Dear UJ community,
When a university invests in teaching and learning, research and innovation, and community engagement, meaningful results naturally follow. Such results may not appear overnight, but when they do, they elevate a university’s global standing across various fronts. One of the key areas in which the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has invested is digital learning platforms to advance inclusive education, as part of its Strategic Plan 2035.
UJ Joins Elite Global Alliance Shaping the Future of Online and AI-enabled Education
I am delighted to share that the University has become an official partner of the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance (GMA), an international network focused on online learning, educational technology and AI-enabled education. Convened through Tsinghua University, the GMA brings together leading universities and online education platforms to advance high-quality massive open online courses (MOOCs), online and AI-enabled education, and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all. UJ was welcomed as a new member in the annual report presented at the 2026 GMA Board Meeting in Hà Nội, Vietnam, on Tuesday. Under the theme Inclusiveness in Practice, the report noted that the Alliance now spans 27 member institutions in 19 countries across six continents.
UJ’s application drew on its scale and its investment in digital learning. Over the years, we have built an integrated digital ecosystem that includes online and blended learning, short learning programmes, MOOCs, HyFlex environments, learning analytics, digital assessment and AI-supported academic services. For instance, UJDigital provides a platform for flexible lifelong learning and emerging fully online qualifications, while the University’s 11 free MOOCs have recorded more than 100,000 cumulative completions. Across its faculties, the University is also running hundreds of AI-enabled and immersive technology projects, amongst other initiatives. UJ’s application was formally supported by two GMA members, Tecnológico de Monterrey and the University of Auckland. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Sehaam Khan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, and her team for this significant achievement. Read more here.
Putting Access and Excellence at the Heart of Digital Education
At the 2026 Global MOOC and Online Education Conference, I had the opportunity to deliver a keynote address. In my address, titled Access to Excellence: Transforming Education Through Digital Innovation, I argued that widening participation must go hand in hand with strong learning experiences and appropriate support. Across Africa, for instance, demand for higher education exceeds what campuses alone can provide. Therefore, digital education is indispensable as it extends our reach beyond those physical boundaries. However, that wider reach must be accompanied by a strong learning experience and appropriate support. In other words, access and quality belong together. I presented UJDigital as a practical expression of UJ’s Strategic Plan 2035, connecting societal impact, partnerships and ethical technology.
JBS flies global flags to celebrate expanding international footprint
Still on global footprint and partnerships, the Johannesburg Business School (JBS) at UJ celebrated a major milestone in its internationalisation efforts by hoisting the flags of 20 partner countries on Monday. The event was a commemoration of existing active partnerships across 20 different countries, including regional collaborations with Angola and Botswana, as well as active partnerships with Canada, China, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, India, Lesotho, Lithuania, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Switzerland, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Zimbabwe. These flags symbolise relationships that transcend borders and create opportunities for learning, innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
At UJ, we believe that higher education must be globally engaged while remaining locally relevant. Through collaboration, research partnerships, student mobility, and academic exchange, we enrich our institutions and help address the complex challenges facing our world. I thank Prof Alistair Mokoena (Executive Dean: JBS) and his team for such a successful event. Read more here.
UJ Hosts a Landmark Conference on Youth, Media and Climate Action
Climate change-related problems continue unabated, worsening global ecosystems, human health, and food security through rising temperatures and other extreme weather patterns. Yesterday, UJ, through the Department of Communication and Media, partnered with the Centre for Data and Digital Communications to host a landmark conference on climate change. The conference was convened under the theme, Youth, Media and Climate Action: Reclaiming Narrative Power for Transformative Climate Futures in Southern Africa. It brought together scholars, students, media practitioners, the private sector, civil society, and youth-led organisations who explored how radio, social media, poetry, music, film, photography and digital storytelling can shape a more just and transformative climate future in Southern Africa.
This was indeed an important conference, as it positions youth as active knowledge producers and key voices in climate justice debates, as well as in culture and ethics in climate change communication, adaptation, and mitigation. Delegates discussed key themes that are directly relevant to media organisations committed to impactful climate reporting, innovation in storytelling, and amplifying youth perspectives across the continent. The themes included climate change communication, youth as climate knowledge producers, media, power and voice in contesting dominant climate discourses, as well as digital media and climate mobilisation and creative and cultural expressions. I thank Professor Kammila Naidoo (Executive Dean: Faculty of Humanities), her team and everyone involved in putting together such an important event.
UJ Team Wins Third Prize and Prestigious Cup at Global HackaStone 2026
More good news is that a team of seven students from UJ achieved remarkable international success at the HackaStone 2026 Grand Final in the Netherlands. The team secured Third Prize and was awarded the prestigious Chris Dede Cup for Outstanding Achievement, recognising their exceptional contribution to AI-driven educational innovation. The UJ team, ALL MINDS AI, developed an innovative AI-powered educational platform designed to help teachers support neurodivergent learners through inclusive, personalised and adaptive learning experiences. The team was supported by the Centre for Advanced Learning Technologies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (CALTSTEAM) in the Faculty of Education. The UJ team was the only one representing the African continent at the Grand Final, held on 29 October 2026 at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
The students demonstrated their technical expertise, creativity and ability to develop innovative solutions to pressing educational challenges. The award of the Chris Dede Cup for Outstanding Achievement is particularly significant, recognising the team’s innovation and the potential of its solution to advance educational inclusion through emerging technologies. This achievement reflects UJ’s growing international reputation for excellence in AI-enabled educational innovation and its commitment to developing students as globally competitive innovators and problem-solvers. The team’s success is a proud moment for UJ, showcasing the University’s capacity to nurture African talent and translate technological innovation into meaningful societal impact. Congratulations to our students and everyone involved!
Celebrating Staff Achievement
Please join me in congratulating Professor Tankiso Moloi (Executive Dean: College of Business and Economics), who has reached another significant milestone in his distinguished academic and professional career. He has been admitted as a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) with CPA Australia. The achievement further strengthens his international professional standing and underscores his commitment to academic excellence, professional development and leadership in an increasingly interconnected and technology-driven global economy. CPA Australia is one of the world’s leading professional accounting bodies, with a global membership spanning more than 100 countries and regions. His admission represents an important recognition of his academic qualifications, professional experience and expertise in accounting, finance and governance. Read more here.
I also congratulate Prof Tien-Chien Jen, UJ’s DSTI-NRF South African Research Chair in Green Hydrogen, who has been recognised as one of the world’s leading researchers. Prof Jen was named a ScholarGPS® Highly Ranked Scholar™ in 2026, placing him among the top 0.05% of scholars globally across all fields of scholarly endeavour over the preceding five years. He was ranked number 1 worldwide in Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), 11th in Mechanical Engineering, 138th in Engineering and 254th across all academic disciplines. His recognition further cements our University’s growing international reputation in advanced engineering, sustainable energy and materials science. Read more here.
Coping with Exams and Assessments
Lastly, with our students in the middle of their end-of-year examinations and assessments, some may feel anxious and overwhelmed. If you feel so, do not hesitate to contact our psychological support services units at any of our four campuses. The Centre for Psychological Services and Career Development (PsyCaD) aids students in various ways to help them cope with exam-related challenges. This includes a walk-in service, individual counselling sessions, as well as an emergency response through our 24-hour Crisis Line (082 054 1137). You do not have to make an appointment to receive help.
Kea leboha, ngiyabonga, baie dankie, thank you!
Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi: Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Times mentioned in this newsletter refer to the South African time-zone.
