Evodia Mohoanyane, Deputy Director: Student Learning and Employability at the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at the University of the Free State (UFS), has been selected as a member of the 2025 cohort of the prestigious Africa Leadership Initiative-Young Leaders (ALI-YL). Nominated by UFS alumnus and CEO of Aeon Investment Management, Tshego Dichabe, Mohoanyane now joins the initiative as a candidate fellow.
The ALI-YL programme aims to equip emerging leaders from across Africa – spanning various sectors - to make meaningful contributions to society. For Mohoanyane, being selected represents an important milestone in her leadership journey.
‘’I don’t think that I’ve even scratched the surface of the impact I hope to make as a leader, so this opportunity came as a great and humbling surprise,’’ she reflected.
The 2025 ALI-YL cohort will convene for the first time on 17 July 2025 in Magaliesberg. The year-long programme includes several intensive seminars, culminating in Mohoanyane’s graduation as an official fellow in February 2026. She expressed excitement about learning from diverse perspectives, engaging with like-minded leaders, and expanding her capacity to lead effectively.
A season of recognition
In addition to her selection for the ALI-YL, Mohoanyane has been named one of the 300 most influential leaders by the Golden Key Honour Society Southern Africa. This accolade recognises her significant contributions to student development at the UFS, particularly her work in training students and nurturing early career talent. The recognition was formally bestowed at a black-tie gala event on 23 May 2025.
Mohoanyane credits much of her growth and success to mentorship from Prof Francois Strydom, Senior Director of CTL at the UFS, and the opportunities the university has provided.
Raising the UFS flag
These dual recognitions, Mohoanyane believes, not only elevate her professional standing but also shine a light on the broader role of universities.
“When people think about careers at universities, they often focus only on teaching. But accomplishments like these show that so much impactful work happens beyond the classroom,” she explained.
She hopes these achievements will underscore the importance of forming partnerships that support student development and success initiatives – many of which take place outside traditional academic spaces. Moreover, she believes they serve to showcase the depth of talent at the UFS and its potential to contribute meaningfully to national and continental development.
Looking ahead
Passionate about graduate employability and access to quality education, Mohoanyane is currently leading a project to develop a framework for African universities that aims to strengthen support for senior students as they transition through and beyond university life. She is actively engaging potential partners to realise this vision and extend its benefits to more students.