on Campus Issue 6 • July 2013 • For daily updates visit www.uwc.ac.za
Inside Youth day page 4
AMESA Conference page 7
MerSETA Cheque Handover page 9
USSA Dance Story page 15
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MAD challenges high school learners to create amazing apps
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t’s easier than ever for high school learners to change the world nowadays. All it takes is a good idea, some technical skills and business savvy, and anybody could launch a brilliant application that changes the world (and make them rich along the way). But developing those skills requires time and dedication – and maybe a helping hand, if you’re lucky. The 2013 BlackBerry Mobile Application Development (MAD) Challenge could provide the firm guidance needed for entrepreneurs-to-be from high High school learners participating in the MAD Challenge 2013 sign in for schools to reach their potential. Hosted by the e-Skills Institute’s Western their first training session. Cape and Gauteng CoLabs, sponsored by BlackBerry, and running from June through to October at the Western Cape CoLab (UWC) as well as the BlackBerry Apps Lab at the Bandwidth Barn in Cape Town, the Challenge will give learners the opportunity to create and market their own mobile applications – and will also help them develop the skills necessary to do so. The MAD Challenge, now in its second year, is aimed at introducing high school learners to the world of mobile application development and modern entrepreneurship. The IT curriculum advisors of the Department of Education ensure that the Challenge is aligned with the formal curriculum. Eighty-six grade 10 and 11 learners from a variety of schools in the Western Cape – a diverse pack including Mondale High School, COSAT (the Centre of Science and Technology), Muizenberg High School, Paul Roos Gymnasium and Hermanus High School – were selected to take part in the Challenge, based on their academic proficiency (especially in mathematics, IT and UWC lecturer Dr Johan Breytenbach informs learners about the details of business subjects) and ability to generate ideas. the MAD Challenge 2013. UWC information systems computer science lecturer Dr Johan Breytenbach welcomed the contestants at the launch, introduced them to This year, the apps produced should fall into three broad categories: the intricacies of the Challenge, and encouraged collaboration as well as People (an app that makes a difference in the health or function of the competition. While there can only be a few winning apps, developers can community); Planet (an app that makes people more environmentally work in teams and may produce better products that way. aware or encourages green thinking and behaviour); and Profit (an app that At the launch, learners were introduced to the basics of using the shows excellent business sense and can survive in the market). Java programming language and installing and setting up the necessary Breytenbach explained that the Challenge is a great opportunity for tools to develop apps for BlackBerry handsets and playbooks. Following a ambitious, driven young learners. programming boot camp in the June holidays, five further training sessions “You’re going to be receiving training for free,” he told the learners, will be facilitated by experienced trainers on Friday afternoons. The “and the app will remain yours to do with as you please afterwards. sessions will focus on the development of the participants’ core technical What we get out of it is an improved app ecosystem. We need more apps proficiency, as well as their design and entrepreneurial skills. After that, developed for South Africans by South Africans; I hope you’re up to the learners will have four to six weeks to complete their mobile applications. challenge.”
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News
UWC recalls the 1913 Land Act
PLAAS’s Associate Prof Ruth Hall addresses a question from the audience during The 1913 Land Act Centenary: UWC Remembers. She is pictured with Prof Brian Raftopolous from the CHR (left), UWC student Sabelo Mcinziba and political studies lecturer Kenneth Bafo (far right).
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ometimes, for the right reasons, you have to remember the bad stuff. This is what UWC’s Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) did when it hosted a conference titled The 1913 Land Act Centenary: UWC Remembers. The conference was UWC’s way to mark and discuss the centenary of the Natives Land Act, No 27 of 1913, which was a cornerstone of racial segregation and the foundation for the apartheid-era homeland policy, influx control and forced removals. The Land Act regulated the acquisition of land on a racial basis and prohibited black South Africans from purchasing, renting or in any other way acquiring rights to land outside of demarcated reserves or “scheduled areas”. At the conference, Professor Brian O’Connell, UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor (and the first of four plenary speakers), started by saying that history is about the study of men and women in time; it is the stories of great people. “I often express my concerns with the way in which history is taught at schools. It is not just words to be remembered and regurgitated when one
writes a test, and this is not a way to learn,” O’Connell said. He emphasised the importance of knowing the past, which shapes a nation’s future. The centenary, he said, reminded people that the past is not forgotten, and that the country still feels the legacy of the Land Act of 1913 in significant ways. “This Land Act destroyed communities and shattered families of the majority of South Africa,” he said. His family, he recalled as but one example, were evicted from District Six and were sent to the Cape Flats to “live among strangers”. Professor Brian Raftopolous, of UWC’s Centre for Humanities Research, spoke about the Zimbabwean experience and their struggle for land. He posed the following question: Is it possible to have a restructuring of the land, as in Zimbabwe, without violence? He said that any radical restructuring of land that was going to take place would need to ask radical questions. “This land question is not an easy one, not for any country. It will continue because it is a dynamic issue in society.” Political Studies lecturer Kenneth Bafo said
UWC was one of universities that is known for speaking the truth and he was proud of being affiliated with this institution. Especially when it came to a controversial issue such as land. “Land is just not a thing of economic value to the people who were dispossessed of it,” he said. “For these families, the land meant everything to them.” The Land Act destroyed communities and shattered families in the process, he added. “Land ownership is our identity, our language, our culture, and we were robbed of this. “It is important to have conferences like this one, but it is our duty to ensure that we relay our message to the people who were dispossessed and do not have an education. The people in the slums and rural areas need to know. Parents also need to play their part, by teaching their children and speaking about these issues.” Student Sabelo Mcinziba said that more young people must take part in these discussions. “Young people need to stop being narrow-minded, and realise that there are many avenues to explore with the land, not only to grow apples, for example,” he said.
