The future of higher education will not be shaped by protest alone. It will depend on student leaders who understand complex systems, engage with evidence, and work collaboratively to drive meaningful change.
This was the message delivered by geographer, urban planner, and policy specialist
Malaika Mahlatsi during a student leadership dialogue at the University of the Free State.
The engagement brought together student leaders and university stakeholders to examine the future of higher education amid growing uncertainty around funding, artificial intelligence, qualifications, and student well-being.
Delivering the keynote address, Mahlatsi reflected on the role that universities play in society. She argued that institutions should not be viewed merely as places that prepare graduates for employment. Instead, universities must serve as spaces where knowledge is created through engagement with the communities they serve.
“Ideation is a product and a function of co-creation with the very society in which we are located,” she observed.
Drawing on examples from community engagement and future academic developments, she challenged universities to embed community collaboration within teaching, learning, and research. She maintained that knowledge creation is strengthened when academics, students, communities, civil society organisations, and industry partners work together to address societal challenges.
Transformation requires patience and principle
Reflecting on the history of student activism in South Africa, Mahlatsi traced a long tradition of student leadership that stretches back more than a century.
She argued that contemporary conversations about decolonisation, access, and transformation should be understood within this broader historical context. For today's student leaders, the pursuit of free education remains inseparable from questions of social justice, curriculum transformation, and historical redress.
At the same time, she cautioned against expecting immediate victories in struggles that require long-term commitment and strategic thinking.
“Anger is a useful resource, but it is not a long-term strategy,” she remarked.
The discussion also addressed the impact of destructive protest action on university communities. Mahlatsi emphasised that infrastructure damage often undermines the very goals students seek to achieve by limiting access to opportunities, education, and resources.
She encouraged student leaders to remain guided by principles, even when doing so may be unpopular.
“Do not be afraid to be disliked when you take a position that is principled and in it for the long run,” she urged.
Knowledge strengthens advocacy
“There is no future of higher education without student leadership,” he maintained.
Drawing on historical moments such as the 1976 events and the #FeesMustFall movement, he encouraged students to champion academic freedom, student wellness, and transformation while carefully considering the long-term consequences of their decisions.
During an interactive question-and-answer session facilitated by
Pholla Mbalane, Deputy Director: Institutional Student Governance Office, students raised concerns ranging from fee increases and funding challenges to accountability and decision-making processes within universities.
Responding to these concerns, Mahlatsi encouraged student leaders to deepen their understanding of higher education funding systems and the institutions responsible for policy and financial decisions. She also called on students to draw on expertise across disciplines and use reliable evidence to strengthen their advocacy.
“Student leaders must never have the arrogance of believing that they possess a monopoly of knowledge,” she emphasised.
Her remarks repeatedly returned to the importance of partnership. Communities, she argued, possess valuable knowledge shaped by lived experience, history, and local realities. Universities, therefore, have a responsibility to approach engagement as a process of listening and learning rather than simply providing solutions.
Closing the dialogue, Jerry Laka, Director of KovsieSport, reinforced the importance of treating students as active partners in institutional decision-making.
“Education must be built with students, not only for them,” he noted.
The dialogue placed student participation at the centre of an important question facing universities worldwide: how can institutions respond to immediate challenges while remaining committed to the long-term work of transformation, inclusion, and social progress?