Join a conversation on values in higher education

Dear colleagues and students

I often speak of the values I hope to see more of in the University of Cape Town (UCT) community: kindness, generosity of spirit, people-centredness, respect and inclusivity to name a few.

These are values I believe if exhibited and experienced daily will demonstrate to our community, country and the continent what can be achieved when we lead with the belief ‘I am because you are’. Described differently, practising these values would demonstrate that ‘individual well-being, success and joy is deeply intertwined with the well-being, success and joy of those around us’ – that is to live and lead with ubuntu.

As I shared in Strategy 2030, values can inform culture, social contracts and accountability; and contribute to a sense of belonging.

This year South Africa holds the presidency for the Group of Twenty (G20), a global forum for international economic cooperation, addressing major challenges to foster sustainable growth and development.

To this end, I invite you to attend a G20 aligned event, which will be co-hosted by UCT and the Values 20 (V20). The V20 is a global platform of values practitioners engaging the G20 on the role of values in shaping human-centered, inclusive and sustainable public policy. In 2025, the national V20 initiative adopted the theme ‘living values’, which is a call for institutions and individuals to visibly and consistently practice values that unify and transform.

I invite you to attend our upcoming Values in Higher Education Conversation. We will hear from Professor Bonang Mohale, the V20 sherpa and University of Free State Chancellor, as well as several vice-chancellors and Students Representative Council (SRC) presidents, on how we in higher education are and can strategically and intentionally embed values and values-based leadership within our institutions. We will have over 10 South African universities represented.
 

Date: Wednesday, 15 October 2025

Time: 13:30–16:45

Venue: The Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika
 

• RSVP to attend the conversation (seating is limited).

The conversations will touch on the role that higher education institutions can play in driving a values-led society; values as a driver of institutional culture; preparing students for the world of work and other key values-based drivers of solidarity, equality and sustainable development in South Africa.

As writer Margaret J Wheatley once said: "There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." This is the essence of what the Values in Higher Education Conversation aims to achieve: to bring together a higher education community that is intentional about expressing and embodying the values that matter most – not only in words, but in leadership, culture and everyday action.

The Values in Higher Education Conversation precedes the official V20 Summit, which will take place on 16 and 17 October 2025. The summit will serve as a call to action. It invites individuals, institutions, communities and nations to not only articulate values but to live them consistently, visibly and courageously.
 

• Learn more and RSVP to attend the summit.

In partnership with the V20 steering committee – including Professor Mohale, Dr Preeya Daya and Dr Tabea Tshesane – I invite you to this important and necessary conversation.

Sincerely

Professor Mosa Moshabela
Vice-Chancellor

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements