The University of Cape Town (UCT) is deeply committed to advancing women’s access, success, and leadership across all spheres of academic and social life. Guided by its Vision 2030 focus on inclusion and transformation, UCT actively promotes gender equity through targeted recruitment, mentorship, and support initiatives that empower women students and staff to thrive. Programmes such as the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP), Women in Law, and faculty-based networks foster professional growth, confidence, and community. Through research, public engagement, and the celebration of women role models, UCT continues to inspire future generations of women to lead change locally and globally.

Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP)

Entrepreneurship / empowerment space (student mentoring and peer support)

SWEEP uses entrepreneurship to empower women students, especially those affected by sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). And while doing so, aims to build a pipeline of successful women entrepreneurs in the country.

SWEEP is not unique to UCT. The initiative operates at South Africa’s 26 public universities, which means a large group of women students benefit from the programme. It is made possible through a collaboration between the British Council and the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Programme – an arm of the Department of Higher Education and Training that is dedicated to driving student and graduate entrepreneurship. At an institutional level, the initiative is supported by Careers Service at UCT.

A student-led community that creates an inclusive, supportive safe space for women students, SWEEP provides budding entrepreneurs with resources and guidance they need on how to start their entrepreneurial journeys, gives them a platform to connect with other likeminded women to share their ideas and aspirations, and allows members to participate in mentoring and coaching programmes and motivational talks facilitated by successful entrepreneurs.

UCT Women’s Month programme / Women’s Day Luncheon (August 2024)

Showcasing UCT’s commitment to celebrating the remarkable women within our community, a set of Women's Month events was offered across August 2024 celebrating and supporting women at UCT — including public lectures, panels, Women’s Day luncheon and networking opportunities that function as mentoring, role-modelling and leadership recognition.

The audience included UCT students, staff, alumni and invited guests and community groups.

UCT Graduate School of Business: Women in Business Conference (25th Annual, 2024) and related mentoring/networking sessions

The GSB’s long-running annual Women in Business conference provides panels, speaker sessions, networking and mentorship opportunities connecting students, alumni and industry mentors. Students, alumnae, business leaders are all invited to this opportunity for mentoring with a networking focus.

Executive education / Learning Store: “Developing Women in Leadership”

The structured executive education short course, Developing Women in Leadership, that builds leadership, negotiation and mentoring/coaching skills for women leaders, is run through UCT’s Graduate School of Business as a paid CPD-style programme.  It was available in 2024 to women professionals, mid-career and senior staff (also open to students in some cases).

SHAWCO: Sisterhood Unite and other girls’ mentoring programmes (community partnership)

SHAWCO Education’s Sisterhood Unite and other initiatives (i-Matter, violence-prevention and mentorship projects) run in local high schools and communities to empower and mentor girls and young women. These are delivered by SHAWCO student volunteers from UCT in partnership with local schools and community centres.

Girls and young women in local schools/communities (Khayelitsha, Hout Bay, etc.) benefitted from mentoring programmes offered by UCT students.

Women in Law (WiL) student society (Law Faculty)

The Women in Law student society provides mentorship and support to women students: a platform to connect with other women students and lawyers; enhancing skills; sharing experiences navigating law degree and future career.

Femmeact (Actuarial Science, Faculty of Commerce, UCT)

A student-led initiative at UCT to support women in the actuarial science field. They convene webinars and platforms for career experience and role models and tackling gender issues. Femmeact has links with the Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA), the Association of South African Black Actuarial Professionals (ASABA), and the Actuarial Women’s Committees (AWCs) within those organisations.

“Become activists for science” / school-to-university mentorship partnerships

STEM outreach with mentoring elements

A mentorship programme that connects school learners with academic mentors to support subject choice, university applications and early academic development. While not exclusively women-only, the programme is part of UCT’s outreach and in 2024 included targeted activities that benefited female learners interested in STEM careers.

Resident mentoring, peer helpers, house committee support

Many residences have informal tutoring by senior students, and many residences operate a mentoring system for new students. Peer helpers are available for emotional, personal or academic difficulties. Wardens, house committees etc. also have roles in supporting student transition and well-being.

First-year mentoring programmes

The Commerce “EDU” (Education Development Unit) has a First-Year Mentoring Programme. All first-year students in the EDU faculty are paired with senior students who act as mentors, meeting weekly in first semester, less frequently later, to support with academic life, navigation of UCT, managing tutorials, and other challenges of adapting to university life.

The Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment has a programme where undergraduate students (especially first years) are paired with alumni mentors. The aim is to guide career and academic development, offer networking, share experience and support. Mentors are trained; meetings are regular (face-to-face, email or other).

In addition to the teaching and learning input offered to students on the Humanities Extended Degree Programmes, the Humanities Faculty Mentorship Programme (HFMP) provides a social support network for first-year students. Students are automatically assigned senior student mentors, who are trained; they meet regularly; support themes include adjusting to university, social / academic pressures.