Launching a new era
in African higher education
A continental convening to shape the future of the university in Africa.
Event date
31 Aug - 1 Sep 2026
Event time
09:00 AM (SAST)
Location
Cape Town, South Africa
Countdown to event
Co-hosted by
University of Cape Town
Join us in South Africa in
A landmark two-day continental gathering bringing together university leaders, policymakers, industry partners, internationalisation and alumni engagement professionals from across Africa and beyond — to launch the inaugural ALL AFRICA Public & Private University Rankings and collectively shape the future of African higher education.
Key moments
to watch.
From baseline data to community dialogue—shaping the first unified framework for the continent.
Featured launch
AppliedHE Public & Private University Rankings:
ALL AFRICA 2026
The inaugural baseline reference framework: Africa. One continental conversation.
Workshop spotlight
The Declaration Workshop
From baseline to community-shaped ranking — a structured consultation gathering perspectives from universities and stakeholders across Africa.
Executive Briefing
Alumni Engagement
& Internationalisation
Exploring actionable strategies for Pan-African institutions to build stronger global networks and leverage diaspora connections.
Reframing the future of African higher education.
AppliedHE ALL AFRICA 2026 is a flagship two-day conference bringing together university leaders, policymakers, industry partners, internationalisation professionals, alumni engagement specialists, and higher education stakeholders from across the continent and beyond.
Co-hosted by the University of Cape Town, the convening marks the launch of the inaugural ALL AFRICA Public & Private University Rankings.
For international universities, agencies, and partners, it offers a rare chance to engage institutions from across Africa in one setting rather than country by country.
Co-host Institution
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Bringing the full continent one framework.
For the inaugural pilot edition, AppliedHE will present a baseline framework featuring two universities per country per category, Public and Private, representing 216 institutions across all 54 internationally recognised African countries.
The inaugural edition follows AppliedHE's signature methodology of assessing public and private universities separately, recognising their different missions, structures, and operating realities while bringing the full continent into view.
54 countries in scope
A continental baseline designed to better reflect institutional missions, contexts, and contribution.
Public/private lens
Separate public and private assessments reflect different structures and operating realities.
Why this event
matters deeply.
We are not merely recognizing excellence. We are redefining how it is understood in an African context.
Four Core Questions
How can universities better bridge the gap between academia and industry?
How can curricula be aligned more closely with evolving labour market needs?
How can rankings and ratings drive real improvement, not just recognition?
How can universities strengthen graduate readiness, global engagement, and alumni value?
The Future University
Engaging a central question: What should the future university in Africa look like? A blueprint across four strategic pillars.
Social Good
Advancing social transformation and the public good.
Technological
Responding to rapid technological change and AI.
Innovation
Fostering entrepreneurship and sustainable growth.
Systems
Strengthening global knowledge frameworks.
What makes this launch
different?
At the heart of this process is a profound
commitment to listening.
The Baseline
The inaugural rankings launch as a baseline reference framework, developed independently by AppliedHE and based on its established methodology.
The Starting Point
This first edition provides a continent-wide starting point - a benchmark that opens the door for dialogue, review, and refinement.
The Conversation
The inaugural launch establishes the reference point. What follows is the conversation that helps shape what comes next.
The Declaration
Workshop.
From a baseline framework to a community-shaped ranking.
This event is designed as a structured consultation. We are bringing together diverse perspectives from university leadership, policy-makers, and industry stakeholders across the entire continent.
Participants will be invited to share what works well in the inaugural framework, what may need refinement, and what future editions of the rankings should look like. This is where the conversation moves from presentation to participation.
What Participants
Will Shape
Structured input for future editions
During the workshop, participants will be invited to contribute views on:
-
What works well in the inaugural framework.
-
What may need refinement.
-
What future editions of the rankings should look like.
From Year 2 onwards, the ALL AFRICA Rankings are envisioned to evolve with structured stakeholder input.
Who should
attend.
Participation is intentionally curated to ensure a diverse, representative, and high-impact convening across the ecosystem.
Why be part of this
continental milestone?
Engage a Pan-African Audience in One Setting
Connect, network, and build strategic partnerships with institutions from across the continent without country-by-country outreach.
Witness the Launch
Be present for the inaugural release of the ALL AFRICA 2026 Public & Private University Rankings.
Gain Insights
Understand the emerging continental benchmark and how it reflects unique African realities.
Practical Strategies
Explore actionable strategies for alumni engagement, advancement, and internationalization.
Shape the Future
Contribute to the consultation process and help refine how future editions of the rankings evolve.
Driven by
AppliedHE.
AppliedHE is a Singapore-based education technology company that has been compiling university rankings since 2021.
We are known for our signature methodology of separating Public and Private universities, ensuring that institutions are assessed in ways that reflect their different roles, structures, and measures of excellence.
This distinctive approach allows AppliedHE to deliver independent, transparent, and more meaningful benchmarks for students, universities, and policy-makers globally.
Meaningful Benchmarks
Delivering independent, transparent data.
Singapore-Based
Compiling global rankings since 2021.
Signature Methodology
Separating Public and Private assessments.
Institutional Context
Reflecting different missions and structures.
Register now for
AppliedHE ALL AFRICA 2026.
Register for AppliedHE ALL AFRICA 2026 and join university leaders, policymakers, and partners at the University of Cape Town for the inaugural rankings launch and the conversations that will shape what comes next.