Nine vice-chancellors lost in just three years signals a leadership challenge that universities can no longer ignore. Prof Mthembu urges South Africa's higher education sector to move beyond merely surviving ongoing disruptions and instead build resilient, future-focused institutions capable of leading, innovating and thriving in a rapidly changing world...

Teaching deserves equal recognition to research. Professor Clever Ndebele, Chair of the South African University Teachers (SAUT), has called for university teaching excellence to receive the same level of recognition and status as research. Addressing delegates at the 4th Universities South Africa (USAf) Higher Education Conference, he highlighted the growing impact of the National University Teaching Awards (NUTA) in elevating innovative teaching, promoting student success, and strengthening the scholarship of teaching and learning across South Africa’s universities...

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) says students affected by assessment irregularities at almost all identified TVET college centres have received results, but Umalusi continues to raise concerns about practical assessments and examination administration. The assessment problems at almost all technical and vocational college examination centres were identified during the...

The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has expressed concern that delays by the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) in awarding bursaries denied students timely access to education and training opportunities. The Construction Education and Training Authority and the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) appeared before the committee to brief it on their...

Tighter security measures are in place for the National Senior Certificate exams currently underway. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said this is to protect the integrity of the exams, after last year's English, Mathematics and Physical Science papers were leaked. Gwarube was speaking during a visit to Tembisa West Secondary School in Ekurhuleni to assess exam readiness. But while the...

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande will visit the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ) Science and Technology Park on Friday to explore how innovation, enterprise development and technical skills can help drive South Africa's industrialisation. The strategic engagement will showcase the park's role in connecting new ideas and technological advances with...

High-profile government officials, university management and scores of medical students gathered at Christ the King Academy in Nobody village over the weekend to lay to rest Mathaba Petra Tsebe, the fourth-year University of Limpopo student whose tragic death has gripped the province. Affectionately known as "Thabi", she was a 22-year-old Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery student. Her...

The World Economic Forum's (WEF's) Future of Jobs Report 2025 confirms what we see at YES every day: by 2030, 170 million new jobs will be created globally, while 92 million will be displaced. The net gain is a positive 78 million roles, but they will look very different from the ones that disappear. Young people who can adapt will ride the crest of this wave. But what does adaptability look like...

A Durban University of Technology (DUT) researcher has been ranked among the world's top 2% of scientists for 2026, earning international recognition for his work in biotechnology and nanotechnology. Research fellow Dr Suresh Babu Naidu Krishna is ranked 1 339th globally in the biotechnology subfield, within the main field of...

Services Seta, one of the most troubled sector education and training authorities (Setas), on Wednesday told parliament how it went from no wasteful and fruitless expenditure last year to approximately recording R100m under the same accounting item this year. This emerged during a heated appearance of the Services Seta and...

TWO cancer patients might be administered the exact same amount of radioactive medicine, yet their bodies could absorb vastly different radiation doses. University of Pretoria (UP) nuclear medicine researchers argue that resolving this discrepancy is the next major frontier in precision cancer treatment. In a newly published paper...

Merck's Curiosity Cube has returned to South Africa for a second consecutive year, delivering hands-on Stem education to nearly 2,500 pupils across 18 Eastern Cape schools. The mobile science lab aims to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application, inspiring young minds to envision future careers in science...

It is often said that when life throws you lemons, make lemonade, and that's exactly what Mpho Makgotlho did. The 40-year-old from Mabopane is a proud Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) master's graduate who overcame several challenges to achieve his academic dreams. Having developed a passion for engineering at a young age...

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has put out the call for attendees to a unique and important event taking place later this month, in the form of the Centre for African Language Teaching (CALT) Conference 2026. CALT Conference 2026 is happening between 21st and 23rd October at the Faculty of Education, Block B at the UWC...

When Chuma Memela dropped out of university after two years of studying dietetics, he had no clear plan for what would come next. His family was disappointed. He had tried his hand at foreign exchange trading, lost money and later completed a learnership in export freight, only to realise that this was not the career he wanted...

Growing up in Tembisa, Jabu Makhubu never imagined that watching beautiful homes on the television programme Top Billing would spark an interest that would eventually lead him to challenge the way architecture is taught in African universities. On 13 October 2026, Makhubu was conferred with a Doctor of Architecture during the...

CPUT continues to expand its international research footprint through strategic engagements aimed at advancing sustainable food innovation, strengthening postgraduate research and creating opportunities for global scientific collaboration. Dr Vusi Mshayisa, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Food Science and Technology and...

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Community Engagement (CE) hosted its annual Leadhership Indaba for its female volunteer champions on 12 October 2026. As South Africa is facing a Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) crisis, the aim of the event was to empower the student volunteer community against GBVF and Human...

