Home to some of the world’s oldest continuously operating universities and one of the world’s youngest populations, Africa is entering a defining era for higher education.

The THE Africa Universities Summit 2027 brings together leaders shaping the future of the continent’s universities. The summit will explore leadership, innovation and strategies across financial sustainability, digital transformation, research commercialisation, employability and global partnerships.

Join us for two days of high-level networking, interactive workshops and thought-provoking discussions exploring how universities can drive research, regional development and lifelong opportunities across Africa’s rapidly evolving higher education ecosystem.

Sustainable university systems

Explore how to build a university strategy that ensures operational success, institutional agility, capacity building and probity.

Expanding access while maintaining quality

Discover how to drive participation and widen access to learning opportunities with innovative teaching and learning that ensures successful graduate outcomes.

Leadership development and talent retention

Consider how to develop the next generation of academic and institutional leaders while retaining Africa’s research and professional talent.

Innovation and technology transfers

Learn how to grow Africa’s innovation output to build technology transfer ecosystems that add an entrepreneurial angle to universities and help deliver research with real-world impact. We will also investigate institutional AI preparedness.

Folasade Ogunsola

Vice-Chancellor and Professor

University of Lagos

Paul Mapfumo

Vice‑Chancellor

University of Zimbabwe

Beatrice Muganda

Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education and Research

Ministry of Education, Kenya

Kayode Babarinde

Executive Director

Africa Blockchain Institute

Abubakar Sadiq Haruna

Secretary-General

African Association of Private Universities

Hester Klopper

Principal and Vice-Chancellor

University of the Free State

John Machayi

President

Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies

Anicia Peters

Chief Executive Officer

National Commission on Research, Science and Technology

Buti Manamela

Minister

Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa

Attend as a delegate

Gain practical insights from global higher education leaders, connect with peers and partners across the sector, discover innovative solutions and stay ahead of emerging issues. Register your interest.

Speak in a session

Our high-quality speakers are essential to ensuring our events engage audiences and provide relevant, up-to-date and innovative content for our delegates. Submit a speaker application.

Join as a partner

Strategically engage with your target audience by exposing your brand, industry knowledge and thought leadership to the global higher education community. Explore opportunities.