Dear UJ community,

The University of Johannesburg (UJ), as one of the leading African universities across multiple global rankings, continues to strengthen its partnerships with international universities. Partnerships are the heartbeat of the University’s 2035 Strategic Plan, an ambitious roadmap that navigates the future of education while deepening its societal impact. Through joint research and other initiatives of common interest, we seek to contribute to global knowledge production while advancing mutual development.

Strengthening Global Legal Horizons: UJ and the University of Ljubljana

This week, our commitment to global partnerships was further solidified during an inspiring breakfast meeting with our long-standing partners from the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. It was a privilege to engage with Professor Gregor Majdič (Rector), Professor Miroslav Cerar (Dean, Faculty of Law) and Professor Grega Strban (former Dean, Faculty of Law) from the University of Ljubljana. The UJ Faculty of Law was ably represented by the Executive Dean, Professor Charles Maimela, and his Faculty Management Committee. Key Pillars of Our Engagement

• Deepening Roots: Reaffirming a collaboration that has stood the test of time and continues to yield academic excellence.
• Global Footprint: Expanding our reach through shared research, student exchanges, and joint legal initiatives.
• Strategic Alignment: Ensuring our partnership directly contributes to our vision of being a globally preeminent university rooted in Africa, yet reaching every corner of the globe.

UJ Hosts UNITAFRICA Alliance

Last week, as part of the kick-off of our Africa Month commemorations, UJ, through the Division for Global Engagement hosted the UNITAFRICA Alliance South Africa meeting. The Alliance comprises 78 African Universities and 21 Italian institutions, with this being the only dissemination meeting held in Africa. The theme of the 3-day conference was “Universities, Cooperation and Science Diplomacy”, building on UJ’s consistently high rankings in Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). The South Africa meeting brought together six Italian and six South African universities at UJ to disseminate the project’s results and support researcher collaborations in One Health (SDG 3), Transformative Educational Leadership (SDG 4), and Peace, Justice and the Law (SDG 16). The event was co-hosted by UJ, the University of Pavia, Italy and the Embassy of Italy in South Africa.

Attendees included Dr Luca Tiano, the Scientific and Technological Attaché of the Embassy of Italy, Pretoria; Professor Carola Ricci, Rector’s Delegate for Africa at the University of Pavia; Prof. Sabrina Sorlini, UnItAfrica TNE Coordinator based at the University of Brescia; and Prof. Michele Greco, Vice Rector for Internationalisation of the University of Basilicata, among other key delegates. The week culminated in a Study in Italy festival and Rugby match between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Italian Zebre Parmas, with South Africa ending the match on a 54-19 win over the Italian Zebre Parmas in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The UJ Sport Rugby team was on full display and working closely with the Italian universities in creating new sport opportunities abroad for UJ students.

UJ to Commemorate the 223^rd Anniversary of the Haitian Flag

As many of you would recall, I received a courtesy visit by the Ambassador of Haiti to South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Jean Robert Pillard, in February this year. Haiti, a country in the Caribbean Sea, has a long and complex history marked by both remarkable resilience and significant challenges. As the first independent Black republic following the Haitian Revolution, Haiti played a pivotal role in global history.  During the visit, Ambassador Pillard expressed his excitement at the opportunities to strengthen ties between UJ and universities in Haiti. We identified several areas of collaboration between UJ and Haitian universities and society.

Next week, on Monday, 18 May 2026, UJ will host a commemorative ceremony to celebrate the 223^rd Anniversary of the Haitian Flag. This will coincide with the annual Haitian Flag Day celebration in that country, which symbolises national pride, unity and the country’s enduring spirit of resilience. The Haitian flag – a powerful emblem of freedom, resilience, and national pride – finds a kindred spirit in UJ’s commitment to academic excellence and societal impact. The event will also provide a meaningful opportunity to strengthen cultural and academic ties between Haiti and South Africa. A joint commemoration would highlight the shared values of freedom, identity and education while celebrating international solidarity through higher education collaboration.

2026 Steps 2 UJ Future Forward Fun Run

With only 15 days remaining until our Steps 2 UJ Future Forward Fun Run, the momentum is building for what promises to be an exciting day at the AW Muller Stadium on our Auckland Park Bunting Road Campus. This family-friendly event serves an important dual mission: fostering physical wellness within our community while raising critical funds for academically deserving students facing financial challenges in paying their tuition fees at UJ. As we prepare to welcome participants from across Johannesburg and the broader Gauteng Province, I strongly encourage our staff and students to lead by example. Your participation is a tangible investment in the future of our scholars. I urge you to purchase your tickets here to join us in this noble cause that goes beyond fun and health.

Our commitment to excellence is further evidenced by the remarkable achievements of our Athletics Club. Currently, seven UJ student-athletes and one club member are representing South Africa, Namibia, and Nigeria at the Senior African Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana. This prestigious representation follows a series of high-calibre recent performances of our students, including the World Athletics Relays in Botswana and the University Sport South Africa (USSA) championships in Cape Town. Such consistent presence on the international stage underscores UJ’s role as a premier incubator for sporting talent on the continent. We stand behind our athletes as they compete at the highest level – bring home the gold!

High Tea with the VC

I am excited to announce the upcoming book discussion for the High Tea with the VC event scheduled for Friday, 22 May 2026. I will be joined by Professor Bongani Ngqulunga, the Senior Executive Director of University Relations, Student Affairs, and UJ Sport, to delve into his latest work, Under Smuts’s Rule: Jan Smuts and His Impact on Black South Africans. This book examines Jan Smuts’s involvement in the treaty that concluded the Anglo-Boer War and his role in establishing the Union of South Africa, focusing on the implications for the rights of Black South Africans.

Professor Ngqulunga is a distinguished author with several notable publications, including The Man Who Founded the ANC: A Biography of Pixley ka Isaka Seme, which won the prestigious Alan Paton Award. Our session will engage with the complex and often debated legacy of Jan Smuts, highlighting his influence on Black South Africans and reinterpreting historical narratives from a modern perspective.

As always, we will gather at the UJ Library, in the Chinua Achebe Auditorium, Level 6, Auckland Park Kingsway (APK) Campus, at 14h00 (CAT). I invite you to join us for what promises to be an enlightening conversation.