In just under two weeks, the University of Cape Town (UCT) will welcome senior leaders from across the global higher education community at the Times Higher Education (THE) World Academic Summit (WAS) 2026 – the first time ever this global convening will take place on the African continent.
From 29 September to 1 October 2026, UCT, in partnership with the University of Bristol and THE, will host vice-chancellors, presidents, policymakers and industry leaders at the summit to be held in Cape Town.
The summit will be held under the theme: “Knowledge, justice and futures: Universities in the age of intelligence”.
View the programme for the summit.
The summit reflects a shared commitment to advancing knowledge that serves society. As the first African institution to host this prestigious event, UCT has a unique opportunity to spotlight the continent’s rich intellectual traditions and enduring contributions to global scholarship, while facilitating conversations that shape the future of higher education.
At a time of rapid social, technological and environmental change, the summit will provide a platform for examining the evolving role of universities in an increasingly complex world.
Through discussions on purpose-driven knowledge stewardship, justice and accountability in higher education, equitable global partnerships and the responsible use of artificial intelligence, participants will explore how universities can create knowledge that is inclusive, impactful and responsive to society’s most pressing challenges.
These conversations align closely with UCT’s Strategy 2030 and an ambition to deepen the university’s contribution to the public good.
The agenda for the event seeks to ensure that:
African and Global South perspectives are structurally embedded across the programme,
innovation and entrepreneurship are foregrounded under the university’s fourth strategic mission, and
the voices of emerging scholars are intentionally included as part of the future academic leadership pipeline.
The four core themes of the summit will explore:
The future university: Purpose, people, pedagogy and planet
Universities and society: Trust, justice and public good
Reframing global collaboration: Equity, co-creation and resilient societies
Ethical AI, access and innovation
This reflects a programme that is both globally engaged and locally grounded – a balance that is central to UCT’s identity.
Highlights from the summit will be available on the dedicated UCT feature page.
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