AI assessment symposium and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

Assessment practices in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) present new and evolving challenges. The University of Cape Town (UCT) is responding in several ways to support assessment practices. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Initiatives to support AI and assessment practices

AI continues to raise complex questions for assessment in higher education. It calls for ongoing review, experimentation and informed discussion. At UCT, work is underway to refine approaches that support fair, rigorous and thoughtful assessment practices.

Staff are invited to take part in two focused initiatives that form part of this work.

1.1 Assessment in the Age of AI: Do's, Don'ts and Don't Knows for current practices symposium

Staff are invited to register for the symposium, to be co-hosted by UCT and Stellenbosch University. The event will take place on 1 April 2026 from 09:00 to 16:00 at the Kramer Law Building on middle campus.

Registration is free and open until Friday, 13 March 2026.

• Register.

1.2 Survey: How AI is affecting assessment practices

Staff are invited to complete the AI and Assessment survey announced in December 2025. The findings will inform the development of support services and resources to strengthen AI literacy in education and support assessment practices at UCT.

• Read the full DVC Desk: Initiatives to support AI and assessment practices.

2. WUN Global Mental Health Symposium 2026 - call for abstracts

UCT will host the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) Global Mental Health Symposium 2026 at the Graduate School of Business on 23 and 24 June 2026. WUN Mental Health Leadership Group invites the UCT research community to submit abstracts for the symposium.

The theme for 2026 is "Digital mental health and inequalities", with opportunities to submit oral presentations, posters or panel proposals aligned to the symposium's sub-themes. The symposium brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners and community advocates to address global mental health challenges through strengthened collaboration across WUN, the African Research Universities Alliance and the ASEAN University Network.

• Read more about the concept and sub-themes.
• Access the submission guidelines and abstract portal.
• Register before 29 May 2026.

For more information, please contact the .

3. Welcoming UCT postgraduates and supervisors

UCT encourages postgraduate students to familiarise themselves early with the academic and support resources available to sustain their academic, mental and physical wellbeing. The university has developed a Postgraduate Support Ecosystem diagram, accompanied by digital brochures, to help students understand the services available during their studies.

The ecosystem outlines six categories of support and highlights 25 services covering areas such as wellbeing, writing, data analysis and entrepreneurship. Each service is supported by dedicated teams who provide tools, skills and guidance to assist students throughout their degrees. Students are encouraged to use these resources when needed.

As the leading institution on the continent, UCT welcomes its postgraduate community and wishes them success in the year ahead.

• Read the full DVC Desk: Welcoming UCT postgraduates and supervisors.

4. Installation of security fencing alongside P1

The Properties and Services department is in the process of installing new security fencing along the P1 parking area, with work having commenced on Monday, 9 March 2026. Installation is expected to be completed by the end of March 2026.

The fencing will extend from the bend at the lower end of P1 towards the rugby fields, with work starting at the bottom of P1 and progressing upwards. The project forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance staff and student safety and to address vehicle-related incidents in parking areas.

During the installation:

• three parking bays in P1 will be used for storage.
• intermittent parking disruptions may occur while work is underway.
• Traffic Services will manage traffic flow, where required.
• no road closures are expected.
• the pedestrian walkway alongside the parking area will remain accessible.
• cyclists and the public will not be impacted.

Please note that there will be an active construction site in the area for the duration of the project, and the UCT community is asked to exercise caution when passing through the area.

For more information, please contact .

5. ICTS scheduled maintenance on Sunday, 15 March

The UCT community is advised to note that Sunday, 15 March 2026 will be an ICTS scheduled maintenance slot from 09:00 to 17:00. Unless advised to the contrary, do not expect any on-premise ICT services to be available for the duration of the maintenance slot. Cloud-based services (including Amathuba, email, Microsoft 365, and ServiceNow) are not impacted and can still be accessed.

Please remember to consult the scheduled ICTS maintenance slots page for more information, including the reasons for regular monthly maintenance and to assist with planning any teaching, conferences, meetings, etc that require ICT services.

6. Parking discs for 2026 and approved fee adjustment

The UCT community is advised that 2026 parking discs are now available for purchase. Staff and students who wish to park on any UCT campus must obtain a valid parking disc from the Traffic Administration Office on upper campus.

Parking fees have increased by 3.5% for 2026, following approval by the UCT Executive Committee. This is the first adjustment since before the COVID-19 period. The increase supports the maintenance, sustainability and effective management of UCT's parking infrastructure, while keeping affordability in mind.

The adjustment also reflects the university's responsibility to provide safe, reliable and sustainable parking services that support teaching, learning and research activities.

Please note:

• Office hours are Monday to Thursday, 08:00-15:00, and Fridays, 08:00-14:00.
• First-year students are not eligible for parking discs.
• Restrictions apply to the bays in which students and staff may park.
• Daily, weekly and monthly temporary discs are available at either the Visitor Reception and Information Centre or the Traffic Administration Office.
• Carpool parking is available on upper campus P4 (enquire at the Traffic Administration Office).
• Parking on campus without a valid parking disc will result in a parking fine.

Queries may be directed to the or 021 650 3312 / 3313 / 3640.

Communication and Marketing Department