Business Development

About Business Development

The Business Development team provides quality business and enterprise development advice, support and services to the UWC community. At Business Development, we concentrate on facilitating and supporting diversification of the UWC revenue base.

This office manages, amongst others, the academic venues and facilities through the Venue Management Office and the UWC commercial/rental property portfolio.

The team also assists on budget reviews for Continuing Education courses, management consulting projects, manages selected student accommodation units (River Park apartments), supports the Technology Transfer Office and UWC Innovations (Pty) Ltd on Intellectual Property (IP) commercialisation projects and deals.

The team is also engaged in the facilitation of numerous technology-led innovation initiatives from a commercial perspective which includes financial modelling and high tech business modelling. We have played roles in facilitating campus wide innovative projects and promote a culture of collaboration with people and organisations both inside and outside of the traditional academic sphere.

General Enquiries
Email: busdev@uwc.ac.za
Telephone: 021 959 2603

Tenant Portfolio Management

UWC’s property portfolio ranges from tenants at the Robert Sobukwe Road campus to tenants at the satellite campuses in Tygerberg, Mitchell's Plain and Bellville City Centre. The Business Development team manages the activities associated with lease negotiations, renewals, site inspections, meter readings, invoicing and debt collection, as well as representation on body corporate structures.

The team provides input and support on the retail components of any new UWC infrastructure project.

Telephone: 021 959 2603
Email: busdev@uwc.ac.za

Venue Management Office

The UWC Venue Management Office (VMO) oversees the allocation of teaching and lecture venues to meet the requirements established by the academic timetable of the university. This involves balancing the competing needs of classes and academics to find the right combinations of classes and venues to best serve the UWC stakeholders.

The VMO also assists student affiliated bodies and structures, and academic departments with venues allocations for meetings, workshops and seminars.

Various external parties often request use of UWC facilities and the VMO plays an important role to facilitate access to UWC facilities where the nature of the request is aligned with the teaching, research, scholarship and outreach ambitions of the university.

The VMO manages access to UWC facilities by companies for the purposes of corporate promotions (activations, flyers, posters, sound events) and film shoots.

Telephone: 021 959 3528/9467
Email: vmo@uwc.ac.za

Director

Mr Sujit Bhagattjee is responsible for the strategic management of third-stream income, corporate finance, transaction advisory services and venue management.

Mr Bhagattjee has a wealth of experience in generating revenues, property management, facilities management, property development, government relations, logistics, finance, governance and policy design. He has held many senior roles at ABSA, Transnet and PRASA and over the last decade was responsible for Transnet National Port Authority’s Business Development division, and Property Portfolio Manager in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

Mr Bhagattjee is community oriented and serves as chair and committee member of various community and religious boards. He also serves as a committee member of various professional entities.  
Email: sbhagattjee@uwc.ac.za