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UWC students benefit from financial aid scheme
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inancial constraints are often touted as the main reason that some students don’t go to or drop out of university, but 109 students at UWC will hopefully never see that day as financial assistance from the South African National Zakáh Fund (SANZAF) continues to offer them necessary funding. Described as a faith-based socio-welfare and educational organisation that strives to facilitate the empowerment of needy families, SANZAF has been supporting UWC students financially since 1985. In 2013, SANZF disbursed a sum of over R1.1 million among 109 students whose financial constraints would have otherwise barred them from entering or finishing
UWC alumnus and artist Sebastiao Matsinhe donated his now artwork bed to the newly opened Res Life facility. Matsinhe holds a master’s in Arts from UWC.
their university studies. A winner of the FNB/Wesbank Islamic Business Awards in the category of Social Investment in 2007, SANZAF is the single largest registered public-benefit organisation of its kind in South Africa. Last year more than 500 students benefitted from the bursary programme, and it is envisaged that the number is set to grow. “A core function of SANZAF is to provide financial support and to assist needy and deserving students,” explained Ml Sarfaraaz Hamza, administrator: SANZAF Western Cape, on the organisation’s website. “We recognise that education plays an important role in determining labour market prospects and as an organisation we have made a concerted effort to be responsive to the dire needs within communities.” Rector and Vice-Chancellor of UWC, Professor Brian O’Connell, commended SANZAF for their work, saying that it’s always a good thing to invest in young people in South Africa, allowing them to get the desired skills.
Marking the handover of the SANZAF cheque were (from left) Michael Kwatsha, head of Financial Aid at UWC; Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Brian O’Connell; SANZAF administrator for the Western Cape, Ml Sarfaraaz Hamza; and SANZAF bursary coordinator, Faeza Govind.
UWC artist leaves a lasting legacy
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lumnus and renowned artist Sebastiao Matsinhe has embedded his name into UWC history when he turned his bed into a piece of art, which he has donated to the University’s newly opened Res Life building. Matsinhe came to UWC in the early 2000s from Maputo in Mozambique, with little more than his paints and brush and an undying ambition to complete a higher education qualification. He lived in various campus residences, and graduated with his Master’s Degree in Arts with no financial backing. He saved the money he made from selling his artwork to pay for his studies. And when he heard that UWC had replaced the SVE (Sentrale Voedsel Eenheid) building, which burnt down, with a new and much improved structure, he wanted to show his gratitude and make his mark. At the opening of the new facility, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian O’Connell, lauded the Students Representative Council (SRC) for their “patience” in negotiations leading to the building of this new residence. He explained that these negotiations were started with the previous SRC, and the current body recognised and accepted the shortcomings that hindered the construction. “There was a time when incumbent SRCs thought they had nothing to do with the resolutions undertaken by their predecessors,” O’Connell told members of the House Committee and the gathering crowd. “Your patience with management indicates a sense of continuity. This structure is yours.” Equipped with dining halls and state-of-the art kitchen accessories, the residence will provide much-needed relief and space for the students who stay on campus. Professor Lullu Tshiwula, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Development and Support, drew parallels between the SRC’s “resilience” and Matsinhe’s life. “Mr Matsinhe here, throughout his life, with a disability in his legs, has shown great resilience and today he holds a master’s degree. This is our character. The UWC character,” said Tshiwula. After unveiling the plaque and cutting the ribbon to mark the official opening of the structure, Matsinhe officially handed over the piece of art that had been his bed for much of his stay at UWC. (Many of his artworks hang in other UWC buildings.)
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News
Inspiring UWC’s youth
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hirty-seven years after the students of Soweto sparked a revolution in 1976, youth from around Cape Town gathered at UWC to map their vision for the future. Over 600 young men and women from Cape Town and its surrounding areas converged at the University for a Youth Indaba, which was jointly organised by the City of Cape Town and UWC, and aimed to help vulnerable youth build valuable skills. The event comes against the backdrop of the recent increase of gang-related violence among young people and sought to address issues such as easy access to drugs and high levels of drug and substance abuse across the Metropole. These social challenges prompted the City’s Youth Programme (YP) to implement awareness programmes for young people at risk. Initiatives such as this one seek to provide young people with the knowledge to make positive and informed decisions. One of the key facets of the YP is the Life Skills Project, which is currently being implemented at UWC. The project uses photography to get young people to engage with the social issues that affect them within their respective communities. UWC and the City’s YP then conceptualised a Youth Indaba where the youth that went through the Life Skills Project were able to display their posters. They were able to share their experiences and also their solutions to addressing the challenges they face in their communities. Dr James Lees of UWC’s HIV/AIDS project advised the youth to stay focused on things that matter. “No matter how damaged our communities may be, life is still strong within us. You as the youth are our future, so it is important that you make positive decisions about your own life,” he said. The National Youth Development Agency’s (NYDA) Siviwe Nkokwa said
National Youth Development Agency’s Siviwe Nkokwa emphasised the importance of tertiary education as a means to uplift youngsters and their communities. his organisation is willing to assist the youngsters who approach them with ideas on how to develop themselves and their communities, but insisted that young people explore further education. “If you stay on at an educational institution and get that knowledge and skill you will realise it was worthwhile,” said Nkokwa. He added that the NYDA aims to “streamline” youth development. Communities such as Atlantis, Fisantekraal, Hout Bay, Manenberg, Mitchell’s Plain and Ocean View were represented at the Indaba, with schools from Athlone, Elsies River, Khayelitsha and Mfuleni sending representatives.
Society pledges to keep Cape Town warm
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eep Cape Town Warm’ was the theme of the day as UWC students and staff came out in support of the Good Hope FM Winter Drive in partnership with UWC. The UWC Winter Drive was initiated by members of UWC’s Golden Key International Honour Society at UWC, under the supervision of the University’s International Relations Office. It forms part of the Society’s annual outreach programmes. The Vice-President of the Golden Key Society, Nerissa Smith, expressed her gratitude for the support. “This initiative demonstrates to us that upholding the Golden Key pillars equips us with essential skills that will stand us in good stead for our chosen careers. Initiatives such as this one are a benefit not only to the less fortunate, but
Rector and VC, Prof Brian O’Connell, speaks to Good Hope FM’s Nigel Pierce about the UWC Winter Drive. to ourselves as well. Engaging with those in need shapes our characters by broadening our minds and fostering a caring spirit. This Winter Drive is about leading by example and encouraging other young people to continue
to be the change they want to see within society.” UWC students and staff brought bags filled with food and clothes to support the drive. Even the broader community chipped in with donations to help those who are less fortunate to keep warm this winter. “We are extremely proud of the University’s top achievers for driving this initiative – the Cape flats during winter can be a hard place to live in,” said Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian O’Connell. “This is the time for us to make human engagement. We should have all kinds of activities where we engage with one another.” Good Hope FM DJ Nigel Pierce broadcasted live from the UWC Student Centre where students, staff and members of the community were encouraged to drop off their donations.
