(Published - 3 July 2020)

Dear Colleagues and Students,

It gives me great pleasure to release the 2019 DVC Academic Reflective Report for your perusal.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic portfolio is the largest DVC portfolio at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). As DVC: Academic at UWC, I am leading the academic project, focusing on learning and teaching, academic planning, the university in the digital age, as well as community engagement. Central to the academic project is the notion that the students and academic staff members are co-creators of knowledge and that, at the heart of this endeavour, lies excellence and the success of our students with a deep commitment to social justice and being change agents. The seven faculties are centrally positioned within the portfolio, supported by the four Directorates of Teaching and Learning (T&L), the Centre for Innovative Education and Communication Technologies (CIECT), the Academic Planning Unit (APU) and the Community Engagement Unit (CEU).  

As the University’s Institutional Operating Plan (IOP) 2016— 2020 comes to an end in December 2020, my section of this Reflective Report is an evaluation of the most pertinent work done since 2016, including the successes and work that needs to be consolidated, accelerated or become opportunities for innovation in the next IOP. The report reflects on aspects of strategic integrated planning and implementation and highlights the priorities for 2020.

Kind regards,

Prof Vivienne Lawack
Acting Rector and Vice-Chancellor