From Access to Impact: Why African Universities Must Lead Societal Transformation
African universities face a defining moment to move beyond widening access and deliver measurable, sustainable impact for economies, communities, and future generations
Professor Hester C. Klopper writes from the Times Higher Education Africa Universities Summit in Nairobi, Kenya
As leaders of higher education across the continent convene for the Times Higher Education Africa Universities Summit 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, a central question will dominate the agenda: how decisively and collaboratively are universities prepared to evolve? Globally, and across Africa, institutions are being called upon to move beyond expanding access, towards delivering meaningful, measurable societal impact. The urgency lies not only transformation itself, but in how swiftly and effectively universities can respond to national and global priorities.
A sector under pressure
Universities in Africa are navigating a convergence of global, regional, and national pressures. Rapid technological advancement, shifting labour markets, socio-economic constraints, limited public funding, and growing student demand are reshaping the higher education landscape. At the same time, persistent inequality, youth unemployment, and uneven development across the continent demand solutions that are both locally relevant and globally competitive.
In South Africa, these pressures are particularly acute. Universities are expected to expand access while maintaining quality, drive transformation, ensure financial sustainability, and produce graduates equipped for both current and future job markets. The perceived – and at times real – disconnect between graduate output and labour market needs remains one of the most pressing challenges.
Industry leaders consistently highlight gaps in practical skills, digital literacy, and entrepreneurial thinking among graduates. Addressing this mismatch is critical.
Moving beyond access
The solution does not lie solely in building more institutions, widening access, or creating short-term employment opportunities. Rather, it requires the comprehensive transformation of higher learning.
Universities are uniquely positioned to respond. Our core mandate is to equip young people for an evolving world of work, while our academic communities – often comprising globally recognised experts – are able to develop innovative, evidenced-based solutions to complex challenges across agricultural, engineering, health, economics, and society.
However, real impact demands more than isolated initiatives. It requires a deliberate shift towards clearly defined institutional strategies that align teaching and learning, research, and engagement with societal needs. In this context, strategic focus, leadership clarity, and disciplined execution become essential.
The University of the Free State: shaping a responsive future
At the University of the Free State (UFS), our strategic direction is anchored in a clear vision: contributing to what we define as our ‘North Star’ – responsible societal futures. This vision informs a series of focused interventions aimed at strengthening relevance, enhancing student success, and deepening societal impact.
We are reimagining curricula to be more agile, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary. By embedding work-integrated learning, digital competencies, and entrepreneurship across programmes, we are preparing graduates not only to participate in the economy but to shape it.
At the same time, we are expanding academic offerings in areas of critical importance. From 2026, the introduction of a new engineering qualification in agricultural and biosystems engineering, alongside postgraduate programmes in ecological and nature-based engineering sciences, positions the university at the forefront of addressing continental challenges such as food security, climate resilience, and sustainable infrastructure. Notably, these postgraduate programmes are the first of their kind on the African continent.
The development of a new veterinary science programme and teaching hospital represents a strategic national intervention. As only the second institution in South Africa to offer this qualification, it directly addresses the country’s shortage of veterinary professionals, while strengthening capacity in animal health, food systems, and rural development.
Innovation, sustainability, and institutional agility
Beyond the classroom, universities must play a more active role within innovation ecosystems. At the University of the Free State, initiatives such as our start-up incubator are designed to translate knowledge into practical solutions - supporting entrepreneurship and enabling students and researchers to become job creators. This forms part of a broader institutional strategy to position the university as a catalyst for regional development and economic inclusion.
Institutional agility is equally critical in an era of exponential change. Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping how we work, learn, and create value. Our responsibility is not only to integrate these technologies responsibly into teaching and research, but also to prepare graduates who can engage critically and ethically. To this end, we emphasise distinctly human capabilities - creativity, critical thinking, empathy, and ethical reasoning - while leveraging AI to enhance, rather than replace, the academic enterprise.
Operating in a resource-constrained environment, with increasing pressure on state subsidies, is neither sustainable nor viable in the long term. Diversification of income streams is therefore essential. At the University of the Free State, we have set an ambitious target to increase third-stream income by 25% by 2027, while doubling contributions through partnerships and philanthropy. Key initiatives include the VC-ISRC Imbewu Legacy Fund for student support and the Talent Magnet Fund for global academic recruitment.
Underlying these efforts is a commitment to purposeful stewardship: recognising that funds entrusted to universities constitute a public good and must be deployed in service of societal transformation.
Environmental sustainability is also embedded in our institutional practices. Investments in solar energy, greywater utilisation, and rainwater harvesting across our campuses have reduced operational costs while strengthening resilience in the face of unreliable public service provision. These initiatives reflect our responsibility as custodians of scarce natural resources. In parallel, ongoing digital transformation efforts are enabling the creation of a more responsive, student-centred institutional environment.
Partnerships as a catalyst for impact
While universities hold significant potential to address societal challenges, meaningful and sustainable impact depends on strong partnerships. Collaboration with industry and government is essential to unlock resources, enhance relevance, and expand opportunities. By working more closely with industry, universities can co-design curricula, expand work-integrated learning opportunities, and ensure that graduates possess in-demand, future-ready skills.
Government, in turn, plays a critical role in creating an enabling environment through sustainable funding and supportive policy frameworks. Investment in higher education, research, and development remains fundamental to Africa’s global competitiveness and long-term development.
For universities to thrive in increasingly complex and resource-constrained environments, several imperatives must become non-negotiable: curriculum relevance, embedded entrepreneurship and innovation, purposeful and human-centred digital transformation, and holistic support for student success. Above all, collaboration must replace competition.
The future of African higher education will not be shaped by individual institutions acting in isolation, but by the strength of the collective. At the University of the Free State, we remain committed to strengthening our own institutional trajectory while contributing to a broader continental agenda for transformation and sustainability.
Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of the Free State
©Higher Education News Services. This was published on the website www.ednews.africa