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Students lock horns in words and ideas
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t was a battle of the minds when hundreds of students from around Southern Africa gathered at the University of the Western Cape in a bid to outwit and outsmart each other in intellectual debate. The Southern African National University Debating Championships (SANUDC) brought together some 400 students from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. These students then engaged in robust debates on a range of issues, covering the fields of economics, governance, politics and the social sciences. The 2013 SANUDC wasn’t all bookish chatter, though; to inject some fun into proceedings, organisers assigned each team, made up of two debaters, the name of a superhero or supervillain. So over the competition, teams sported colourful names like The Joker, Captain America, Silver Surfer and Doom Patrol. And to keep teams on their toes, students were only presented with the topics under discussion 15 minutes before the debate. This demanded that participants had to be well versed in a range of issues and subjects. Hosts UWC made it through the early rounds, but were knocked out in the semi-finals. Instead, the finals of the English Second Language (ESL) category was contested by Humphrey Bose and Bruce Nkgagile of the University of Botswana (UB); Thabiso Mbewe and Vusani Nesengani of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT); Romeo Gumede and Mluleki Marongo of the University of Fort Hare (UFH); and Klass Mphego and Thami Pooe of Wits University (UW). In the end, it was the Fort Hare team that took the honours in the category, followed by Botswana, Tshwane and Wits. The English First Language (EFL) final was an all University of Cape Town (UCT) affair. David Harris and Michael Macklin were crowned champions as they defeated their fellow UCT teams of Colin Bessans and Yash Nair, Neil du Toit and James Laird-Smith, and Tom McLennan and James Wink in the event finale. It was a special night for UCT’s Macklin because he had, technically, defended the title he had won in 2012 as a member of the winning Wits team. Taking their exit in their stride, the UWC group is now gearing up for the Pan African Debating Championships in Nigeria, before they head to the University of Botswana, which will host the 2014 SANUDC.
Lukhanyo Vangqa (left) of UWC hands over the trophy to UCT’s Michael Macklin and David Harris, winners of the English First Language Contest.
The full list of SANUDC winners were: Best New Adjudicator: Brynde Fischer-Jeffes, University of Cape Town Best Adjudicator: Kira Dusterwald, University of Cape Town Best Adjudicating Institution: University of Cape Town World’s Adjudication Award: Jenna Nicholls, University of Cape Town World’s Speaking Award: Michael Macklin, University of Cape Town; and Christopher Wood, Wits University Best New Speaker: Brynne Guthrie, University of Pretoria Best English Second Language Speaker: Lunga Mantashe, Walter Sisulu University Best Open Speaker: Brynne Guthrie, University of Pretoria Best English First Language Speaker: Michael Macklin, University of Cape Town English Second Language Grand Champion: Romeo Gumede and Mluleki Marongo, University of Fort Hare Open Grand Champion: Michael Macklin and David Harris, University of Cape Town
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Education
Science for everyone: UWC-SLCA opens new Science Lab in Ashton
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“
ften people make excuses for non-delivery in teaching.” So began Myrtle February, director of the Garden Cities Archway Foundation, the corporate social investment programme of residential developer Garden Cities, at the opening of a new Science Learning Centre at Ashton Secondary School. “They say we don’t have enough money, or you can’t expect much from a small town, or that the poor can’t make a success of education,” February continued. “Well, who said that poverty and achievement are naturally exclusive? Why can’t we take a previously disadvantaged child and push them and help them to become great?” The Science Learning Centre at Ashton Secondary School, developed by the University of the Western Cape’s Science Learning Centre for Africa (UWC-SLCA), in conjunction with the Garden Cities Archway Foundation, is intended to provide the opportunity for that greatness. It does so by providing support and training to practicing science educators, getting learners involved in science activities, and allowing learners and teachers to work in a safe environment. This is the twelfth such Science Learning Centre constructed since the start of the project in 2011, and a further 10 are planned for this year. There is a great need for the laboratories; previously, no primary schools in the region had a science laboratory, and the high school science laboratories were poorly resourced. Among those at the opening were the school’s principal, Mr Peter Buis, and representatives from Sanlam, Garden Cities and UWC-SLCA. Professor Shaheed Hartley, director of the UWC-SLCA, explained how the programme had grown from strength to strength – with the support of Garden Cities Archway’s board and its CEO, John Matthews - to help teachers and learners take pride in what they do and to stimulate and instil a culture of science learning. “I’m often asked just how we determine which schools should get a lab,” Hartley said. “It’s not just a token process. We look at commitment and excellence from the science teachers, and from school management, and think hard about our selection. It’s almost like
Myrtle February, director of the Garden Cities Archway Foundation, and Prof Brian O’Connell, UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, unveiled the plaque that marked the opening of Ashton Secondary School’s new science laboratory. a reward for their hard work and achievement over a number of years – and certainly our science teachers can use a reward these days.” Teachers at such UWC-SLCA science centres echoed Hartley’s enthusiasm. Reggie Caesar of Visusizwe Secondary School explained how the Science Centre there provides an ideal opportunity to keep up with and explore new technology. Fellow science teacher Cecil Felix spoke about how the project could help address the shortage of maths and science skills in South Africa. Primary
Among those at the opening of the new science laboratory were (from left) Myrtle February, Principal Peter Buis, science teacher Gert Marero, Prof Shaheed Hartley of UWC-SLCA, and UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Brian O’Connell.
school science teacher Danie Burger conveyed the joy and wonder his primary school learners experience when they’re able to do experiments. And De Villiers Primary School teacher Francois Jones, who was voted teacher of the year in the Western Cape for 2012, explained how the programme inspired him to step up and love science. (He’s actually an art teacher.) Science teacher Gert Marero, who has taught at Ashton Secondary School for years, offered his heartfelt thanks to the Garden Cities Archway Foundation and UWC-SLCA – and to Prof Hartley, in particular – for providing support to Ashton, and for providing the opportunity for him to grow as an educator. Professor Brian O’Connell, Rector and ViceChancellor of the University of the Western Cape, delved into the importance of projects like these, and of mathematics and science to South Africa and the world. “We can’t build a dam without science,” he explained. “We can’t build a car without science. And we can’t have proper medicine without science.” Attendees at the launch were treated to a tour of the new Science Centre, with its smartboards, microscopes and other equipment, and a plaque was unveiled by O’Connell and February to commemorate the event.
