The student well-being summit is the second rendition of its pilot summit conceptualized by the University of the Free State and hosted by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2024. In 2024, the summit was only open to five (5) universities and three (3) TVET colleges as a pilot. In 2025 the summit strives to broaden the conversation to include more national and international institutions inclusive of TVET colleges in the summit.

The well-being of students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is no longer negotiable looking at the alarming rates of suicides, attempted suicides, gender-based violence (GBV), dropouts, and overall safety concerns created by the expansion of HEIs (off-campus accommodations, accreditations, etc). There is an increasing call for institutional cultures to be reshaped to create a student-centered higher education system. Therefore, institutions must rethink the way they do their usual business (Universities South Africa, 2023). 

Anchored by the humanising pedagogy, this summit recognises that recognising students as human beings first adds value to their overall student experience of HEIs. This summit understands that students host multiple identities, which can be in conflict and disrupt the academic journey.

The University of the Free State (UFS) Vision 130 speaks of the value of Care. At the core of the value of Care is student wellbeing. This value is enacted through the Division of Student Affairs Strategic Goal 2 which is dedicated to Student Wellbeing. The Division through its ten (10) sub-departments runs well-being programs throughout the academic calendar.