The University of the Western Cape has lost a towering figure in Professor Brian O’Connell, former ViceChancellor and Rector of UWC. He transformed the university into a premier research institution, safeguarding its independence and amalgamating Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Dentistry into UWC. His legacy will continue to inspire those who follow in his footsteps, and his memory will forever be etched in the history of South African higher education. Professor O’Connell was a man of vision, courage, and virtue, leaving an everlasting legacy of purpose.
The UN Women’s Participation in Higher Education in Southern Africa: Understanding the Regional Scenario webinar, hosted by the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa, highlighted the persistent gender inequities in South African higher education. These disparities result from systemic barriers that began during the apartheid era and are still being felt today.