UCT has structured governance and oversight arrangements that incorporate external stakeholders into its decision-making bodies and permit community, civil society and other external participation. These mechanisms include the statutory Council, which has a majority of external members; an Institutional Forum that advises the Council on transformation and matters affecting the university community; and also subsidiary advisory and working groups which provide pathways for stakeholder input. The Council governs the university and is constituted according to the provision of the Higher Education Act, 1997, and the University of Cape Town Statute. These systems provide formal opportunities for local residents, local government representatives, and civil society agents (including community organisations) to influence UCT decision-making.

Evidence

  1. Council membership requirement of external members
    • the UCT Council is composed in terms of the Higher Education Act: the Council has a maximum of 30 members, of whom 60% must be external to the university. This includes a nominee of the Cape Town City Council and a nominee of the Premier of the Western Cape, as well as 5 Ministerial appointees.
    • the Council governs the university, including the submission of the required reports and is the highest decision-making body.
    • By requiring a majority of external members (i.e., members not employed by UCT), UCT ensures that external stakeholders (which may include local government appointees, civil society representatives or community-appointed persons) are formally part of the decision-making body.
  2. Institutional Forum as an advisory body for staff, students and community issues
    • The same fact sheet notes that UCT has an “Institutional Forum” which is required by the Higher Education Act, and is constituted by members elected or appointed by Council, Senate and the Vice-Chancellor, as well as recognised staff bodies and student organisations.
    • The mandate of the Institutional Forum includes advising Council on issues affecting the university, issues of transformation, the procedures for the appointment of candidates to senior management positions.
    • This provides a structured mechanism by which internal and external (via appointed members) stakeholder representatives can engage with institutional decision-making and monitor transformation and inclusion issues.
  3. New Council constituted July 2024 (demonstrating current mechanisms)
    • A UCT News article dated 8 July 2024 notes that a new UCT Council now constituted was appointed, based on the institutional statute.
    • This shows the mechanism is active and current, with stakeholder-participation channels formally refreshed.

UCT embeds external stakeholder representation into its top decision-making structure (Council) by requiring a majority of external members, and establishes advisory bodies (Institutional Forum) that enable stakeholder input on key institutional issues. The governance framework clearly provides meaningful mechanisms by which local residents, local government, civil society or community organisations may be included in decision making at the highest level of the university.