University of the Western Cape

South Africa

The University of the Western Cape is a national university, alert to its African and international context as it strives to be a place of quality, a place to grow. It is committed to excellence in teaching, learning and research, to nurturing the cultural diversity of South Africa, and to responding in critical and creative ways to the needs of a society in transition. Drawing on its proud experience in the liberation struggle, the university is aware of a distinctive academic role in helping build an equitable and dynamic society.

In particular, it aims to:

• advance and protect the independence of the academic enterprise;
• design curricula and research programmes appropriate to its southern African context;
• further global perspectives among its staff and students, thereby strengthening intellectual life and contributing to South Africa's reintegration in the world community;
• assist educationally disadvantaged students gain access to higher education and succeed in their studies;
• nurture and use the abilities of all in the university community;
• develop effective structures and conventions of governance, which are democratic, transparent and accountable;
• seek racial and gender equality and contribute to helping the historically marginalised participate fully in the life of the nation;
• encourage and provide opportunities for lifelong learning through programmes and courses;
• help conserve and explore the environmental and cultural resources of the southern African region, and to encourage a wide awareness of them in the community;
• cooperate fully with other stakeholders to develop an excellent and, therefore, transformed higher education system.

The University of the Western Cape, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in the year 2000, is one of the youngest and most dynamic places of higher learning in South Africa. It was established in 1959 by an Act of Parliament as an ethnic college for "coloured" students. Since then, it has transformed itself from a small apartheid educational institution to an internationally recognised university with a reputation for excellence in teaching, learning and research.

The university opened its doors in 1960 in a vacant primary school building in Bellville South. The first 170 students, 10 of whom were female, enrolled for undergraduate courses in Arts, Science, and Education. Most qualified as nurses, social workers, librarians and teachers. They were taught by 17 academics who were assisted by 10 non-lecturing staff. 

Since then, the university has grown from three to seven faculties (Arts, Community and Health Sciences, Dentistry, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Law and Natural Sciences). These faculties comprise 68 departments and 16 institutes, schools and research centres. Student numbers have risen to 12 450, including approximately 215 international students. Postgraduate students make up 19% of the student body. Over 1 400 people, including 374 permanent academic staff, work at the university.

Postal address:

University of the Western Cape
Private Bag X17
Bellville 7535
Republic of South Africa

Physical address:

Modderdam Road
Bellville 7535
Republic of South Africa

General enquiries: (021) 959-2911

All telephone numbers on the UWC web site have the international code +27 and the area code (0)21.

 

Website:

http://www.uwc.ac.za