Welcome back, Witsies!
- Zeblon Vilakazi
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits University, welcomes staff and students to a new academic year.
Dear Colleagues and 足球竞彩app排名s
I hope that you are well rested and revitalised. As we start the 2026 academic year, I extend a warm welcome to every member of the Wits community.
Next five years
This year marks the beginning of my second term of office and I would like to thank those who supported me during my first term. I would also like to use this opportunity to share my vision for the next five years, and I am hopeful that together we can move Wits forward.
Our work over the next five years is firmly anchored in the Wits 2033 Strategic Framework which articulates our long-term vision and values as a university committed to excellence, impact and sustainability.
Building on this foundation, we will secure and advance Wits’ position in the top 1% of universities worldwide through our academic and research excellence, social impact and the advancement of the public good.
Our identity and purpose
Wits’ identity is anchored in academic excellence, intellectual courage and social relevance - principles that are central to the Wits 2033 Strategic Framework. Over the next five years, we will deepen our commitment to scholarly distinction by attracting, retaining and supporting outstanding academics and researchers. We will continue to nurture the next cohort of academic leaders, including postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows, whilst building on the experience of those academics who have grown Wits into the university that it is today.
We will strengthen our research output, sharpen our focus on productivity and impact and ensure that our scholars are leading societal conversations, particularly in the areas of technological advancement and societal transformation. Our curriculum will continuously be renewed so that it prepares our graduates to shape the future.
Learning, teaching and the student experience
We will continue to evolve our pedagogies to reflect agility, innovation and inclusivity. The Learning and Teaching Plan will be driven by our sustained investment in learning and teaching, supported by modern technologies and evidence-based practice. We will continue to design learning environments that encourage curiosity, critical thinking and interdisciplinary engagement. We will build on our existing strengths to give our students an outstanding experience both within and beyond the classroom, through improved service delivery and administrative efficiency.
Our students should experience Wits as a space that equips them to become ethical leaders, problem-solvers and citizens that impact positively on society.
Social impact and responsibility
We will intensify our social impact by ensuring that our research, teaching and public engagement initiatives address the most pressing challenges facing South Africa, the continent and the world. I am hopeful that our staff and students will continue to be trusted voices in public discourse, shaping policy, advancing innovation and contributing meaningfully to society.
Financial sustainability and institutional strength
To secure Wits’ future, we must balance financial sustainability with sustained investment in the academic project. Over the next five years, we will continue to diversify our income streams, strengthen third-stream income generation, grow our endowment and leverage the strength of our alumni community. We will protect the academic core whilst enabling innovation and growth. Against a backdrop of global uncertainty, we will continue to exercise prudent stewardship of our resources, ensuring the long-term sustainability of Wits for generations to come.
Modernising systems and building the campus of the future
It is imperative for us to modernise our systems and processes through a plan that improves efficiency and enhances services to students and staff. Our professional and operational services must increasingly function as enablers of academic excellence.
We commit to building a campus of the future that is sustainable, secure and technologically advanced. Over the next five years, we will deepen our investment in energy, water and waste efficiency, improve access and safety, and analyse our spatialneeds to support future growth. As mentioned in my December newsletter, our partnerships with the Braamfontein Improvement District, the City, JoziMyJozi, civil society and the public and private sectors are essential for Wits to thrive.
How will we know if we are successful?
First, Wits will remain in the top 1% of universities globally by 2033. Next, we will strengthen our position as a University of choice for talented staff and students, and we will be leading in research and innovation on the continent. Third, our systems will serve the academic mission with greater efficiency. Finally, we will enhance our ability to produce ethical graduates who are sought after and who will be well prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Five years on, what began as a bold ambition - a moonshot - must now be measured by impact that is embedded, sustained and irreversible. None of this will be possible without you, our staff and students, and I invite you to work alongside me and the leadership team, to help us actively shape the future of Wits.
I wish you a fulfilling and successful academic year.
Warm Regards
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi FRS
Vice-Chancellor and Principal
University of the Witwatersrand