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Education
Congress questions maths taught at schools
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undreds of teachers, lecturers and researchers gave up their mid-year school holidays to take part in the 19th Annual National Association for Mathematics Education of South Africa (AMESA) Congress, which was hosted by the School of Science and Mathematics Education (SSME) located within the Faculty of Education at UWC, from 24 to 28 June 2013. The conference sought to provide delegates with a platform to share and debate ideas on the kind of mathematics that is embedded in the school’s curriculum. Speaking at the opening, AMESA President, Alwyn Olivier, praised attendees for their dedication. “You are very special teachers who are taking responsibility for your own professional development by spending your vacation at this congress,” he said. Olivier also noted that to really get the most out of the congress, the delegates had to do more than merely attend lectures and workshops. “There are so many interesting people here, so many great ideas. You must pursue those people and pursue those ideas.” AMESA Western Cape Chairperson, Gary Powell, explained the significance of the conference theme. “It was twenty years ago, in 1993, here in the Western Cape, that a group of concerned mathematics educationalists came together to initiate the formation of the first unitary association for mathematics education in South Africa,” he explained. “But the theme also refers to the need to scrutinise the effects of education policy on mathematics education over the past 20 years...to check the score, as it were.” Professor Beverly Thaver, Deputy Dean: Research in UWC’s Faculty of Education, raised questions she hoped the conference would address. “How do we work with – rather than against – dilemmas? How may we deepen the engagement, the questioning, as a way of holding the students’ imagination?” she asked. The five-day Congress offered papers long and short, poster presentations, plenary presentations, panel discussions, group sessions, Maths Market sessions for vendors of educational products, and an organised activity centre where hand-on practical activities took place to enhance teachers’ (and ultimately learners’) understanding of
AMESA 2013 Congress Director Dr Rajendran Govender, of the Faculty of Education at UWC, opens the AMESA Congress at UWC in June. and ability to tackle mathematical concepts. Panel discussions highlighted several important issues in mathematics education in South Africa. Cyril Julie, Professor of Mathematics Education at UWC, led a discussion on the implications of the various transformations of the school mathematics curriculum. The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) School of Education lecturer Shaheeda Jaffer provided an overview of mathematics teaching and learning in the Western Cape. And Nico Govender, Vice-President of the AMESA National Council, discussed the twenty year history of AMESA and the association’s contribution to mathematics education. The Congress ended off with a prize-giving ceremony for those attendees able to answer a few questions based on the Conference proceedings (a reward for diligence and paying attention), as well as lucky prize draws, illustrating the mathematical principle of the lottery. T-shirts, caps and goodie bags were provided by the Congress sponsors, including CASIO, the Zenex Foundation, MacMillan and principal sponsor for the Congress (and AMESA’s principal sponsor since its founding), the Old Mutual Foundation. AMESA Congress Director and UWC Faculty of Education lecturer, Dr Rajendran Govender, thanked attendees for a productive and enlightening congress. “Listening to sessions and engaging with all of you over the last
few days, and judging by the responses that we’ve had, I think by now we realise that we have challenges in mathematics teaching and learning,” he said. “But I’m sure we’ve also managed to come up with some suggestions on how we as educators can look for ways to engage with issues of this nature, and together with our peers we can provide input on how to improve the curriculum.”
The Association for Mathematics Education of South Africa (AMESA) has a wide range of members, including researchers and vendors, classroom teachers, mathematics curriculum advisors and education department officials who support teachers, as well as universities, NGOs and project personnel involved in pre-service and in-service mathematics teacher education. For the past two decades, AMESA has been witness to – and has, in diverse ways, participated in – the transformations of the school curriculum for mathematics.
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Science
Dozens of water researchers from all over China and Africa unite for the ChinAfrica Water Forum at the University of the Western Cape.
African/Chinese forum talk on water management
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t would come as no surprise that Africa and China have a few things in common, like its growing populations and economies. Population inflation and the economic development of these two nations have given rise to another common concern, specifically around water and the growing demand for this natural resource. And over three days in June, these two factors occupied the minds of dozens of African and Chinese water-resourcemanagement experts – including university and scientific council researchers, industry representatives and delegates from ministries of water resources in China and Africa – who gathered at the ChinAfrica Water Forum, hosted by the University of the Western Cape (UWC). The forum, themed Sustainable Utilisation of Water Resources in Developing Countries, billed as a ‘water resources dialogue’, set to explore various water issues faced by developing countries. That dialogue and exploration would
then serve as a knowledge-sharing platform, which would help participating countries identify and prioritise international best practice and realities on the ground in water resources management. As pointed out at the conference, Africa’s growth in population and increased economic activity have led to more land being populated and industrialised, resulting in an increased demand for water and increased pollution of its water resources. Much the same applies to China, where a growing population and rapid economic development, combined with sometimes lax environmental regulation, have also led to increased water demand and pollution. Over the course of the forum, delegates reflected on these challenges, as well as the exploration and development of water resources (surface and ground water including Karst water, i.e. water caught in rock aquifers), the management and sustainable utilisation of
Water scarcity – and especially lack of safe drinking water – is one of the world’s leading problems, affecting 1.1 billion people globally. In other words, about one in every six people lack access to safe drinking water.
water resources, integrated water resources management, and the promotion of close collaborations between China and Africa on water quality and sanitation. Among the suggestions which emerged from the meeting was to set up a secretariat at UWC regarding ground water concerns, using aquatic know-how as a platform, and to inform regional government and scientific organisations. “If we manage to give some focus to these items,” said Dr Harrison Pienaar, water resources manager at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, “we will be able to achieve those broad objectives.” Prof Yongxin Xu, Senior Professor of Hydrogeology at UWC and holder of the UNESCO Chair of Geohydrology, closed proceedings with some words on the value of the forum. “I learned a lot from you,” Xu told delegates. “I hope you did the same, and that we can still continue to benefit and learn and make use of our knowledge.”
In 1998 the South African government passed the South African National Water Act. The purpose of this Act is to ensure that the nation’s water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in ways that take into account factors such as promoting equitable access to water, sustainable development and redressing the results of past racial and gender discrimination.
