Dear UJ community,
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) continues to push boundaries and redefine excellence. I am delighted to share that 20 of the subject fields at UJ are now ranked among the best in the world. This is according to the latest 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject, released on Wednesday, 12 March 2025. The QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Subject Rankings assess universities across 55 academic disciplines, employing five key performance indicators that measure academic reputation, research excellence and employer reputation.
UJ records rise in the 2025 QS Subject Rankings
The 20 UJ subjects/fields now ranked globally is an increase from 16 subjects/fields last year, demonstrating our growing academic excellence and global impact. This is quite a feat, considering that 171 institutions were ranked this year. Of the 20 subjects ranked, UJ climbed in 10 and has been ranked for the first time in 3 subjects while remaining unchanged in 4 subjects. UJ remains a leader in several subject areas within South Africa, with three subjects ranked #1, five ranked #2 and another five #3.
The rankings demonstrate UJ’s continuous rise in global higher education and how it continues to cement its reputation as a world-class institution. UJ is steadfast in its commitment to seamlessly integrating research into its academic programmes, ensuring a profound and lasting impact on society. Through a research-driven approach, we immerse our students in the latest advancements within their respective fields throughout their education journey and empower our academic staff to bridge theoretical learning with practical, real-world applications. I thank all our staff, students and research fellows for this outstanding achievement. To read more, click here.
Honorary doctorates
On Monday this week, UJ conferred honorary doctorates on two distinguished individuals, Ambassador Barbara Masekela and Sister Abegail Ntleko. Masekela is a renowned poet, academic, and diplomat whose contributions span literature, education, and public service. Ambassador Masekela was honoured by the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture for her crucial role in shaping South Africa’s cultural and political landscape. Sister Ntleko is a globally recognised humanitarian who has devoted her life to serving vulnerable communities, particularly orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS. She was honoured by the Faculty of Humanities. The late Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu once called her “the true heart of South Africa”.
You can watch the highlights below:
They are part of the five luminaries that the university will honour during this Autumn graduation season, with others being honoured later in the year. Next week, on Monday and Tuesday, we will confer an honorary doctorate upon Professor Alfred Msezane and His Excellency Kgalema Motlanthe, respectively. Professor Msezane is a distinguished physicist who has made groundbreaking contributions to atomic, molecular, and condensed matter physics. His Excellency Kgalema Motlanthe is the former president of South Africa and a respected statesman known for his commitment to democracy, governance, and social justice.
Celebrating Staff Achievements
More good news this week is that our Director at the School of Consumer Intelligence and Information Systems, Professor Stella Bvuma, has been named a finalist for the 2025 Wired4Women Awards. Run by the Wired4Women Tech Forum in partnership with Telkom and ITWeb Brainstorm, these awards focus on the top women in South Africa’s tech scene. With nearly 500 nominations, Prof Bvuma’s selection as a finalist in the Mentor of the Year category is no small feat. It’s a testament to her relentless drive, visionary leadership, and knack for lifting the next generation of tech trailblazers. Well done, Prof.
First Semester VC Campus Engagement
I thank our staff members from three of our campuses (APK, Soweto and APB) who attended the VC Campus Engagements over the last two years. Interacting with many of you in person for the first time this year was wonderful, and I appreciate your valuable contributions. Next week is the turn of our colleagues at the Doornfontein Campus. We will meet at the Exam Centre, 2nd Floor, John Orr Building) from 13:30 to 15:00. This is an opportunity for staff to engage with me, other MEC members, and the entire Executive Leadership Group (ELG) on important matters about our beloved University. If there are any specific issues you would like to have addressed or have a question for me, please send these to bernicem@uj.ac.za.
UJ hosts Gauteng Athletics Track and Field Championships
The UJ Athletics Stadium in Westdene is full of activity as it currently hosts the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Track and Field Championships, continuing from the opening day in Germiston. This event sees numerous UJ student-athletes and club members competing to secure qualifying times for prestigious international competitions, including the Junior and Senior World Championships, World Relays, and FISU World Student Games. We encourage the UJ community to come out and support these talented athletes as they strive for success. Follow the UJ Sport social media platforms for this and other event details and coverage, including the Senior Women’s Rugby team, which will kick off their FNB Varsity Cup campaign against the University of KwaZulu-Natal at Howard College in Durban today. For post-event reports, you can also visit the UJ news website.
Artificial intelligence, the informal economy and the future of social security
To read my latest article that appeared in the Daily Maverick yesterday, which I co-wrote with Prof Tshilidzi Marwala, the Rector of the United Nations University, click here. In it, we note that a disconcerting one-third of the global population lacks formal social security, starkly indicating that the current framework is insufficient to meet the needs of a substantial portion of the workforce. We then argue that an area we need to focus on is the informal sector, which is indeed experiencing substantial growth, particularly within the Global South. This represents a sector we ought to be acknowledging and addressing with far greater seriousness.
Ke a leboha, ngiyabonga, thank you, baie dankie!
Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi: Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Times mentioned in this newsletter refer to the South African time zone.
