it has grown in size, scope and impact with around 3000 students now across multiple disciplines. It has a strong reputation for research excellence, producing an average of more than one new research publication every day and playing a vital role in supporting the country's future health practitioners and medical researchers.

Today, with the stark reality of vast and growing health needs of South Africa's population, the Faculty must draw on all available resources to continue its crucial role in bringing better health to the nation. The 100th anniversary in 2012 presents an opportunity to recognise the impact of the Faculty's past and celebrate the standing it has achieved today. A range of commemorative initiatives are planned, including a centenary issue of the South African Medical Journal. Most importantly, this landmark year provides an ideal platform for the Faculty to start building its next era.

The Faculty of Health Sciences needs your support to continue developing new education, research and infrastructure. This is to ensure a strong and sustainable future, strengthening the health of the people of South Africa and beyond. Find out more...

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Schools Development Initiative - 100-UP

100-UP is a comprehensive programme that aims to prepare academically strong learners from Khayelitsha to compete for places at UCT. Five learners from each of the twenty high schools in Khayelitsha are recruited annually for participation in the 100-UP project, which aims to build their intellectual, cultural and social capital, in order to prepare them to enrol and succeed at a tertiary institution such as UCT.

The project takes the form of a three year mentorship, tutoring and academic enrichment programme that begins when the learners are in Grade 10 and continues until they matriculate at the end of Grade 12. The goal of the project is to increase the number of learners from the Khayelitsha community who gain entrance into this and other universities, and in addition, to build institutional knowledge at UCT which will help inform the University's school-based interventions.

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