UJ Vice-Chancellor calls for bold transformation of African universities
“In the next three to five years, teaching and learning must shift from the transmission of content to the cultivation of adaptive, problem-solving intelligence". - Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi.
At the Times Higher Education African Universities Summit 2026, a leading continental platform convening university leaders, policymakers and global higher education experts, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg (UJ), positioned African universities at a critical turning point, calling for urgent transformation to meet evolving continental and global demands.
Addressing delegates from across Africa, Prof Mpedi emphasised that universities must fundamentally rethink what they teach, the graduates they produce, and how they engage with society.
“In the next three to five years, teaching and learning must shift from the transmission of content to the cultivation of adaptive, problem-solving intelligence,” he said.
Positioning UJ at the forefront of this shift, Prof Mpedi highlighted the University’s integrated approach linking education, employment, and entrepreneurship as a structural priority.
“At UJ, we have taken the position that the relationship between education, employment, and entrepreneurship must be structural. We are expanding partnerships with the private sector, government, and civil society as fundamental to how we design and deliver programmes.”
Prof Mpedi was speaking during a panel discussion on the future of higher education in Africa, reinforcing UJ’s role as a proactive and future-focused institution contributing to continental transformation.
The summit also featured a keynote address by Buti Manamela, South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education and Training (DHET), who highlighted both the progress and ongoing challenges within the sector.
UJ’s rapid growth and rising global stature over its two decades of existence were acknowledged during the summit. While welcoming this recognition, Prof Mpedi highlighted that the University remains focused on continued innovation and impact.
This continental leadership role was further reinforced through recent engagements hosted by UJ, where delegations of African vice-chancellors and higher education leaders visited the University to explore its approach to innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact. These engagements highlighted UJ’s growing reputation as a collaborative hub and reference point for institutions seeking to strengthen their contribution to Africa’s development.
Concluding his remarks, Prof Mpedi left delegates with a powerful African proverb:
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, you have not spent a night with a mosquito.”
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