UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Robert Balfour. Image: Shelley Christians / UWC

At a time when South African higher education faces growing pressure, from funding constraints to rising student needs, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) is making a clear statement: institutional strength begins with staff capacity.

This message came through strongly during UWC’s annual General Staff Orientation, where 150 staff members were formally welcomed through a three-day programme hosted by the Human Resources Department. 

Addressing the cohort, UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Robert Balfour described their arrival as timely, noting the recent approval of UWC’s new Institutional Operating Plan (IOP), which will guide the University over the next five years.

“If there was ever a document where you needed to chart the course for the next five years, a map for the territory that is UWC in its national space, that is your source document,” he said.

Prof Balfour emphasised that strategy is not owned solely by leadership, framing UWC’s direction around four core questions: Who are we? What do we do? Where are we heading? What do we need to get there? Every staff member helps answer these questions through their work.

New UWC staff members. Image: Shelley Christians/ UWC

The orientation introduced staff to UWC’s strategic portfolios, governance processes, and academic and professional divisions, while also fostering a sense of belonging - a crucial foundation for long-term institutional resilience.

He also highlighted the importance of direct engagement in institutional culture. “Pick up the phone, get off the chair, go and have the conversation,” he urged, noting that complex challenges are best resolved through human interaction rather than emails alone.

UWC’s commitment to internal growth was reflected in the experience of Elethu Mpoki, who progressed from undergraduate and postgraduate studies to an internship, and is now permanently employed at the University.

“I am very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given by the institution and the department,” Mpoki said. “It shows that there is real growth within the institution.”

Image: Supplied

She highlighted the importance of impact, particularly on students. “Having been here for so long, I’ve seen the difference individuals and departments make, especially in the communities we serve.”

Long-term staff commitment was echoed by Rodrique George, a lecturer in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences who has served UWC for 17 years.

“I came here because the institution allows one to think critically,” he said. “Our students are not thought-disadvantaged. They are capable, critical and full of potential.”

What has kept him at UWC, he explained, is its people-centred ethos and commitment to access and opportunity. “I could have gone elsewhere, but I remain proud to associate myself with this institution.”

The University’s long-term approach to capacity-building was reinforced by Executive Director of Human Resources, Meko Magida. “We develop you,” he said, outlining structured programmes for training, career management, coaching and mentoring. Senior and management-level staff, he added, are supported through formal mentorship frameworks to ensure sustainable leadership development.

As UWC embarks on its next strategic phase, the General Staff Orientation stands as more than a welcome; it is a declaration that people are central to institutional success.