UCT Sustainability and the SDGs 2022 - Report - Page 42
Democratic
values, practices,
universal principles of human
rights, justice &
the rule of law
entrenched
11
12
Capable
institutions &
transformative
leadership in
place
13
Peace,
security &
stability is
preserved
SDG 16: PEACE, JUSTICE AND
STRONG INSTITUTIONS
UCT provides a safe and neutral space for thinkers and speakers from a variety of political
backgrounds to hold frank discussions on contemporary challenges in South Africa today.
As part of UCT’s Vision 2030 goal to be an institution unleashing knowledge in, for and
from Africa, there is also much work done to support democratic institutions and good
governance in South Africa and on the continent.
Protecting academic freedom
Academic freedom is enshrined at UCT and actively
protected by an Academic Freedom Committee.
A flagship initiative springing from this value is the annual
TB Davie Memorial Lecture on academic freedom. This
was established by UCT students and is organised by the
Academic Freedom Committee. The lecture is delivered
by distinguished speakers who are invited to speak on a
theme related to academic and human freedom. In 2022,
Professor Fran Baum (University of Adelaide) delivered
the 56th TB Davie Memorial Lecture titled, “Activism and
the corporate university: incompatible or possible?”.
42 – University of Cape Town
Part of the culture of academic freedom is to foster
public debate and engagement. The Vice-Chancellor’s
Open Lecture series was established to enable anyone
in the community, whether they are connected to the
university or not, to have the benefit of hearing first-hand
from academics, researchers, and innovators from South
Africa, but particularly from those around the world, who
have distinguished themselves in their areas of expertise.
Attendance to the lectures is free of charge, as the series
is one of the ways that UCT seeks to give back to the
Cape Town community.