The computer training initiatives at the University of Pretoria's Mamelodi Campus represent a vital intersection between higher education and community empowerment. Although the Campus was historically designed to serve a township with limited access to technology, it has evolved into a digital sanctuary where residents of all ages...

Durban University of Technology (DUT) has officially launched the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework, anchored in five core values: transparency, honesty, integrity, respect and accountability. These are supported by the principles of fairness, professionalism, commitment, compassion and excellence. DUT Communications team member...

As part of its ENVISION2030 strategy, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) aspires to produce adaptive graduates that will participate productively in the development of our region, country and the world. S'bonelo Dlamini, DUT Communication's team member, recently engaged with Nkosinathi Sikhosana DUT hockey coach, to share...

A group of Emergency Medical Sciences students hope to support survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) by raising funds and collecting donations for The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children. The second-year Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care students' efforts include a self-defence seminar and a Back-a-Buddy campaign...

The University of Venda (UNIVEN) has reaffi rmed its commitment to community engagement, innovation and the advancement of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education through the successful handover of robotics kits to schools across Limpopo Province. The handover ceremony was held at Nirvana Primary School. It...

For Tshegofatso Mmope, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of South Africa (Unisa) represents more than an academic achievement. It marks another important step towards a lifelong ambition to use the law to protect vulnerable people, advance social justice and give a voice to those who are often unheard...

For Inam Maya, a second-year Food Service Management student at Vaal University of Technology (VUT), the path to hospitality was not one she initially planned to follow. Yet what began as an unexpected academic choice has grown into a passion and a vision for a future without limits. Born and raised in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, Inam...

A championship double, Varsity Cup qualification and a growing roll call of representative players have made this a landmark season for Sol Plaatje University rugby. Sol Plaatje University (SPU) is celebrating a rugby season to remember, one that has put its student-athletes, its sporting programme and the Northern Cape firmly in...

In a landmark HIV prevention trial, an antibody blocked viruses most vulnerable to it, but others broke through. Now researchers have uncovered how HIV evolved after those infections - and why the amount of antibody in the body is an essential part of the story. The Antibody-Mediated Prevention (AMP) trials enrolled more than 4,600...

Artificial intelligence (AI) can transform how healthcare professionals learn and work, but its value lies in how it serves the people and communities they care for. This message was from Professor Lionel Green-Thompson, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town, the keynote speaker at Nelson Mandela...

South Africa's agricultural sector does more than feed the country. Its crops and livestock support livelihoods and generate significant export earnings, making the systems that protect them from pests and diseases critical to both food security and the economy. For Dr Marinda Visser, Director of the National Biosecurity Hub (NBH)...

Nina Newman, a lecturer in the Department of Fine and Studio Arts' Jewellery Programme at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), made history when she became the first recipient of a Doctor of Art and Design (Jewellery Design and Manufacture) degree conferred by TUT at the Faculty of Arts and Design graduation ceremony on the...

Five outstanding University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) undergraduate students - Ms Yenziwe Dlamini, Mr Andrew Elkington, Mr Siphosethu Sibila, Ms Bella-Rey Naidoo and Ms Payal Bhagwandeen - received the Professor Malegapuru W Makgoba Scholarship named in honour of Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, UKZN's first Vice-Chancellor and...

Elite athletes must be in tip-top shape, while also dealing with the intense pressures that come with competing at the highest level. This can affect their mental health. Therefore, mental health support for elite athletes requires a whole-system approach that combines proactive, individualised care with supportive training...

The University of KwaZulu-Natal's (UKZN) 50th Anniversary Scholarship is a merit-based award presented to an outstanding senior undergraduate student from each of the University's four Colleges. This year's College of Humanities recipient, Ms Vivesha Govender, is a Bachelor of Arts in Music student whose love for music began when...

Three tiny insects that lived about 90 million years ago have helped a North-West University (NWU) researcher uncover new clues about life on Earth during the age of the dinosaurs. The discovery also sheds light on how insects fed on plants and how some became the crop pests farmers face today. Dr Sandiso Mnguni, a senior lecturer...

Students from the North-West University's (NWU's) Risk Management programme at the Vanderbijlpark Campus have been crowned the 2026 Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA) University Risk Management Challenge champions. From finishing in the top three to being crowned national champions, these students have taken their...

The South African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) has awarded the University of Cape Town's (UCT) Natalie le Roux the joint Professional Excellence in Research Management Award. SARIMA is a membership organisation that comprises practitioners who manage and support activities in the continuum from research...

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina, has unveiled new infrastructure at Nelson Mandela University yesterday, marking the renewal and expansion of microscopy research in South Africa. The Deputy Minister unveiled two new scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) that...

