1903
The Faculty of Engineering at the South African College was created in 1903. UCT was give independence by an act on parliament in 1918. The first engineering graduates with University of Cape Town degrees were in the same year.
1985
The School of Architecture and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning amalgamated to form the School of Architecture and Planning in 1985. In mid 2002 the Department of Geomatics came into the fold, and the new School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics was formed in the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment.
1988
The Academic Support Programme for Engineering in Cape Town (ASPECT) was founded in 1988. It is an academic programme which aims to assist students who matriculate from school systems that have not adequately prepared them for tertiary study. It provides a good foundation in year 1, by providing additional academic and general support, so that students will adjust more easily to university life and be better equipped to tackle the subsequent years of the engineering degree.
1993
UCT director joins world association
Professor Dick Dutkiewicz, director of the energy research institute, is appointed to the board of the World Energy Efficiency Association.
UCT strengthens ties with African universities
Scientists and engineers from eight universities in sub-Saharan Africa visits UCT to explore joint development programmes with the university
1995
Electromechanical engineering course produces first graduates
The first students graduate from UCT's new electromechanical engineering programme, well prepared to enter the electrical power industry.
Professor John Abbott is appointed to a new chair of urban engineering, the first of its kind in Africa.
1996
Students reap bursaries
UCT students attract a large percentage of the Foundation for Research Development postgraduate bursaries for 1997 - ten of the 39 Masters scholarships, eight of the 21 doctoral scholarships and three of the five equity scholarships for doctoral studies.
1997
Ten faculties streamlined to six
Restructuring brings the number of faculties down from ten to six and establishes a Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED) to work with all faculties: Commerce, Law, Engineering & the Built Environment (incorporating architecture, planning and construction economics), Health Sciences (formerly medicine), Humanities (incorporating the arts, education, music and fine art), and Science.
1998
Low-cost housing design wins award
A low-cost housing project, developed by the civil engineering department in co-operation with the Triple Trust, is named the most innovative product at the Design for Living Exhibition in Cape Town. The design uses "ecobeams" that are erected over an existing shack and holds up a second storey so that the old shack can be demolished and removed afterwards.
2001
The BSc (Eng) in Civil Engineering was fully accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa in May 2001, the first Civil Engineering department in South Africa to have its programme evaluated on an outcomes basis.
2002
UCT rated among top universities
An international survey published in the UK's Financial Times, rates UCT as one of the top 23 universities, alongside institutions like Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, Oxford and Princeton. The universities were chosen according to a list of ten benchmarks, including the ability to recruit world-class faculty and students; a throughput of world-class visiting academics; alumni in positions of power and influence; leading-edge research and a history of quality.
Plans for the new Chemical Engineering Building on upper campus are approved by UCT Council.
The Sasol Advanced Fuels laboratory was set up in 2002 as a joint collaboration between Sasol and the University of Cape Town. The objective was to promote synthetic-fuel applications research with a future focus and to build capacity for Sasols future growth.
2003
Staff from the Department of Chemical Engineering fundraise for the new building. Key donors include Anglo Platinum, Anglo American, De Beers, BHP Billiton, Lonmin Platinum, Impala Platinum, Anglo Gold and Xstrata.
Professor George Ekama (head of the Department of Civil Engineering) and Heinz Ruther (Geomatics) become fellows of the South African Academy of Engineering.
2004
Department of Chemical Engineering move into their new building. As the largest Chemical Engineering Department in South Africa, the new building will house almost a third of South Africa's chemical engineers.
Energy & Development Research Centre and the Energy Research Institute merge to form the Energy Research Centre (ERC).
The Centre of Excellence in Catalysis was formally launched. The DST - NRF Centres of Excellence Programme was officially launched by the Minister of Science and Technology on 29 June 2004. The Centres are funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and administered via the National Research Foundation (NRF).
2005
Dr Jenni Case from the Department of Chemical Engineering receives a P-rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF). P-ratings are given to young researchers who have demonstrated exceptional potential in their fields.
Sasol Advanced Fuels Laboratory is officialy opened. Research at the laboratory includes collaboration with an international engine manufacturer to develop fuels for new-generation engines with ultra low emission levels that may render obsolete expensive catalytic converters on exhaust systems.
The EBE degree programmes are accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa which means that they continue to enjoy international approval through South Africa's membership of the Washington Accord - an international alliance that mutually recognises each countries' degree endorsements.
The UCT Centre of Excellence in Broadband Networks and Applications was voted the best Telkom research and teaching site at the annual South African Telecommunications Network and Applications Conference.
2006
Catalysis Research Unit upgraded to a Centre by the University Research Committee in recognition of their hard work in the catalysis field.
Minerals Processing Unit is upgraded to a Centre by the University Research Committee in recognition of their hard work in the field of mineral processing.
Precipitation & Crystallization Group was upgraded to a Unit.
