Against a backdrop of global volatility and rapid technological shifts, the University of Pretoria (UP) Senate recently convened for its high-level 2026 Senate Conference. Hosted at the Future Africa campus, the two-day strategic summit focused on the theme ‘Shaping Impact for Resilient Futures’, marking a critical milestone in the rollout of the university’s ambitious long-term strategy, Thrive UP 2038.
The conference served as a collective think-tank for academic leadership, moving beyond theoretical goals toward actionable frameworks that ensure UP remains a beacon of relevance in an uncertain world.
A Vision for the Future: “No Student Left Behind”
Opening the summit, Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Francis Petersen delivered a sobering yet optimistic assessment of the current global landscape, citing geopolitical instability and climate crises as catalysts for institutional change.
“Universities have a responsibility not only to respond to change, but to actively shape the future,” Prof Petersen stated. “Impact must be seen and felt—it is not an abstract concept. At UP, impact starts with the student: no one is left behind or denied a quality education due to socio-economic circumstances.”
Strategic Pillars: The Two-Day Breakdown
The conference was structured to move from conceptual framing to long-term sustainability:
- Day 1: Framing Impact – Defining what “meaningful contribution” looks like in the modern era and establishing a shared institutional language.
- Day 2: Leveraging & Sustaining Impact – Focusing on transdisciplinary collaboration and ensuring that research and innovation reach beyond the laboratory to solve real-world continental challenges.
Voices of Leadership
The conference highlighted that for Thrive UP 2038 to succeed, every faculty must operate with a unified sense of purpose.
- Professor Sunil Maharaj (Vice-Principal: Research & Innovation): Emphasized that “impact” is now the primary currency of academic relevance. Success is measured by how academic work connects to societal realities.
- Professor Loretta Feris (Vice-Principal: Academic): Highlighted that achieving global resilience requires “institutional agility” and deep collaboration across traditionally siloed disciplines.
The Thrive UP 2038 Commitment
The 2026 conference concluded with a suite of aligned and actionable recommendations. These will serve as the roadmap for the next decade, ensuring that UP’s teaching and research are human-centered, inclusive, and equipped to handle the economic and environmental pressures of the 21st century.
