17 October 2025
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Story Tshepo Tsotetsi
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Photo Supplied
Prof Hester C. Klopper, UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal; Dr Dhanasagran Naidoo, Senior Director of DIRAP; and Cecilia Frans, DIRAP’s Chief Officer: Data Analyst at the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit in Saudi Arabia.
The University of the Free State (UFS) has strengthened its global engagement and academic visibility through its participation at the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World Academic Summit, held from 7 to 9 October 2025 at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
The summit brought together more than 800 delegates from 140 top institutions across 28 countries, including vice-chancellors, research leaders, and policymakers, to explore the overarching theme: ‘Universities as Agents of Change’.
Universities as agents of change
According to Dr Naidoo, the summit emphasised several interconnected pillars aligned with the mission of comprehensive universities. “The discussions focused on how universities propel technological advancement, job creation, and sustainable development by linking academic research with industry needs, nurturing innovation ecosystems, supporting entrepreneurship, and promoting regional economic growth,” he explained.
He added that the conversations on regional collaboration and partnerships were particularly relevant for UFS: “Universities were positioned as key facilitators of regional development, promoting inclusive growth and cross-sectoral innovation by leveraging academic expertise and resources.”
The summit also placed significant emphasis on universities’ role in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through interdisciplinary research, education, and community engagement – themes that closely align with UFS’s own priorities.
Building visibility and global partnerships
For UFS, participation in the summit was an opportunity to strengthen its international visibility and benchmark against leading institutions. “Direct engagement transforms UFS from a name on a ranking list into a visible, credible potential partner,” Frans said. “By networking face-to-face, we build the necessary trust that precedes major joint ventures. We are actively creating opportunities for high-impact partnerships in research agreements, shared doctoral programmes, and joint bids for international grants, specifically leveraging our strengths in agriculture and healthcare.”
She added that these engagements “are not just for learning; they are essential platforms for strategic showcasing that convert our existing research capacity into recognised global research leadership.”
Through such global interaction, UFS continues to position itself among universities contributing to the advancement of higher education worldwide while deepening Africa’s presence on the international stage.
Frans noted that the event also provided UFS with a clearer roadmap for improving its performance in the THE rankings by focusing on three areas:
- Boosting the global presence and citation impact of UFS research;
- Ensuring internal data visibility and integrity; and
- Leveraging international collaborations to improve co-authorship and staff and student ratios.
“The summit confirmed that the current institutional strategy is on track, particularly concerning international engagement,” she added.
Positioning UFS for global recognition
As UFS prepares for the upcoming Times Higher Education Academic Reputation Survey (November 2025 – January 2026) and Sustainability Impact Rankings, the insights and partnerships gained from this summit will play a vital role in shaping institutional performance.
By aligning strategic priorities with global best practices, the UFS continues to strengthen its position as a university that not only contributes to the global academic conversation but also drives transformation through research, innovation, and community impact.