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Science
Funding helps UWC tutors teach and learn
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WC and the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA) have forged an alliance to support the training of tutors enrolled in mathematics and science programmes related to engineering. The alliance took off on the right foot, with the handover of a cheque for over R1.5 million by merSETA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Raymond Patel. This initial funding will help support UWC’s Extended Curriculum Project (ECP), which prepares educationally disadvantaged students to progress to any of UWC’s many BSc programmes. One way this is accomplished is through the employment of teaching assistants and tutors, and providing them with teacher training. So far 11 educators and 13 tutors have been recruited for the project. Speaking at the handover, UWC Faculty of Natural Sciences’ Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning, Professor Gavin Maneveldt, relayed the difficulty of educating classrooms with over 400 students and only a single lecturer, aided by one or two tutors who may themselves still be learning. “MerSETA has allowed us to cut down the student-to-teacher ratio, allowing time for more intense and personal teaching. And teacher training allows tutors to develop critical thinking graduate skills that can be used beyond their specialty fields.” Professor Michael Davies-Coleman, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, explained that merSETA’s support can assist with identifying and nurturing the most talented among the poorest of the poor. “At the University we have a cohort of very talented young people who have a certain toolbox – but may lack the tools to cope with the technology and the engineering space that we need to occupy. MerSETA helps us to
UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Brian O’Connell, discusses the need for improved mathematics and science education. supply the tools that students need to take this country forward.” MerSETA’s Patel explained that visiting UWC was like coming home (he’d been a student at the University in the 1970s and a student leader in the 1980s). He discussed South Africa’s knowledge economy, and the contribution that education can make to moving the country towards an industrial economy. “Organisations like universities and MerSETA have to start challenging and changing our societies. We should add value to society by transforming society – and that means not just political transformation, but also pedagogical. “When I look at UWC, that’s what it means to me.”
AIMS aims to transform maths in Africa
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he future of science and mathematics is looking very bright on the African continent – as attested to by the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) graduation ceremony held at Muizenberg Pavilion, where 21 African countries were represented. The graduation ceremony marked the 10th anniversary of the Institute, which was born of a partnership between the universities of Cambridge, Cape Town (UCT), Oxford, Paris Sud XI, Stellenbosch (SU), and the Western Cape (UWC). Students from UWC, SU and UCT received their Master’s Degrees in Mathematical Sciences. Of the 20 UWC students graduating, four received distinctions. And one, Tanjon Fainonana Ralaivaosena, also received the prestigious Paul G Allen Scholarship, which is awarded to an exceptional student each year. Professor Barry Green, director of AIMS, announced that this year was the first time that the graduates were awarded with master’s degrees, which made the ceremony even more special as this meant AIMS-South
UWC celebrated the graduation of 20 of its AIMS students who received their Master’s degrees. Africa is in line with the other AIMS Centres in Senegal and Ghana. Heaping praise on the graduating group, Professor Neil Turok, founder and current chairperson of AIMS – and a world-renowned physicist specialising in mathematical physics and early-universe physics – said the AIMS graduates were a class of mathematicians which their respective countries would be proud to have. “The whole world is watching you; you are
the beginning of a wave,” Turok said. He also congratulated students for demonstrating that AIMS is a centre of comradeship and Ubuntu. Professor Michael Davies-Coleman, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at UWC, also expressed his respect for the students’ achievements. “Understanding mathematics and science needs time, and there are no shortcuts – but you guys stuck with it,” he said.
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Community Health Sciences
F
“
Merck Award honours top chemistry student
or chemists, not even the sky is the limit – if we only work hard and believe in ourselves, we can achieve amazing things.” Those were the words shared by Ismail Vallie, an honours student in chemistry at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), shortly after he received the Merck Award for Chemistry at a departmental ceremony. The award is given to the most outstanding performance in thirdyear chemistry by a UWC student who has gone on to honours studies at the University. Professor Farouk Ameer of the Department of Chemistry explained that competition for the Merck award was particularly strong this year. “Most students in this chemistry cohort did well and worked hard,” Ameer noted. Having said that, he added, Vallie had stood out head and shoulders above the rest. The award capped an already memorable academic record. Ismail had finished summa cum laude from first year onwards, “for everything I can remember,” enthused Ameer. The award was presented by Tamara Fedderke, accounts manager at Merck. “It gives me great pleasure to be at UWC today,” she said, “and to be able to honour a student who’s
From left: UWC Chemistry Head of Department, Prof Farouk Ameer; Merck accounts manager Tamara Fedderke; and Merck Award-winner (and chemistry honours student) Ismail Vallie. accomplished so much.” Ismail accepted the award – a trophy and some prize money. He thanked his fellow students for supporting and challenging him, and his lecturers for all they had done to inspire
him. “What I love about this University is that the lecturers not only guided me academically, but helped me to understand life itself, and encouraged me to try as much as possible to do something to make a change in the world.”
Public Health names new award in Gerwel’s honour
T
he late Professor Jakes Gerwel, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), was acclaimed both as an academic and an anti-apartheid activist. He was also renowned for his passionate advocacy that UWC develop a focus on public health teaching and research, and develop capacity among professionals in the health sector to make measurable improvements to people’s health. His leadership inspired the development of the UWC School of Public Health (SoPH), the first school of public health to be established outside of a medical school at a South African university. In recognition of this, in June 2013, UWC’s School of Public Health and the Mauerberger Foundation launched the Jakes Gerwel Award in Public Health. The award is to be made annually. It honours and recognises Prof Gerwel’s central in promoting the importance of public health and practice. The award is open to master’s and PhD graduates of the SoPH – within and beyond South Africa – who have demonstrated, through their work, the ability to have an impact on some aspect of population health. Evidence of impact could be derived from epidemiological or other studies, and candidates need to specify the population who benefited from a specific set of interventions, policies or measures, as well as the measurable impact on people’s health.
Professor Jakes Gerwel.
