World Academic Summit 2026: An update

Dear colleagues and students

As announced in October 2025, the University of Cape Town (UCT) will host the Times Higher Education (THE) World Academic Summit (WAS) 2026 – the first time 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 welcome senior leaders from across the global higher education community – vice-chancellors, presidents, policymakers and industry leaders – to 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.

Programme and positioning

The agenda – developed in close collaboration with colleagues across the university – 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.

The 2026 TWAS is more than an academic summit. It is about global conversations that have local impact. As preparations continue, colleagues and students are encouraged to engage with the summit in different ways – whether through following or contributing to the conversations, leveraging partnership opportunities or participating in the broader intellectual engagement it will generate. Highlights from the summit will be available on the dedicated UCT feature page.

Communication and Marketing Department

• Read more about the summit.