University of the Western Cape (UWC) in University Western Cape, Bellville, Western Cape

UWC is a research-rich environment with a highly qualified academic staff, 50% of which hold doctorates. 

Most departments have graduate programmes, some with the largest intake in the country.

UWC is proud of The Centre for Innovative Educational and Communication Technologies (CIECT) that has put eLearning into the global field with different and innovative teaching and learning methodologies. 

Faculties

• Arts
• Community & Health Services
• Dentistry
• Economic & Management Sciences
• Education
• Law
• Natural Sciences 

Institutes 

• Further Education & Training Institute 
• Microbial Biotechnology & Metagenomics 
• Oral & Dental Research 
• Poverty, Land & Agrarian Studies
• Social Development 
• South African Herbal Science & Medicine Institute 
• South African Institute of Advanced Materials Chemistry 
• South African National Bioinformatics Institute 
• Water Studies 

Aims

• Advance and protect the independence of the academic enterprise.
• Design curricular and research programmes appropriate to the African context.
• Further global perspectives for staff and students.
• Assist educationally disadvantaged students. 
• Develop effective structures and conventions of governance.
• Seek racial and gender equality.
• Encourage and provide opportunities for all students.
• Help conserve and explore environmental and cultural resources.
• Co-operate fully with other stakeholders to develop the higher education system.

Mission 

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​To be 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
• Helping build an equitable and dynamic society. 
• Advance and protect the independence of the academic enterprise.
• Design curricular and research programmes appropriate to its southern African context.
• Further global perspectives among its staff and students 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.

Vision 

• Creating, preserving and disseminating knowledge that is dynamic and relevant to the challenges of a modern world.
• Retaining its status as an autonomous institution. 
• The will and the ability to act, to be an agent of change.
• To use its mandate to create and maintain a sense of hope for the nation whilst helping to build an equitable and dynamic society.

Alumni 

• Cudore Snell.1973. Dean and Professor at school of social work, Howard University, USA.
• Hendrik Swartz. 1998 Hospital manager at Life Queenstown Hospital.
• Jerry Laka: 2010. assistant coach to Bnayana Banyana national womens football team
• Malebona Rrecious Matsoso. 1990 Director general of national department of health

Residences

The UWC has 13 residences, 8 of these being on campus and in total the university houses 3 300 students.

History

​ UWC's key concerns with access, equity and quality in higher education arise from extensive practical engagement in helping the historically marginalised participate fully in the life of the nation.

In 1959, Parliament adopted legislation establishing the University College of the Western Cape as a constituent college of the University of South Africa for people classified as "Coloured". 

Protest action by students and black academic staff led to the appointment, in 1975, of the first black Rector. 

UWC takes pride in the fact that so many of its senior academics and alumni found themselves in public office at all levels, a number in the national cabinet.