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Vice-Chancellor’s message: Celebrations and breakthroughs
18 September 2012
On 28 July UCT welcomed a new 30-member Council into office. The new Council's term will end in June 2016, and we look forward to their guidance and support over the next four years.
Their work is invaluable to the university's governance, as Council determines the mission, objectives, goals, strategies and policies that underpin our success and progress as an institution.
I'm delighted too that Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane accepted re-election as chair of Council, as did Ms Debbie Budlender as deputy chair. We are more than ready to respond to Archbishop Ndungane's challenge for UCT to become a globally recognised think tank for higher education.
Shortly thereafter, we joined the country in mourning the deaths of miners at Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine. The UCT flag flew at half-mast on 21 August following a call by President Jacob Zuma for a national week of mourning. One of our Council members, Justice Ian Farlam, was appointed by the President to convene the Commission of Inquiry. The issues surrounding the strike were starkly highlighted at UCT's Carnegie 3 conference on poverty and inequality, which followed just two weeks later.
Finding solutions to African problems came to the forefront with the announcement of ground-breaking malaria research being undertaken at UCT. UCT researchers have developed a compound that has the potential to become part of a single-dose cure for all strains of malaria. Though Africa carries the burden of malaria, news of this breakthrough made headlines around the world.
You can read all about these developments, and other significant news at your alma mater, in this e-newsletter. One project that is of particular relevance to all our alumni is the UCT Annual Appeal 2012, for which we've just commenced our fundraising drive. This year the annual appeal focuses once more on access to a place in residence as a key means of enhancing students' academic success, and we urge you to partner with us toward this goal.
As an alumnus you will also shortly be receiving your emailed copy of the annual alumni magazine, UCT Alumni News 2012. You will also receive a hard copy of the magazine in the mail, but of course this can only reach you if we have your most current postal address! This year's edition is packed with interesting stories and updates about your alma mater, so please make sure you don't miss out on getting your copy delivered to your door.
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