Greetings from the University of Cape Town

I warmly invite you to the University of Cape Town (UCT) for the THE World Academic Summit 2026. On behalf of our university community, it would be my absolute pleasure to welcome you to our edition of the summit where ideas meet purpose. We are glad that you will also get to explore Cape Town, the city where the infamous Table Mountain overlooks the meeting of oceans. 

The summit theme, “Knowledge, justice and futures: Universities in the age of intelligence”, speaks to the heart of our work, and to the distinct global issues requiring urgent attention and collective human action. In a rapidly changing technological world, it is not innovation alone but our collective values and care for humanity that will determine our future.  

Knowledge is neither neutral nor linear. It is influenced by power, perspective and position with subjective meaning-making often drawn from it. And so it carries responsibility. It is a tool for justice calling for us to shape inclusive futures together.  

As Africa’s leading university our Vision 2030 is an invitation to “unleash human potential to create a fair and just society.” We draw on the creativity, diversity and innovation of our staff and students to shape learning experiences, a lively campus culture and research that truly makes a difference in the world. 

This summit offers an invaluable platform to exchange knowledge, explore collaboration opportunities and engage in discussions that will ultimately drive social progress.  

We are excited to welcome you to UCT in 2026, where together we will conceive new possibilities.  

Professor Mosa Moshabela
Vice-Chancellor
University of Cape Town 

About the University of Cape Town

As the oldest university in South Africa, the University of Cape Town (UCT) community is far-reaching, consisting of more than 29 000 exceptionally talented students. Our almost 5 000 staff – comprising academics, researchers and professional staff – all share a common commitment to shaping a better world. It includes over 200 000 alumni on record, located in 164 countries around the world. 

As Africa’s leading university, UCT is home to a culturally vibrant, diverse and cosmopolitan community. Our staff and students come from many different communities in South Africa and from more than 100 countries across the world, each bringing unique perspectives that enrich the university’s quality and growth across six faculties. 

Student life at UCT is dynamic and meaningful. Supplementing their academic pursuits with engaged scholarship as key for many, students engage in a wide range of volunteer projects that strengthen ties with local communities. Additionally, they participate in over 100 student societies and 40 sports clubs with some still serving in student governance. By encouraging students to build their leadership and service skills, UCT ensures that graduates are not only highly skilled and equipped to enter the workforce, but also socially responsive leaders. 

UCT is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities and is home to many of the most cited researchers globally – with 135 ranking in the top 2% worldwide. With strengths across the sciences, humanities and social sciences, UCT attracts top scholars from South Africa, across Africa, and the rest of the world. 

Research at the university is driven by five strategic focal areas: Building a Healthy Africa; Resource Efficiency and Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable Development, our Southern Location, Advancing Africa; and on Being Human. These priorities reflect UCT’s belief that knowledge must serve society and address the grand challenges of our time. 

Innovation and impact are cornerstones of our mission. Over the past two decades, UCT has secured more than 500 patents and established multiple spin-off companies, directly contributing to African scholarship and the global knowledge economy. UCT is also a proud member of key international networks, working in close and equitable collaboration with partners worldwide. 

Our location at the southern tip of Africa offers unmatched opportunities for discovery – from the great southern skies to the most diverse floral kingdom in the world, with three oceans at our doorstep; the Indian and the Atlantic as well as exploration of the Southern Ocean which presents unique opportunities for studying the dynamics of this oceanic region.  

State-of-the-art offerings such as the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika (d-school Afrika) – one of only three globally, alongside Stanford University (USA) and the University of Potsdam (Germany) – embody UCT’s commitment to world-class innovation and sustainability. The building itself is Africa’s first 6-Star Green Building Council-certified academic facility.

Firmly situated in our local context while holding a global outlook, our proud history and commitment to social responsiveness positions UCT as a premier meeting point between South Africa, Africa and the world.

 Visit UCT's website