Professor Letlhokwa George Mpedi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg (UJ), has been distinguished with the prestigious SEDRC 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. The accolade, presented on 28 August 2024 in Cape Coast, Ghana, underscores his significant contributions to advancing quality tertiary education across Africa.
The award was bestowed by the African Applied Researchers Association in partnership with Cape Coast Technical University.
The Sustainable Development and Education Research Conference which conferred the award, is dedicated to promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange in sustainable development education. It aims to inspire educators to integrate sustainability principles into their teaching and provides a platform for presenting research, sharing best practices, and engaging in meaningful discussions.
In his keynote address, Prof. Mpedi spoke on “The Legal Framework of Achieving Inclusive and Equitable Quality Tertiary Education in Africa.” Using the metaphor of an uncultivated garden to illustrate the untapped potential of knowledge, he highlighted the importance of addressing emerging challenges in a world transformed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
“When we talk about a changing world, understanding that through the lens of the fourth industrial revolution, there are systemic shifts. We are called to respond accordingly in order to remain relevant. At the heart of this response is reframing education systems. This task is not one that views the 4IR as simply a technological shift but rather a societal overhaul,” said Mpedi.
He emphasised that higher education institutions have a critical role beyond teaching and learning, extending to fostering inclusivity, equity, and quality in education. “Universities must contribute to society by addressing the needs of the state and economy,” he noted, quoting P. Higgs. “They should empower communities, enhance self-sufficiency, and tackle key social issues through innovative research.”
Also citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognises education as a fundamental human right, Prof Mpedi emphasised the necessity of a robust legal framework to uphold these principles. “Education is not merely a right; it is the foundation of social well-being and development, especially in underdeveloped regions,” he said.
Drawing on the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA), Prof Mpedi articulated the strategic frameworks that guide the continent’s educational goals. He called for implementing strong quality assurance mechanisms, like the African Quality Rating Mechanism (AQRM), to enhance the standard of higher education across Africa. “Quality education is not a luxury; it is a necessity for the future of our continent,” he said.
Prof Mpedi also addressed the challenges posed by the digital divide and the need for higher education institutions to adapt to the rapidly changing digital landscape. He suggested that higher education institutions should embrace technology to expand their programmes to online platforms. “It is a fallacy that online education is cheaper, and we must ensure that digital education is of high quality and accessible to all, or we risk exacerbating existing inequalities.”
Prof Mpedi concluded: “We are vessels for societal impact, and our scope is increasingly broadening. The legal frameworks within which we operate must evolve to support this shift, ensuring that education as a human right is fully realised and that universities continue to serve as engines of knowledge creation and societal advancement.”
