The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Transformation Division, in collaboration with the Johannesburg Business School (JBS), welcomed the 2026 cohort of the Executive Leadership Programme for Universities (ELDU) on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.
Now in its third cohort, the seminar took place over two days at The Maslow Hotel in Sandton.
Since its launch in 2023, the ELDU programme has strengthened leadership capacity by focusing on character, care, competence, and commitment while equipping leaders to navigate complex institutional realities.
Opening the day, Professor Alistair Mokoena, Executive Dean at JBS, emphasised that effective leaders must cultivate self-awareness, patience, and the ability to manage diverse energies.
“Leadership requires empowering others, asking the right questions, and continually reflecting on one’s impact,” he said.
He reminded participants that leadership should never be driven by self-interest or self-indulgence.
Dr Mpume Mkhize, Director of Transformation at UJ, framed the programme as developing the “leader of the future” and encouraged participants to propose innovative ideas aligned with UJ’s 2035 strategy. She reminded the cohort of the significant investment made, emphasising that they represent a carefully selected group of leaders.
UJ Chancellor Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka highlighted intentional, humble, and principled leadership.
“The best thing that you can do as a good leader is to decline when you are chosen… A true leader may sometimes say, ‘Thank you very much for choosing me, but I am not the right person for this.’” She called for leaders to be intentional in their roles.
UJ Vice-Chancellor Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi stressed the increasing complexity of higher education leadership, describing it as “getting trickier by the day,” and emphasised the importance of returning to African values such as Ubuntu, respect, and patience. He cautioned against superficial approaches to transformation and warned against leadership driven by public visibility rather than substance.
Additional insights came from Professor Mary Metcalfe, who examined the National Development Plan and the need for stronger alignment between university strategies, budgeting, and national priorities; Dr Mzamo Masito, who reflected on leadership identity and communication; and Dr Thebe Ikalafeng, who explored Africa’s branding and economic opportunities.
The second day of the seminar focused on leadership exchange lectures under the theme of building and refining leaders to effective leadership with insights from the Ali Mazrui Centre for Higher Education Studies and the Public Service Commission.
