Uwc 360 issue 9

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THREE-SIXT-E | ALUMNI E-NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 9/JUNE 2014

ALUMNI E-NEWSLETTER | ISSUE 9/JUNE 2014

Contact the Alumni Relations Office: Tel: +27 21 959 2143 | Fax: 021 959 9791 | Email: alumni@uwc.ac.za | www.uwc.ac.za/alumni http://twitter.com/UWConline | http://www.facebook.com/uwcalumni

Developing the Future

Building on excellence In order to compete effectively with other institutions, including better resourced, historically advantaged universities, UWC has to constantly improve its resources and infrastructure. The erection of the Life Sciences Building in 2010 and the recently completed Chemistry Building are just two examples of the rapidly improving infrastructure at UWC. Prof Michael Davies-Coleman, Dean of the Faculty of Science, says: “When you improve a university’s facilities you begin to attract the most talented students and staff. As a result, the national and international profile of the university starts to accelerate rapidly. In turn, it increases the value of the degrees – past, present and future – associated with the university. Therefore universities have to continually improve what they deliver in the interests of their alumni ... It is an expensive exercise. Investment in this type of infrastructure is a real indicator of a commitment to the delivery of quality science and technology teaching and research by this university. This building is specifically designed for safe, large-scale, hands-on chemistry

teaching and research. It must rate as the finest chemistry building on the continent – to my knowledge the only one that doesn’t have any gas cylinders inside the building. All the gases are piped in from the outside which is a massive health and safety feature most universities cannot afford. Gases like nitrogen and argon are accessible literally on tap and will be available to any lab inside the building.” The Dean is justifiably proud of the Science Faculty’s success. According to a report issued in 2012 by the National Research Foundation (NRF), the University leads the country in the research impact of its physics, biochemistry and genetics research. The Science Faculty has a total of seven research chairs funded by the NRF. 3 200 students registered in 2014, with over 900 postgraduate students at honours, masters and PhD levels. Prof Davies-Coleman says he would encourage alumni to partner with the University to fund new world-class facilities such as the Chemistry Building. Alumni who are interested in supporting this project may contact the Alumni Relations Office at 021 959 2143 or email alumni@uwc.ac.za. PAGE ONE

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