Dear UJ community,
While some of you were away for a short break during the mid-semester recess last week, I led a University of Johannesburg (UJ) delegation to Nairobi, Kenya. This time, the occasion was the THE (Times Higher Education) Africa Universities Summit 2026. This event brought together higher education leaders, policymakers, innovators and industry partners from across Africa for discussions and interactive workshops on strengthening the role of higher education in addressing development priorities across the continent. The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Hon. Buti Manamela, delivered the keynote address, focused on, among others, the critical issue of gender equality in higher education.
Strengthening Africa’s Higher Education Systems for a Rapid Skills Development
The event came at a critical time as African countries seek to strengthen higher education systems and better align skills development with the needs of rapidly evolving economies. I had the honour of being part of a panel of visionary leaders to discuss a critical mission: Growing ambition: Building university preparedness for Africa’s human capital potential.The message was clear—we cannot simply move with the times; we must lead. Key takeaways from our discussion included (a) Innovation over tradition: redefining curricula to meet the demands of the 4th Industrial Revolution; (b) Pan-African collaboration: breaking silos to build a unified academic powerhouse; and (c) Purpose-driven leadership: ensuring our institutions aren’t just centres of learning, but engines of societal change. Now is the time to turn these conversations into a roadmap for a future-ready continent. Click here to read more about this.
Praise for UJ by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation
On Tuesday, we hosted a delegation from the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) for a tour of some of the flagship research centres and other facilities within the Faculties of Health Sciences and the Engineering and Built Environment. The visit was to strengthen collaborations with the department and explore new opportunities for partnerships and knowledge sharing. UJ has several projects that are funded by the Department. The delegation was led by Director-General Dr. Mlungisi Cele. Among the sites they toured was the Optometry Clinic, Biokinetics Clinic, Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, Rescue Simulation Centre, the Simulation Mine and the Centre for Ecological Intelligence (CEI) Food Systems Hub.
Dr. Cele emphasised the importance of fostering partnerships over competition within the national research landscape. He was full of praise for UJ for being among the top-performing research institutions in South Africa and on the African continent. I thank the department for supporting our research projects. I hope that this week’s visit will lead to more collaboration as we continue with our resolve to use technology for societal impact and sustainability. To read more about this, click here.
UJ Hosts Inaugural Neurodiversity Career Fair and Awards 2026 Mpedi Family Scholarships.
In the latest event showcasing our mission to serve and transform humanity, the UJ’s Centre for Neurodiversity hosted its inaugural career fair at the Soweto Campus. The event, which is dedicated to neurodiversity, brought together neurodivergent people, industry, community-based organisations, and partners in education and academia. It was organised in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Education, the Paul and Humile Mashatile Foundation, and the Fathers of Children with Neurodiversity organisation at Imbizo Hall. As many as 22 schools and skills centres, were in attendance. They showcased their creative abilities across Visual Arts, handcrafted products, STEM and robotics projects, and entrepreneurial ventures.
The highlight of the event was the announcement of the prestigious Mpedi Family Scholarship for Neurodiversity Studies cohort for 2026. The scholarship is for the Master in Education: Inclusive Education students studying at UJ and focusing their research on neurodiversity. This year, five recipients received the bursaries. As I said during my address, neurodiversity is not a challenge to be managed, but an advantage to be celebrated! Congratulations to all the winners, I wish you all the best in your studies. Clickhere to read more about this.
Celebrating UJ Sport Achievements
I extend my sincere appreciation to our Senior Men’s Rugby Team for making their first appearance in the FNB Varsity Cup semi-final match in over a decade. The team faced the University of Pretoria (FNB-Tuks) this past Monday, in a penultimate match. The Orange Army, playing away from home, competed with remarkable grit, demonstrating the spirit that defines UJ character. The result underlined the team’s stellar performance throughout the prestigious tournament. Not to be outdone, our Young Guns team also competed all the way to the semifinals. They were only pipped by the University of Cape Town (UCT). I thank the players, technical staff, students, staff members, and parents, as well as our alumni, for their collective role in making this season exceptional. Well done to UJ Rugby on what has been a great season! To read more about this, click here.
Message of Congratulations: Book Publishing Matters
My heartfelt congratulations to Professor Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of The World Economic Forum, on the release of his insightful book, Universities, Professors, and Students in the Intelligent Age. This important work calls for transformative systems change in our educational framework, paving the way for a more intelligent and adaptive society. As he describes it, the book “presents a compelling vision for how higher education must evolve to meet the demands of the 21st century. Drawing on global trends in technology, labour markets, and education policy, the book argues that incremental reform is no longer enough. What is required is systems change, a fundamental rethinking of how universities are organised, governed, funded, and experienced”. If you are interested in the future of education and its impact on society, I highly recommend purchasing the book.
High Tea with the VC
Lastly, I thank everyone who attended the recent High Tea with the VC reading session, when I hosted Mmathabo Sukati for a discussion of her book, The Child Bride: From Captive to Courageous: A Girl’s Fight to Rewrite Her Destiny. As expected, she shared some fascinating reflections on her journey from child marriage and hardship to reclaiming her life through education and resilience, which is the overriding theme in the book. Indeed, it was a celebration of resilience, hope, and the power of rewriting one’s destiny.
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.
