Leadership in higher education is not only shaped in boardrooms and executive offices. It is also shaped in conversations, relationships and the willingness of women to question how institutions work and what they could become.
That was the lesson for women from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) who attended the 2026 HERS-SA Women in Leadership Academy in Cape Town, held under the theme “Women Governing Change: Transformative Leadership, Institutional Accountability and Sustainable Futures.”
The Academy offered participants space to reflect on leadership beyond titles, focusing on visibility, confidence, networks, and personal growth. A key takeaway was that leadership carries responsibility — not only for personal advancement but also for mentoring and creating opportunities for others.
Delegates valued both the formal sessions and informal exchanges with peers from across the higher education sector, building relationships that extend beyond the event.
Established in 2003, HERS-SA aims to address the shortage of women in senior higher education roles through professional development and networking. The 2026 programme emphasized using leadership to influence institutions and systems, with sessions on data-driven decision-making, transformation in contested spaces, financial sustainability, and ethical responsibility.
For TUT delegates, the Academy was both reflective and practical — a call to apply lessons learned in their own institutions, mentor others, and drive meaningful change.
Full text on TUT webside.
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