Call for applications: Future Professors Programme

Dear colleagues

The Future Professors Programme (FPP) is a national, collaborative programme aimed at producing a critical mass of academic excellence and leadership within South African higher education. The FPP is based on an innovative approach to growing a representative professoriate through the implementation of a structured programme.

We invite applications from the University of Cape Town (UCT) academics at lecturer and senior lecturer levels who have already demonstrated excellence in their scholarly work and progression towards the senior ranks of the academy. Applicants must hold a doctorate and a strong track record of academic achievement.

Eligibility for nomination includes:

• deep commitment to the pursuit of knowledge building
• evidence of productive and imaginative scholarly work in the form of publications and/or artefacts
• academic focus and purpose
• willingness to benefit from and contribute to a community of scholars across disciplines
• novelty and willingness to engage in the multidisciplinary pursuit of large ideas
• commitment to community engagement which is tied to research and knowledge-building work
• openness and commitment to personal growth and inquiry-based conversations
• evidence of resilience and persistence in dealing and coping with challenges
• openness and willingness for their academic and research work to undergo scrutiny and review by peers.

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file containing:

• a completed FPP Phase 2 application form (including three contactable referees)
• a detailed academic curriculum vitae;
• a two-page evidence-based submission explaining how you meet the attributes listed above. Use this narrative to tell us about yourself, how these attributes inform your personal career choices and your research trajectory, including your planned future research. This submission should include a commitment from the applicant to participate fully in the programme, if selected.

Completed applications with supporting documents should be submitted to ucdp@uct.ac.za by 13 February 2026.

• Download the application form.

Note: The primary focus for selection (a target of 80%) is black and female South Africans, but the FPP is inclusive and open to applications from all permanent academic staff at South African universities who meet the criteria for selection to the programme. A maximum of five candidates will be selected from the UCT community.

Please direct any queries to Dheshnie Keswell or Lisa de Vos.

Centre for Higher Education Development