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11
Community Health Sciences
CHS honours (and wines & dines) top students
T
op-achieving students, proud family and friends, and staff from the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) Faculty of Community and Health Sciences (CHS) gathered at Skipladvlei Wine Estate for the annual Dean’s Merit Awards ceremony. CHS lecturer Dr Mario Smith, master of ceremonies for the evening, welcomed attendees to an evening of fine food, company and tributes. “Tonight is not just about the students,” he said. “Tonight is about celebrating our collaboration in teaching and learning.” The chief requisite to be listed on the CHS Dean’s Merit List was that students attain an aggregate of 80% or above at an undergraduate level, while honours students needed an aggregate of 75% or more, and master’s students needed to average at least 70%. On this occasion, 42 students were honoured for attaining these scores. Nursing student Kuda Majada was the top first year student in 2012, while Complementary Medicine student Sarah le Grange was the top achiever for second year, Nursing student Corné Foord had the highest marks for third year, and BCur (Nursing) student Georgiana Keene had the best results for fourth year. Professor Lullu Tshiwula, Vice-Rector: Student Development and Support Services, delivered the keynote address at the ceremony, highlighting how much the students’ achievements meant to the University. “You don’t become members of the Dean’s Merit List by luck, but through hard work and merit,” she said, “and I have no doubt that you will continue to distinguish yourselves in future.” Professor José Frantz, Acting Dean of the CHS faculty, hosted the ceremony. Drawing on her experience as a physiotherapist, she likened the students’ life journey to a marathon – filled with pain and obstacles, but where success is always possible if they set their own pace, plan and work hard. “I encourage you to create and take opportunities,” she said, “not just to dream the impossible dream, but to make it come true as well.”
The CHS Faculty staff pose for a picture during the award presentation at the CHS Dean’s Merit Awards.
UWC School of Natural Medicine lecturer and PhD candidate Dr Kristian Leisegang with the poster that helped earn him the Outstanding Young Investigator Award at the ISIR congress.
UWC lecturer builds bridges in Boston
I
t may have been a long trip to Boston in the US, but a prized award – and a near second – made the long haul to the 12th International Congress of Reproductive Immunology worth it for UWC’s Dr Kristian Leisegang. The congress, hosted jointly by the of the International Society for Immunology of Reproduction (ISIR) and the American Society for Reproductive Immunology (ASRI), brought together over 400 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students from the US, Asia, Europe, South America and, of course, South Africa to share ways to advance the field of reproductive immunology. The meeting was themed Building Bridges in Reproductive Immunology, and delegates discussed topics related to the study of the immunological, biological and genetic aspects of the reproductive process. Specific objectives included a review of three decades of progress in the field, an examination of the role of the immune system in sexually transmitted infections, and the exploration of immunological methods for contraception. Leisegang, currently completing a PhD in the Department of Medical Bioscience of the Faculty of Science on the effects of obesity and diabetes on men’s health, hormone levels and fertility, had the opportunity to present some of that work at the congress. Titled Inflammatory Cytokines and Insulin: An important link between male obesity and reproductive dysfunction?, his presentation earned him the Outstanding Young Investigator Award. He was also named as a finalist for the prestigious Dr John Gusdon Memorial New Investigator Award by the ASRI. “The programme and field of expert presentations in the scientific sessions provided some excellent insights into aspects of the field I do not work with directly,” Leisegang reports, adding that the social and professional interaction was excellent. “It was a rich learning environment for me.” But there’s always room for improvement, he says. Leisegang is coordinator of the clinical sciences programme at the School of Natural Medicine. He is working on his PhD under Professor Ralf Henkel, with further supervision by Professor Patrick Bouic of Stellenbosch University.
12
Arts
Churches re-examine their role in the 21st century
U
WC’s Department of Religion and Theology hosted a one-day conference on the Quest for Identity in Mainline Churches in South Africa. The conference brought together clergy from different denominations. Among those who participated were Professor Ernst Conradie from UWC; Professor John de Gruchy, founder and editor emeritus of the Journal of Theology for Southern Africa and emeritus professor at the University of Cape Town; Roman Catholic Church Archbishop Stephen Brislin; Reverend Godfrey Walton of the Anglican Church South Africa (who stood in for Archbishop Thabo Makgoba); Bishop Musawenkosi Biyela of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in SA; Reverend Dr Jerry Pillay, the President of the World Communion of Reformed Churches; Reverend Professor Peter Storey of the Methodist Church in Southern Africa; and Dr Lindsay Rinquest of the Baptist Churches in South Africa. De Gruchy opened proceedings and approached his subject in two parts. The first had to do with the accumulated identities the churches already have, whether in popular or academic discourse in South Africa, or the confessional identities they represent in our country. The second is about understanding the present quest for identity and the identities that are currently in the making, he explained. He added that all the so-called mainline churches in South Africa are part of worldwide confessional families, whether Anglican, Lutheran, Baptist, Reformed or Methodist. “This identity is what we have inherited, an identity with a range of distinctions that are both local and global, and an identity which has strengthened and not diminished in recent times.” These churches have much in common, he added, and are also undergoing similar changes. “Our churches not only share origins, history, faith, spirituality and practice (whether ethical or liturgical) with global partners, but they continue to develop, aided greatly by modern means of communication and transport.” He noted that the Roman Catholic Church, while identified as a mainline church, does not think of itself in precisely these terms, but there are family resemblances and all the mainline churches originally stem from the Western Catholic tradition. He added that the identity of churches should neither be reduced to historical, sociological and
Archbishop Stephen Brislin of the Roman Catholic Church was one of the speakers. media descriptions, nor solely determined by its confessional origins and history - if it were, they would be trapped in their past and unable to move together into the future in South Africa. The churches’ respective ecclesial identities will be judged in terms of the extent to which they relate to the good news of Jesus Christ that speaks of God’s concern for justice, compassion, healing and redemption for the world, said De Gruchy. “So let us not be too bothered about seeking out identity; let us rather seek to do what God asks of us, for in doing so we will become known for who we should really be.” In turn, Archbishop Stephen said that the church knows about the world’s challenges. “We cannot be Christ’s followers or Roman Catholics without taking this into account and trying to help.” In recent years, the Catholic Church has had two major themes for shaping its identity in South Africa. “Throughout the latter years of Apartheid and resistance to Apartheid, the key motto for the Catholic Church at the time was ‘community serving humanity’,” he said. But the long-term and the future motto of the church has “become community in the service of reconciliation, justice, and peace”. Walton, chief of staff in the Office of the Anglican Archbishop in Southern Africa, talked
about the challenges for his community’s identity. “We need to take our identity and ensure that it becomes the identity of Christ,” he said. “It is my prayer that we embrace that identity, not only in word but in deed as we journey towards becoming a united church and becoming the united church of God.” Storey, in speaking about the Methodist Church in South Africa, questioned how its identity is being forged. “Is the identity of the Methodist church shaped primarily by theology and culture?”. He believes, he said, that the challenge is to change the identity of the church because of its history. “It seems that Jesus took on his own culture and He expects the same from us as leaders of the church.” Pillay remarked that despite the challenges the church still faced, it played a big role in shaping South African society. “As the reformed churches, we know that we can’t tackle all the issues in the world,” he said. To address and rectify issues of poverty and justice, the Church must not only work with other churches, but other religions as well, he added. Biyela observed that wherever there are human needs, Lutherans are there to help. “We believe that we were not saved to earn salvation but saved to serve the neighbour; this is who we are as Lutherans,” he said. He cited as example the Lutheran Training Centre in Swaziland, where they train people to stock and farm crops. “This programme is about empowering people. We offer relief and also work with people who are not from the church but are willing to help the needy.” Rinquest explained that Baptists are essentially a very broad Evangelical grouping, but have a number of theological distinctions that they hold in common with other Christians. “What unites Baptists and other Christians is far more than what divides them,” he said. He added that Baptist Identity is defined by submission to the Word of God in everything, with the consequent rejection of all else that has no explicit requirement in Scripture. “The quest for identity is an ongoing quest that should prevent a static expression of this identity, but experience would tend to suggest this is contrary to the religious side of human nature that often interprets change as a threat rather than an opportunity for a clearer and firmer expression of that identity,” he said.
