UCT’s Staff Inclusivity Survey conducted in 2019 was an opportunity for staff members to express how engaged, represented, and valued they feel at UCT. UCT, with its unique environment, brings together people representing diverse backgrounds, cultures, sexual identities, languages, and experiences.

The in-depth baseline measurement captured the institution at a particular moment in its transformation journey, while 2025 represents an opportunity to measure progress against those original benchmarks and identify where we have excelled and where we can do better.

In 2025, the post-assessment of the InclusionIndex is envisaged to assess shifts over the five-year period (2020 until 2025), evaluate the impact of interventions, and inform ongoing strategic decision-making for the University.

To guarantee anonymity and confidentiality, an external service provider, Aephoria, is administering the voluntary survey. The initial phase (21 August to 13 September) involves the completion of an electronic or paper-based survey form in English, Afrikaans, or isiXhosa. The second phase (6 October to 31 October) comprises interviews and focus groups to explore in more depth the themes that have emerged from responses to the online and paper survey.

Based on the results, UCT will implement appropriate interventions from 2026 to 2030 to improve the sense of inclusivity at the institution.