Election promises are loud and enticing, particularly when they involve doubling the value of social grants. With local elections approaching, politicians know that promises of bigger grants resonate. They speak directly to the everyday realities of older people struggling to put food on the table, pay electricity bills and support...

UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Robert Balfour, visited Johannesburg this week to strengthen stakeholder relationships and explore funding and partnership opportunities in support of the University's strategic priorities. The engagements with industry and philanthropic organisations provided a platform for him to share his...

The stars were out in more ways than one when Stellenbosch University (SU) rolled out the red carpet for its 2026 Rector's Awards for Excellent Achievement. Under the theme "Reach for the Stars", the Sada Ohms Hall at Goldfields Residence was transformed into a celestial wonderland, with shimmering lights evoking the night sky...

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is advancing scientific innovation through the work of Dr Walter Bonke Mahlangu, who recently graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry at the university's Annual Spring Graduation Ceremony. His research explores using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the...

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) celebrated outstanding student leadership, sporting achievement, innovation and community service at its fourth annual Student Affairs Excellence Awards, recognising the students and structures that contribute to a vibrant campus community. The 2026 awards acknowledged achievements...

Sol Plaatje University (SPU) hosted the EDHE Absa Entrepreneurship InnoVarsity 2026 Central Regional Round on 27 and 28 August, bringing student entrepreneurs, adjudicators and stakeholders from across the five universities in the region to its Central Campus for two days of pitching, product showcases and innovation. Students...

At the University of the Western Cape's second annual Geo-Energy Resources Workshop, petroleum industry leaders highlighted the urgency of investing in the country's oil and gas potential and the role of universities in shaping a responsible energy future. South Africa's ability to develop its oil and gas resources could have...

Programme Director; Mama Masegate Tsebe and the entire Tsebe family; Premier, University leadership, staff and students; Community leaders; Friends and fellow mourners. We gather today with heavy hearts to bid farewell to Petra Mathaba Tsebe. At twenty-two, Petra had so much life ahead of her. There were examinations still to...

The future of higher education will not be shaped by protest alone. It will depend on student leaders who understand complex systems, engage with evidence, and work collaboratively to drive meaningful change. This was the message delivered by geographer, urban planner, and policy specialist Malaika Mahlatsi during a student...

The University of the Free State (UFS) Faculty of Education celebrated postgraduate achievement and research excellence at its annual postgraduate awards on Friday 2 October 2026. The awards recognise the work of postgraduate students, supervisors, and academic departments, highlighting the different contributions that support...

Following a historic and dominant 2026 campaign, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Netball Club is celebrating a major milestone as two of its star defenders secure prestigious international contracts. Fresh off leading the Orange Army to their maiden Varsity Netball tournament title in September, UJ captain and Namibian...

UNIIC is a global collaborative network that brings together university incubation centres across Asia and Africa to support student startups, share resources and exchange entrepreneurial skills. The network currently includes 25 universities in 11 countries. The 2026 Business Challenge required students to develop and present...

The global research and innovation landscape shifted decisively as the University of Venda (UNIVEN), in partnership with the National Research Foundation (NRF) and CHINAFRICA, convened a landmark high-level dialogue in Pretoria. Bringing together approximately 150 academics, researchers, policymakers, government representatives...

Retirement may mark the end of a professional career, but it does not diminish the knowledge, experience and legacy accumulated over years of service. For the University of South Africa (Unisa), retired employees remain an important part of its institutional history and a valuable resource in shaping its future. This message took...

The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and Bidvest Services International have strengthened their partnership with the launch of the Wits Bidvest Chair in Smart Solutions, a strategic initiative aimed at advancing research, innovation and human capacity development in emerging technologies. Housed within the School of...

Leaders of private higher education institutions have raised serious concerns regarding newly introduced re-registration requirements and policy frameworks, warning that stringent state criteria are pushing private colleges toward closure rather than fostering institutional expansion. The grievances were presented during a...

The European Union (EU) has invested €394,185.00 into Ghana's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector to help close the country's widening digital skills gap. Of the total amount, €250,000 went directly to Ghanaian partner institutions under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building programme, implemented through the...

The founding Dean of the University of Ghana's School of Education and Leadership, Professor Jonathan Fletcher, has urged educators to embrace continuous learning, collaboration and innovation. This, he said, would improve teaching in the country and prepare learners for leadership. "Educators need to embrace lifelong learning and...

The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Liberia Chapter has announced that 1,447 young people applied for educational opportunities under Phase II of the FAWE-Mastercard Foundation Program. From this applicant pool, 650 marginalized young women and men are expected to receive comprehensive bursary support. The initiative...