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13
Arts
Insurrections CD launched for lovers of fine music
PRIDE
Y ENGAGEMENT LEGAC
M
usic lovers were treated to the fine tunes of Insurrections at the launch of the ensemble’s CD launch at the District Six Museum Homecoming Centre in Cape Town. The album was produced by South Africa History Online (SAHO) and the Centre for Humanities Research (CHR) at UWC. The CD is a collection of 12 compositions put together by 15 musicians and poets from South Africa and India, all celebrated in their respective fields. The School of Culture and Creative Expressions of the Ambedkar University Delhi hosted a similar launch in India in January. The musical collaboration is said to have started as a conversation between South African poet Ari Sitas and Indian singer Sumangala Damodaran in 2010. That led to an ‘interactive, collective poetry text’, and a performance of what’s now known as the Insurrections ensemble at the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town in October 2012. The positive response to that performance inspired the CD, which features the likes of Sitas (also a renowned sociologist), Damodaran (an economist by trade), drummer Claude Cozens, musicologist and guitarist Sazi Dlamini, singer Neo Muyanga, playwright and poet Malika Ndlovu, and singer and guitarist Tina Schouw. Chairing the CD launch in Cape Town, founder and CEO of SAHO, Omar Badsha, explained that the project and music aims to bring South Africa and India closer together as they face similar problems. “It is a collaboration between the two countries,” he said. “I feel that the change to make South Africa and India into better countries is happening, and this change is reflected in the music.”
UWC Alumni Association
60s & 70s ALUMNI REUNION
UWC invites graduates and past students to attend the 60s and 70s Alumni Reunion Weekend Date: Friday, 4 October to Sunday, 6 October 2013 Venue: UWC Campus Cost: R500/person or R800/couple or R250/day For more information visit our website: www.uwc.ac.za/alumni or contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@uwc.ac.za or Tel: +27 21 959 2143. Don’t forget to follow us on: www.facebook.com/uwcalumni
Chairing the launch of the CD was Omar Badsha, depicted here with some of the members of the Insurrections ensemble.
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14
Sport
UWC volleyballers represent Africa
T
he UWC Beach Volleyball Club pairing of Leo Williams and Jerome Fredericks flew the African flag high when they took part in the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Beach Volleyball World Cup Final in Brazil in early June. The two qualified for the event as the top pair in Africa, after they beat, among others, the 2012 Olympians Grant Goldschmidt and Freedom Chiya, who are also UWC Club members. By winning all three national events they took part in since the beginning of the year, they earned the most points on the South African Beach Volleyball Circuit and on the continent. The Mitchell’s Plain-born Williams, who now lives in Newlands, graduated with a BCom degree from UWC in 2008 and is doing his honours in marketing and management at the University. He was also selected to represent South Africa at the World Student Games in Kazan, Russia, from 1 to 7 July. Williams believes that although they finished ninth out of 10 countries in Brazil (the tournament was won by the Brazilian pair of Alison Cerutti and Emanuel Rego), they are not far behind the rest of the world. “The skill set is the same, but other countries put more hours of training into the sport, they play more international tournaments and they have better facilities than we do,” Williams explains. Now Williams and Fredericks are eying the FIVB Durban-KZN Open to be held on Durban’s New Beach in December. The pair are sponsored by Mainstay.
Jerome Fredericks (SA) and Ben Saxton (Canada) at the Beach Volleyball World Cup Final in Brazil in May. (Photo by Hélio Suenaga)
Rachel Sebati has given the UWC Ladies FC the impetus it requires to succeed.
Studying and sport a good marriage
W
hen Rachel Sebati started playing football, her parents warned her that it was a dangerous sport and that she would get injured. Such was her passion for the sport, though, that she didn’t heed their advice. Years later, even her parents may have agreed that their daughter’s defiance had paid off as she went from strength to strength in her game. Sebati’s talent didn’t go unnoticed as she caught the eye of national selectors and represented South Africa at under-17 and -20 levels. But just as Sebati was about to be called up to the national senior women’s team, Banyana Banyana, in 2011, it seemed their warning had come true. She suffered career-threatening injuries, a hip relocation and a stress fracture that she incurred in training. “I thought it was the end of my career, especially when I was told that those particular injuries take time to heal,” recalls Sebati, a first-year BA student at UWC. But Sebati, who hails from Mkweng in Limpopo, had someone to look up to in Banyana midfielder Mary Ntsweng, who was her teammate at the South African Football Association’s High Performance Centre in Pretoria. “She motivated me and told me that this will be over.” That patience has been rewarded as, once again, Sebati’s football career is flourishing. She is a member of the Banyana squad and was part of the University Sport South Africa (USSA) team that participated in this year’s 27th World Student Games in the Russian city of Kazan. The arrival of Sebati, a central midfielder, and other national players has beefed up the University’s women football club, UWC Ladies, who are putting a strong challenge for honours in all three competitions they are participating: the South African Football Association Western Cape’s Sasol Women’s League, the USSA Western Cape Women’s League and SAFA’s Cape Town-organised Coca Cola Tournament. And after downing champions, Cape Town Roses, 3-1 in July, Sebati and company have all the more reason to be confident. “We have a good squad and can beat any team on any given day,” she says. Sebati believes that the UWC team boasts many top-class women footballers, which bodes well for the team’s trophy ambitions. “There is too much competition in the team. And when you play with the best, you become the best.” How does she cope with university work and her busy football schedule? “It’s my life to study and play at the same time. If I do not, I feel there is something missing. Actually, if I don’t train for a day, I can’t study. I just feel tired and end up sleeping.” And Sebati has a few words of advice of her own for fellow students. “Be active in sport, for your own benefit.”
