When Prof Hester C. Klopper walked onto the stage at the Sandton Convention Centre on 18 March 2026, it marked more than a personal milestone. Her recognition at the 2026 Forbes Woman Africa Awards placed the University of the Free State (UFS) at the centre of a continental conversation about the role of universities in shaping Africa’s future.

Prof Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS, received the Academic Excellence Award during the 11th Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit, themed The Voice, Vision and Victories of Her Africa. The award honours individuals whose work reflects sustained excellence and influence in their fields.

Accepting the award, she drew attention away from individual achievement and towards the collective effort behind academic work.

“As an academic, you never walk this road as a solo flight,” she said. “I accept this award in honour of my students, my colleagues, and my family who have walked with me.”

Her remarks traced a journey that began far from executive leadership. In 1982, she enrolled as a nursing science student, an experience that shaped her understanding of what excellence means in practice.

“I realised very quickly that excellence is not in a title, but a standard of living,” she reflected. “One patient at a time, one student at a time, one decision at a time.”

That perspective continues to inform her leadership at the University of the Free State, where the focus is on building knowledge that responds to real societal needs. For Prof Klopper, academic excellence is inseparable from collaboration, mentorship, and shared purpose.

“Every paper you publish carries the fingerprints of co-researchers, students, and colleagues,” she said. “The mission has always been to build Africa’s capacity, to generate our own evidence, and to tell our own stories.”

Her appointment as the 15th Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS in February 2025 marked another historic moment. She is the first woman to hold the position in the university’s 122-year history. Yet, in her view, the significance lies less in being the first and more in what follows.

“It is not about being first, but about what comes after us,” she told the audience, acknowledging the contributions of women across generations who have advanced excellence in their fields.

Under her leadership, the UFS has sharpened its focus on developing graduates who are equipped to respond to complex challenges. Her vision is clear: universities must move beyond knowledge production alone and actively contribute to societal transformation.

“At the University of the Free State, we are not going to follow; we are going to shape,” she said. “Our responsibility is to ensure that students not only publish research but also solve problems and transform communities.”

This approach aligns with her longstanding commitment to education, research, and social impact. With more than three decades in higher education, Prof Klopper has built a distinguished career as a global academic leader, with more than 120 peer-reviewed publications, supervision of dozens of postgraduate students, and leadership roles across international institutions.

Her work has consistently focused on strengthening health systems, advancing nursing education, and expanding opportunities for future scholars. At the UFS, this commitment is visible in initiatives such as the VCP-ISRC Imbewu Legacy Fund, which supports students who face financial barriers to accessing higher education.

The Forbes Woman Africa recognition also signals a broader shift in how universities are viewed on the continent. In her address, Prof Klopper welcomed this perspective.

“Thank you for seeing universities not as ivory towers, but as engines of change,” she said.

The summit brought together more than 1 000 voices from across Africa. For Prof Klopper, the gathering underscored the importance of collective leadership, particularly among women shaping the continent’s future.

“Let us take hands and move forward together,” she urged. “Let us build a continent that thrives on women’s leadership.”

For the University of the Free State, the award affirms a growing international profile grounded in research, student success, and community impact. It also reinforces the university’s commitment to responsible societal futures – where knowledge, leadership, and collaboration converge to address the challenges facing Africa.