The Universities South Africa (USAf) Higher Education Conference 2026 serves as a premier platform for thought leadership, strategic dialogue, and collaborative engagement among leaders in higher education, government, industry, civil society, and international partner institutions. The conference is designed to explore the role of universities in addressing contemporary challenges while shaping a sustainable and inclusive future for higher education.

The conference theme, “Co-creating a Resilient Future”, reflects the recognition that resilience, innovation, and renewal can only be achieved through meaningful collaboration. The theme acknowledges that universities operate in an increasingly complex environment characterised by financial pressures, technological disruption, social inequality, policy uncertainty, climate change, and evolving societal expectations. It positions higher education institutions as both leaders and partners in driving transformation and sustainable development.

Central to the conference is the concept of co-creation, which emphasises shared responsibility among multiple stakeholders, including universities, government, communities, civil society organisations, industry, employers, and international partners. Through collaborative approaches, the conference seeks to identify innovative solutions that strengthen institutional resilience, enhance student success, advance research impact, and ensure universities’ continued relevance in a rapidly changing world.

The programme will facilitate critical reflection on the future of higher education through a series of interconnected sub-themes covering governance and leadership, academic innovation, societal impact, student success, equity and inclusion, institutional resilience, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and sustainable funding models. These discussions will challenge participants to rethink traditional assumptions about the purpose, structure, and operation of universities while exploring new approaches to knowledge creation, teaching and learning, research, and community engagement.

By bringing together influential voices from across the higher education ecosystem, the conference aims to generate practical insights, strengthen partnerships, and develop collective strategies that will enable universities to remain responsive, adaptable, and impactful. Ultimately, the conference seeks to reinforce the sector’s contribution to societal renewal, economic development, social justice, and the advancement of the public good in South Africa and beyond.

The outcomes of the conference are expected to inform future policy discussions, institutional strategies, and collaborative initiatives that support a resilient, innovative, and equitable higher education sector capable of meeting both current demands and future opportunities.

Conference at a Glance
The Universities South Africa Higher Education Conference 2026 brings together university leaders, academics, policymakers, researchers, students, industry and international partners to explore how higher education can build resilience in an increasingly complex world. Over three days, delegates will engage in keynote presentations, strategic conversations, interactive panels and parallel sessions that challenge current thinking, showcase innovation and identify practical actions for the future of South African higher education.

The conference opens by examining the current higher education landscape and the major forces shaping universities today. Through keynote addresses, strategic conversations and panel discussions, delegates will explore the challenges and opportunities confronting the sector before moving into themed parallel sessions.

The afternoon will provide delegates with a choice of interactive sessions covering:

• Governance, accountability and institutional renewal
• Sustainable funding and resourcing models
• Academic futures in an AI-mediated world
• The day concludes with a plenary conversation that brings together perspectives from across the sector to reflect on the future of resilient universities.

Day Two focuses on innovation, transformation and collaboration. An international keynote and plenary discussion will consider global higher education trends before delegates participate in parallel sessions showcasing emerging ideas, research and practice.

Parallel sessions will explore:

• Academic innovation for a changing world
• People, equity and the public good
• Research and societal impact
• Data and digital transformation
• Institutional resilience, strategy and agility
• Student success for a resilient future

The day concludes with reflections from the parallel sessions, highlighting key insights and emerging themes before delegates gather for the Conference Dinner.

The final day focuses on societal impact, leadership, collaboration and action. University leaders will explore how universities can work collectively to shape the future of South African higher education, and the valurable impact of universities on society

Highlights include:

• Societal Impact case studies
• Higher education leadership perspectives
• Vice-Chancellors’ dialogue
• Strategic reflections from USAf Strategy Groups
• Conference outcomes and closing reflections
• The conference concludes by identifying practical priorities and collaborative actions to strengthen resilience across the higher education sector.