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15
Sport
UWC dance champs of 2013
U
WC dancers have got a few more moves on them, going by the results from the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Dancesport Championship, hosted by the UWC. Eighteen institutions from across the country battled it out on the dance floor for top honours and the right to be crowned Latin and ballroom dancing champions. The competition categories included individual couples, team match and formation dancing. UWC’s Dancesport Team showed their competitors why they are South Africa’s best by successfully clinching the overall USSA Dancesport Championship title, the Team Match Latin title, and the Team Match Standard title. Vaal University of Technology (VUT) danced off with first place in the Formation Category, with UWC finishing second and the University of Limpopo coming in third. The Western Cape Province, consisting of UWC and Cape Peninsula University of Technology dancers (CPUT), clinched the title for the Provincial Team Match Standard, while Gauteng Province won the Provincial Team Match Latin category. UWC Sport and Tournament Manager, Edwin Wyngaard, expressed his pride in his team’s achievements, but also sang the praises of the other institutions. “We would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to each and every participant for making this tournament a success,” he said.
Nadia Fisher and Adrian Heyns represented UWC at the USSA Dance Sport Tournament.
The UWC dancesport team successfully defended their USSA dancesport winning title at the USSA Dancesport Championships.
The results were as follows: Team Match Standard 1 University of the Western Cape 2 Cape Peninsula University of Technology 3 University of KwaZulu-Natal
Formation 1. Vaal University of Technology 2. University of the Western Cape 3. University of Limpopo
Provincial Team Match Latin 1. Gauteng Province 2. Western Cape Province 3. Eastern Cape Province
Team Match Latin 1 University of the Western Cape 2 Tshwane University of Technology 3 Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Provincial Team Match Standard 1. Western Cape Province 2. Eastern Cape Province 3. KwaZulu- Natal Province
Overall winners 2013 1. University of the Western Cape 2. Cape Peninsula University of Technology 3. University of KwaZulu-Natal
16
Sport
UWC rugby players off to UK
F
ive UWC players, three of them current students, have been named in the South African under-20 women’s rugby squad that will tour England in July. Students Mamoena Gamiet, Ezryn van Aswegen and Jané Winster, as well as Bulelwa Qwane and Michelle Vaaltyn, made the cut after impressing selectors in camps over the past several months. Their selection is in addition to the three players from the UWC Rugby Ladies team who are part of the senior Springbok squad, taking the tally of the University players in national teams to eight. Days before they joined the final under-20 camp that preceded the tour of England, the UWC students couldn’t hide their delight at their selection. “It came as a shock and I was surprised but very happy,” commented Winster, who hails from the famed Little Karoo town of Oudtshoorn. The three were quick to point out that their trip to England is not for a holiday. “Our number one priority is to win the tour for our country. And, of course, enjoy ourselves,” said the Knysna-born Van Aswegen. Winster believes that the University has created an environment in which it’s rugby team is able to thrive, the team is also diverse with members from high school and university mixed with some professionals. This, she said, makes the team a good motivational platform. And the senior Springboks in the team provide a good yardstick against which to measure their own performances. “They push us to our limits and we can see where we are by playing alongside them,” commented Gamiet, who lives in Athlone. The three students have a few other rugby dreams, including winning the Olympics and the World Cup for South Africa, and furthering their careers abroad.
(From left) Ezryn van Aswegen, Jané Winster and Mamoena Gamiet were selected onto the national under-20 women’s rugby squad.
UWC’s top boxers will represent the institution at the USSA Boxing tournament in December.
UWC Boxing Club packs a mean punch
U
WC’s head of boxing, Edwin Wyngaard, is convinced that his boxers will do well at the University Sport South Africa (USSA) games in December. Wyngaard, a UWC sports administrator, says that his boxers are putting in the hours for the competition and feels confident that they will bring home at least three medals this year. Last year two UWC boxers earned spots in the USSA Boxing final, but were narrowly defeated on points. “The boxers are dedicated to doing well this year. We have a couple of good fighters that will make UWC proud.” Overseeing the UWC campaign will be coach Ayanda Mapasa, who, says Wyngaard, is just the man you want in your corner at an event like the USSA competition. “Mapasa is very good at analysing our boxers and our competitors. He can tell you exactly what your strengths and weaknesses are, and what you need to work on.” The UWC Boxing team consists of 20 members, male and female, and the club is open to anyone who is willing to join (students, staff and non-students). “The role of UWC Boxing is to train boxers to do well in competition and to promote fitness, wellness and discipline, which is very important,” notes Wyngaard. “Endurance and dedication are very important in this sport, and that filters through to the students not only in their daily lives but in their studies as well.” For UWC staff who want to get in tip-top shape for summer, a boot camp is offered. If you are interested in joining UWC Boxing, contact Wyngaard on 021 959 3131 or ewyngaard@uwc.ac.za. If you wish to join in on the boot camp, contact Andrew Wrankmore at 021 959 3449 or awrankmore@uwc.ac.za.
UWC MEDIA OFFICE
Do you have any important UWC stories to share? Do you know of an event on campus that you’d like to see featured? Have you heard of UWC alumni who’ve done amazing things, which you think the world should know about? Or maybe you have a few suggestions, comments or questions about something in this newsletter? Whatever the case may be, the UWC Media Office would really like to hear from you. Just email us on ia@uwc.ac.za , call us on 021 959 9566, or drop by our offices. UWC CONTRIBUTORS
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