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Teacher Professional Development

SDU has been responsible for convening a number of CPTD qualifications. The university has now chosen to register a number of ACT courses, in line with the new national policy on teacher education qualifications.

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Schools Improvement Initiative

The SII is one of the university’s key strategic initiatives. The Initiative draws on the university’s broader resources to support the Western Cape Education Department in improving the quality of education in this province.

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Imagine the possibilities!

Imagine what South Africa could be like if every child in this country had access to a quality education. Imagine the things we could do and make happen if whole generations of young people receive the best teaching and learning possible.

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100-up at UCT Open Day

100UP is a UCT project that aims to address the problem of under-representation by targeting school learners from disadvantaged backgrounds and coaching them towards access to the university.

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Schools Development Unit: Empowering Educators, Learners and Transforming Schools

Welcome to the Schools Development Unit (SDU) – Your Partner in Teacher Professional Growth

Empowering Educators: ACT

Since 2000, the SDU has been a leading provider of teacher professional development programs. Over the past two decades, we have proudly graduated more than 1,800 teachers and school managers through our Advanced Certificates in Education (ACE) and Advanced Certificate in Teaching (ACT) programs. In addition, our university-approved short courses have attracted over 3,000 registrations, equipping educators with vital skills and knowledge.

Grad Day — Graduation Day, ACT IP on 8 September 2025

Empowering Learners: 100UP

100UP is the University of Cape Town’s flagship outreach initiative, dedicated to identifying promising learners from disadvantaged communities and supporting their journey into higher education.

Through mentorship, academic guidance, and steady encouragement, the programme has cultivated incredible success stories — young people who have grown in confidence and gone on to thrive at UCT and beyond.

Why Continuous Professional Teacher Development (CPTD)?

Our extensive experience affirms that ongoing professional development is the most effective way to enhance teaching quality and improve educational outcomes. As articulated by the South African Council for Educators (SACE):

“Activities undertaken individually or collectively by educators throughout their careers to enhance their professional knowledge, understanding, competence and leadership capacity; in particular to increase their mastery of the curriculum and their teaching areas, their skill in teaching and facilitating learning, their understanding of children and young people and their developmental needs, and their commitment to the best interests of their learners and their school, the well-being of their communities and the ethics of the education profession.”
— SACE, Design of the Continuous Professional Teacher Development System, Version 13A, 2008

Join Us on the Journey of Lifelong Learning

Professional development for teachers is a career-long journey—deepening content knowledge, refining teaching methods, and applying best practices to make a meaningful difference in the classroom.

Mathematics Teacher Development Course in the Healthy Futures South Africa (HFSA) project, 2025

Discover Our Programs

Advanced Certificates in Education (ACE)
Advanced Certificates in Teaching (ACT)
Short Courses (University-Approved)

Invest in your professional growth. Transform your teaching. Impact your learners.

Get Started Today!

Schools Wellness Centre, Schools Improvement Initiative. A longer, more detailed clip can be viewed on YouTube. Credit: Prof Martin Hall, connectedlearningstudio.org;martinhallfacilitation.org

Here follows a slideshow of some activities and engagements of the SDU in 2025:

UCT's 100UP IMPACT REPORT

UCT's 100UP Programme impacts communities and families, one student at a time.