Xstrata Development Programme was launched in the Department of Chemical Engineering. The aim of the programme is to produce more black chemical engineers.
Department of Education gave the EBE Faculty R16,4 million to enhance the faculty's capacity to produce more engineers and built environment professional for the country.
New cross-disciplinary research theme, "Minerals to Metals" was launched - in which the whole route of minerals beneficiation is taken into account, including all the process steps.
South African Brewery - donated a Micro-Brewery unit to the Department of Chemical Engineering
Professor George Ekama - received an A1-rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) for his research in waste water treatment.
2007
The University announces three new signature themes. Two are from EBE: Minerals to Metals and Cities in Africa. The signature themes are work designed to boost research excellence while also growing research capacity in areas of prioritised need.
Department of Science and Technology awarded R30 million over 5 years to UCT's Department of Chemical Engineering to establish a Catalysis Competence Centre, a virtual hub that will develop advanced hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies in South Africa.
Research team led by Professor Jack Fletcher received a Thrip award for: "Best Research Collaboration."
Professor Sue Harrison of the Department of Chemical Engineering received the NRF's Distinguished Woman Scientist Award, announced at the Women in Science awards ceremony on 3 August. The prize is one of various accolades created by the Department of Science and Technology to recognise women in science and their role in improving the economic status and quality of life of South Africans.
EBE is awarded 3 national research chairs as part of the Department of Science and Technology's South African Research Chair initiative. They were awarded to: Professor Sue Harrison (bioprocess engineering); Professor J-P Franzidis (minerals beneficiation); and Professor Edgar Pieterse (urban policy).
An Honorary Doctorate was awarded to Honorary Professor Mark Dry from the Department of Chemical Engineering.
An Anglo Platinum Endowed Chair in Minerals Processing was announced. The first occupant of the Chair is Professor Cyril O'Connor who is the Director of the Centre for Minerals Research and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment.
2008
Professor Cyril O'Connor stepped down as Dean after ten years. Professor O'Connor saw the Faculty through the merging process in 1999 to become the robust Faculty of EBE that it currently is.
Professor Francis Petersen joined the Faculty in April as the new Dean.
The African Centre for Cities was officially launched on 14 February at the Spier in Stellenbosch. Professor Edgar Pieterse is the Director of the Centre.
The Volvo Research and Educational Foundation Centre of Excellence for Future Urban Transport in the Department of Civil Engineering was officially launched on 16 April. A/Professor Roger Behrens is the Director of the Centr.e
The Bioprocess Engineering Research Unit in the Department of Chemical Engineering, under the leadership of Professor Sue Harrison, received formal recognition from the University for the Unit's outstanding work and was upgraded to a Centre.
Professor Alphose Zingoni from the Department of Civil Engineering and Professor Gerald Nurick from the Department of Mechanical Engineering were elected Fellows of the South African Academy of Engineering.
Professor Edgar Pieterse from the African Centre for Cities launched his book: City Futures: Confronting the Crisis of Urban Development.
The Class of 1958 Civil Engineering graduates gathered at UCT to celebrate their 50th Reunion. 29 of the original 58 graduates attended.
Dr Aubrey Mainza from the Department of Chemical Engineering was one of the ten recipients of the Young Authors Award at the XXIV International Minerals Processing Congress which was held in Beijing.
Professor Prags Pillay from the Department of Electrical Engineering received the Order of Mapungubwe for his excellent contribution in the field of energy conservation. The Order of Mapungubwe is awarded by the Office of the Presidency to South African citizens for achievements that have impacted internationally and served the interests of South Africa.
2009
In February a Memoradum of Understanding was signed between the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Center fur TeleinFrastruktur from Aalborg University in Denmark.
Rachel Mugai, a PhD student in the Department of Civil Engineering was awarded a R300 000 scholarship from the Cement & Concrete Institute, to undertake a doctoral research in sustainability of concrete construction. Rachel is the 3rd recipient and the first woman to receive this award.
The completed 7th level of the Menzies Building was officially opened. The 7th level has provided 600 sq m of new space which enabled Electrical Engineering to create a major new research footprint.
In March, the Faculty celebrated 21 years of Radar at UCT under the leadership of Professor Mike Inggs.
The Class of 1983 Civil Engineering got together on campus for a 25 year reunion.
Professor Sue Harrison from the Department of Chemical Engineering was appointed to the Board of Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). The TIA is a new public entity that is aimed at stimulating and intensifying innovation and inventions in order to improve the economic growth as well as enhance the quality of life for all South Africans.
Professor Jack Fletcher from the Department of Chemical Engineering was elected a Fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering.
Professor Barry Downing became Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering
Associate Professor Pilate Moyo received a prestigious Fulton Award.
Professor Edgar Pieterse gave his inaugural lecture titled: African Cities: Grasping the Unknowable.