Summary:
- The University of the Western Cape (UWC) plans to add over 5,000 new student beds by 2026, increasing total residence capacity to more than 16,000, addressing critical housing shortages that affect student success and safety in South Africa’s public university sector.
- The expansion includes on-campus developments and partnerships, notably the final phase of the Kovacs build-operate-transfer project adding 896 beds by 2027, alongside the recently opened 2,720-bed Unibell complex, enhancing access and community facilities close to academic buildings.
- UWC’s collaboration with private developers reduces upfront public costs and accelerates delivery, supporting a national effort to improve affordable student housing, which benefits learners’ academic performance, mental health, and local economies in the Western Cape.
Original article:
