Dear UJ Community
As the global community gathered in Johannesburg for the G20 Summit this week, our University announced its latest technological push with a flourish. On Monday, we launched the University’s Innovation Pod, popularly known by its acronym, UniPod.
UniPod: South Africa’s first Innovation Hub supported by the UN
A first in South Africa, UniPod is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under its Timbuktoo initiative. The state-of-the-art hub is a testament that UJ is at the forefront of harnessing technology for societal impact and sustainability. It is a space where ideas move from concept to creation, and where young innovators can build solutions that shape Africa’s future. The hub aligns with the University’s 2035 Strategic Plan and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At the launch ceremony, I was honoured to welcome UJ Chancellor, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, whose leadership was instrumental in bringing the UniPod to UJ. Also in attendance at the ceremony were Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa, as well as Mr Maxwell Gomera, UNDP Resident Representative, among other dignitaries. To read more about this, click here.
Community Engagement Forum
Yesterday, I delivered a keynote address at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) Scholarship of Engagement conference in Musgrave, Durban. The conference marked a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of the higher education sector. Notably, UJ was hailed as the leading institution on community engagement and societal impact. In my address, anchored by the theme Bridging the Knowledge Gap in Advancing the Scholarship of Engagement for Maximum Societal Impact, I challenged delegates to rethink how universities are accessible to the community, so that they are not seen as ivory towers. Indeed, there is an urgent need to dismantle entrenched silos of privilege and exclusion, and to adopt models that co-create knowledge and produce accessible, transformative scholarship.
Launch of the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements Research Chair
Another significant development this week was the launch of the launch of the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements Research Chair at UJ, in the evolution of public–academic partnerships. The launch was presided over by the Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Ms Tasneem Motara, alongside the UJ Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Prof. Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya. The Chair will serve as a strategic vehicle for research, innovation, and capacity building to support evidence-based, inclusive, and sustainable human settlements policy and practice in Gauteng. The Research Chair will advance a comprehensive agenda focused on developing evidence-based solutions for sustainable human settlements, strengthening the interface between policy research and implementation across Gauteng, and building long-term research and innovation capacity, among others. Click here to read more about this.
UJ Insight: Advancing Africa’s 4IR Leadership
It is my pleasure to present the second edition of UJ Insight, our reimagined institutional magazine that reflects the momentum, ambition, and spirit of innovation that define the University of Johannesburg. This special AI and 4IR edition highlights UJ’s pioneering role as Africa’s leading hub for digital innovation. This issue showcases the research, breakthroughs and commitment to societal impact that has positioned UJ at the forefront of the 4IR. At the heart of this edition is a spotlight on UJ’s most influential AI and 4IR champions — academics, innovators, students, and partners who are redefining what is possible and driving Africa’s digital future. I invite you to explore these stories of excellence, resilience, and transformation that continue to shape our university’s trajectory and reaffirm our commitment to reimagining the future of higher education.
Read it here:
Impactful UJ: An Engaged University with Societal Impact and Sustainability
I am also proud to present the second edition of UJ Impactful magazine, which showcases the positive change that UJ is making in society through community engagement work and other related initiatives. This issue focuses on the themes of health and water, highlighting the university’s efforts to advance the UN SDGs 3 and 6. This aligns with the magazine’s organisation and structure, which focuses on one or two SDGs at a time. At UJ, we do not only see community engagement as a third pillar of the University, but it is also a strategic imperative that is embedded in teaching, learning and research. You can read it here.
UJ Sport Awards
The UJ Sport Division celebrated the institution’s 20th anniversary in grand fashion last Friday evening with a prestigious awards ceremony. The event recognised outstanding achievements by UJ’s student-athletes and external club members, underscoring two decades of sporting excellence and dominance. Each athlete was awarded a substantial cash prize of R20,000.00 and a laptop, courtesy of the two categories’ sponsor MTN.
The coveted titles of Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year were clinched by Athletics track stars Lythe Pillay and Precious Molepo, respectively. Netball player Alexandra Meimaris earned the distinguished Student-Athlete of the Year award. Click here to see the rest of the winners. Congratulations to all the winners! In addition to the athletes, I also congratulate the heroes and heroines who often go unnoticed, the technical staff members, including coaches and physical trainers.
Annual Council Awards 2025
This evening, as we continue with our celebrations of two decades of excellence, transformation and impact, we will host the annual UJ Council Awards Dinner at the Johannesburg Country Club. The awards are split into two, the Ellen Kuzwayo Awards and the Dignitas Alumni Awards. Named after anti-apartheid activist Nnoseng Ellen Kuzwayo, who was also a community builder, the Ellen Kuzwayo awards recognise outstanding South Africans for their extraordinary contribution to the higher education sector. The Dignitas Awards celebrate exceptional achievements of UJ Alumni whose achievements and dedication have elevated the university’s reputation globally, inspiring future generations of students to dream and achieve big.
Ke a leboha, ngiyabonga, thank you, baie dankie!
Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi
Vice-Chancellor and Principal
