University leaders, policymakers and civic partners gathered in Cape Town for the 2026 Times Higher Education World Academic Summit, co-hosted by the University of Bristol and the University of Cape Town.
Held under the theme “Knowledge, justice and futures: Universities in the age of intelligence”, the Summit examined how human, artificial and collective intelligence could address global challenges.
Times Higher Education Business Development Manager for sub-Saharan Africa Mosebjadi Petje said deeper cooperation was essential as universities responded to climate change, food insecurity and youth unemployment. “Universities across the continent are really doing remarkable things,” Petje said.
“But many of the challenges that universities face include climate change, food security and youth employment.”
Petje said institutions should share expertise, research infrastructure and knowledge to strengthen African higher education. “We need to build a stronger Africa with stronger research networks, develop talent and create institutions that are globally connected but also deeply connected to the needs of African society,” Petje said.
AI also featured prominently at the Summit.
Petje said universities should embrace AI while ensuring that students and lecturers understood how to use the technology ethically and responsibly. “AI is here and it needs to be embraced. However, it needs to be used responsibly,” Petje said.
“Institutions must educate students and teachers about how to use it responsibly so that students are not left behind.”
Petje also urged universities to move beyond collecting data only for rankings and regulatory compliance.
Times Higher Education works with institutions to understand strategies, identify opportunities and use international benchmarks to strengthen competitiveness, visibility and global engagement. “We are encouraging universities to use that data in decision-making, to make better decisions and plan better based on data,” Petje said.
African participation in global university rankings is growing. About 55 universities from 14 sub-Saharan African countries participated in the previous Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
Petje cautioned against focusing only on individual positions, saying the broader development of the higher-education system mattered more. “The biggest story is the development of the ecosystem,” Petje said.
“Rankings shouldn’t be the destination, but they can be a tool that helps universities understand where they are performing well and where they have opportunities to improve.”
–ChannelAfrica–
