The University of Cape Town (UCT) has officially recognized the immense contributions of Professor Faizel Ismail, appointing him as an Emeritus Professor following his retirement as the Director of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance.
Professor Ismail’s tenure marked a transformative period for the school, strengthening its commitment to African-led research, regional integration, and democratic accountability.
A Career Dedicated to Public Policy
Before joining UCT, Professor Ismail held prestigious roles at the World Trade Organization (WTO), acting as chair for several critical committees on trade, development, and finance between 2004 and 2014.
Since 2015, he brought this extensive global experience to UCT, convening postgraduate courses in international trade law and policy across the Faculty of Law and the UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB).
Shaping the Future of African Governance
As Director of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance since 2019, Professor Ismail spearheaded initiatives designed to align academic curriculum with the realities of the African continent.
His proudest achievement was building a robust relationship with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat, utilizing technology to foster regional economic integration dialogues across Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We learned that the key challenge for the continent is to link issues of democracy with underlying structural challenges of economic and social development.”
Research Academies and Global Impact
Under his leadership, the school established three core research academies focusing on:
- Democratic Governance and Development: Analyzing the root causes of corruption.
- Regional Integration and the AfCFTA: Promoting intra-African trade.
- Climate Change and Development: Building resilience and structural production changes.
His efforts resulted in significant financial growth for the institution, including raising over R50 million and securing a €1.7 million grant from the French Development Agency for executive education. Furthermore, he facilitated the acquisition of a US$21.5 million grant to build the new Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre and School of Public Governance.
Next Steps
While retiring from full-time administration, Professor Ismail will continue to serve the academic community as an Emeritus Professor, supervising doctoral students and pursuing his new role as co-chair of a UN framework forum on climate change and trade.