The University of Liberia (UL) is nearing completion of a US$680,000 solar-powered student utility park at its Fendall Campus, aimed at addressing longstanding sanitation challenges and improving access to electricity, clean drinking water and essential student services. The Solar Oasis Student Utility Park, situated on 1.5 acres...

The University of Tripoli has postponed human medicine exams scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday because of heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions in the capital. The university said replacement dates would be announced later, adding that exams were expected to resume early next week. A revised timetable has not...

Princess Lalla Asmaa inaugurated Lalla Asmaa University today in Rabat, establishing a new institution that brings together hearing sciences, sign language, technology, and vocational training for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students. The university aims to improve access to higher education and prepare students for careers...

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia has kept first place in the QS Arab University Rankings 2027. Khalifa University in the United Arab Emirates has moved up from third to second, swapping places with Qatar University, which is now third. The rankings, published today by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a...

Mozambican President Daniel Chapo has decided to fire Education Minister Samaria Tovele following controversial and offensive remarks she made toward teachers. During the Education Ministry's 2nd Coordinating Council, Tovele attributed the financial difficulties faced by teachers to an alleged inability to manage their own...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has dismissed the Federal Government's celebration of 29 Nigerian universities featured in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, saying the feat does not warrant any jubilation. National President of the union, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said the increase from 24...

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has signed a law establishing the Kaduna State College of Post-Basic Nursing Sciences in Rigasa, Igabi Local Government Area, as part of efforts to address shortages of specialist nurses and improve healthcare delivery. The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this in a...

The University of Kigali (UoK) has expanded its executive education footprint beyond Rwanda, partnering with J. Soji-George Consulting Nigeria Limited and the Lagos State Ministry of Establishments and Training to deliver an AI, Governance and Economic Transformation (AI-GET) Executive Leadership Masterclass for senior public...

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for a new science and technology centre at SIMAD University in the capital, aimed at advancing higher education, research and students' technical skills. Speaking at a brief ceremony after the groundbreaking, Barre said universities and educational...

TANZANIA seeks a stronger presence in the international cooperation agenda as an endeavour to improve technical and vocational training and equip young people with skills needed to compete in the global labour market. The Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Technology Wanu Hafidh Ameir, who is leading the country's...

THE MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) is helping Zimbabwean filmmakers build careers through practical training, industry connections and opportunities on local and international productions, with graduates Simbarashe Nyahwa and Rutendo Mahofa demonstrating the programme's impact. The academy recently celebrated a decade of...

Nearly 60,000 Afghan students are enrolled at Iranian universities and scientific institutions, an Iranian official said, calling for increased international assistance to countries hosting refugees. Nader Yar-Ahmadi, head of Iran's Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs, gave the figures during the 77th annual session of...

Public universities' students, professors and employees carried out their fifth march to demand a rise in funding and salaries for the sector, as President Javier Milei continues to refuse to implement a law that would grant what they are calling for. The public universities' funding law was approved in 2025, and although it has...

On the campus of the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, it seems like just an ordinary day. The cafeteria is packed during lunch. Students walk back and forth to class. But things aren't normal these days. "I don't even know how to tell you how chaotic it is at universities right now," said Carla Pereira, a 26-year-old...

Cambodia is moving to address its skills gap through an EU-backed capacity-building initiative and to connect vocational training institutions, employers and young people with industry needs, particularly in green and digital sectors. On October 14, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and the EU Delegation to Cambodia...

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar has pledged the commission's support for screening students, faculty, and staff at federal universities for Hepatitis C. He gave the assurance during a meeting at the HEC Secretariat with a delegation led by Zubair Nasir, CEO of Qamar Jahan Diagnostic...

Sejong University hosted an international higher education forum at its Seoul campus on Oct. 1 to discuss ways to improve education for international students and support their career development. The 8th International Student Future Higher Education Korea 2026 Fall was organized in collaboration with Stuvisor, a global...

Syria's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Türkiye's Council of Higher Education (Y?-K) signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday to strengthen higher education and scientific research cooperation and establish arrangements for educational institutions operating in northern Syria. The memorandum was...

Minnesota State is redirecting up to $25 million annually for four years to help financially struggling colleges and universities. The Board of Trustees approved the plan, which will shift money from other institutions in the system, primarily two-year colleges. Officials say the funding is a temporary measure as Minnesota State...

On October 15th, GELEXIMCO Group and Hanoi University of Science and Technology inaugurated the Interdisciplinary Innovation Center, marking a new step in the strategic cooperation between the two entities and promoting the "three-party" collaboration model: State-University-Enterprise in research, development, and application of...

At the International Conference on Educational Cooperation in the Digital Age, Education and Educational Technology Exhibition 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau emphasized the need to transform higher education institutions into centers for research, innovation, and technological development. Accordingly, universities need...