Dear UJ community,

I am thrilled to announce that UJ has achieved another milestone in the global university rankings. UJ is the only university in South Africa that has improved its position in the latest 2024 edition of the Academic Rankings of World Universities (ARWU), otherwise known as the Shanghai Ranking, released yesterday. UJ improved its global standing, now ranked among the top 500 universities – moving up by a band from 501-600 to 401-500 in the world. This is a significant achievement for a university that has only been around for less than 20 years!

UJ Climbs the Ranks: Now #3 in SA and #4 in Africa

Our university has also bettered its standings nationally and on the African continent, clinching the #3 spot in South Africa (up from joint #5) and the #4 spot in Africa (up from joint #6). UJ has, in the process, surpassed Stellenbosch University (SU). UJ is ranked joint #3 with SU in the 401-500 band, but UJ has achieved a higher overall score than SU in South Africa based on the overall score calculation. Notably, UJ was the only South African university to have seen an improvement in the ranking this year.

This comes a month after UJ achieved its highest-ever global ranking in the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings. I wish to thank our staff, students and the entire UJ community for their continued commitment to ensuring we remain the fastest-growing university.

Influencing through innovative and persuasive arguments

This past weekend, just two days after renowned lawyer Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi delivered a riveting lecture at UJ, a team from our Faculty of Law demonstrated its legal prowess on the national stage. The team won the prestigious 2024 Kader Asmal Moot Court competition, on Saturday, 10 August 2024. The winning team, comprising second-year LLB students Saurav Maharaj and Muphulusi Rakhuhu, emerged as champions in the 10th annual edition of this highly regarded competition. The competition is named in honour of the late Kader Asmal, a towering figure in South African history who is celebrated for his unwavering commitment to human rights and significant contributions to the nation’s legal and educational landscape.

In a fiercely contested final round, the UJ team represented a respondent against the University of the Western Cape (UWC). Despite the challenging facts of the case, which did not favour their position, Maharaj and Rakhuhu impressed the judges with their ability to present innovative and persuasive arguments. Their performance  secured them the championship and earned the team the coveted award for Best Heads of Argument. UJ has claimed victory for three consecutive years, underscoring the Faculty’s consistent excellence in legal advocacy. This victory is also a sign of the robustness of our study programmes in preparing our graduates for the job market. Congratulations to our winning students, their lecturers and the Faculty of Law. To read more about this, click here.

Celebrating staff achievements  

Please join me in congratulating Professor Thandiwe Sithole, an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering Technology, who was named the second runner-up (position 2) at the 2024 instalment of the South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA) in the Distinguished Natural Science and Engineering Category. This annual countrywide event recognises distinguished women researchers and scientists, as well as those who are emerging as excellent researchers in science, technology and innovation.

The awards ceremony was held last night at a gala dinner in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, under the theme, Transition towards an Innovation Economy: The Role of Women Leaders in STEM. Professor Sithole’’s ground-breaking research revolutionises how we think about waste. Her work in the circular economy explores innovative methods to transform waste streams into valuable construction materials, from pavement blocks and roof tiles to cement and carbon-capturing membranes. Congratulations, Prof Sithole. We are immensely proud of you!

Celebrating UJ Alumni

Our university has always been a beacon of educational excellence, nurturing a global network of alumni who have significantly impacted various fields worldwide. Last night, our Alumni Office hosted a celebratory dinner to recognise and celebrate our outstanding alumni who have been nominated for some of the most esteemed awards. These include the M&G 200 Young South Africans award, the Power of Woman Mail & Guardian award, and finalists of the SAICA 35.

The event provided our alumni with an opportunity to reconnect with their alma mater, share memories, and establish new networks. It was indeed a testament to the enduring bond between the university and its alumni, who are a living testament to the legacy and values of our institution in producing the calibre of alumni who are engaged and forever involved in solving societal problems. I thank our University Registrar, Prof Bettine Jansen van Vuuren, and her team for organising such an important event.

High Tea with the VC

Finally, after a lengthy break, I am pleased to announce that the hybrid High Tea with the VC book discussion returns next week. We will discuss the book Real Life and Business Minds, compiled and co-authored by 32 South African professionals and entrepreneurs who share their stories of success and challenges in life and business. The event will take place at the UJ Library, Auckland Park Kingsway Campus (APK) Library, Chinua Achebe Auditorium – Level 6, from 14h00 to 15h00. To join online, please click here.

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.