University of Cape Town is a research intensive, residential university with approximately 30,400 students. Located in South Africa, it is one of the continent’s premier higher education institutions.
Renowned for its academic excellence and research output, UCT offers a wide array of programs in various disciplines. The university is committed to addressing societal challenges through innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration. It strives to empower students and researchers to make meaningful contributions both locally and globally
The Centre for innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT) has been involved in various open initiatives since 2007.
The UNESCO Chair in Open Education and Social Justice
The UNESCO Chair in Open Education and Social Justice at the University of Cape Town focuses on the transformative potential of open education to address social inequalities.
Through research and advocacy, the Chair explores how Open Educational Resources (OER) can advance equitable access to knowledge. It aims to foster inclusive educational practices that empower marginalised communities, emphasising the role of open education in promoting social justice and sustainable development.
Glenda Cox
Associate Professor Glenda Cox works in the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT: http://www.cilt.uct.ac.za/) at the University of Cape Town and her portfolio includes postgraduate teaching, Curriculum change projects, Open Education, and Staff development.
She holds the UNESCO chair in Open Education and Social Justice (2021-2025) and is a member of the UNITWIN network on Open Education (2024-2028).
She is a Board member of the Open Education Global organisation. She is on the editorial board of the International Journal of Students as Partners (joined in 2022).
She is passionate about the role of Open Education in the changing the world of Higher Education.
Associate Professor Cox is currently the Principal Investigator in the Digital Open Textbooks for Development (DOT4D) initiative. Her current research includes analysing the role of open textbooks for social justice.
