The full two-day programme.

31 August – 1 September 2026 Southern Sun Cape Sun Hotel, Cape Town

Hosted by the University of Cape Town · In partnership with AppliedHE

A defining two-day continental conversation bringing together university leaders, policymakers and higher education changemakers to reimagine what university excellence means for Africa. Through dialogue, evidence and co-creation, participants will identify what matters most, challenge what existing rankings fail to recognise, and shape the All-Africa Principles for University Excellence, laying the foundation for the metrics and methodology that will underpin the All-Africa University Rankings.

Understanding the landscape Defining excellence Measuring what matters

Day One

Monday, 31 August 2026

Part One Understanding the landscape: Why rankings matter and the gaps

Day One programme, Monday, 31 August 2026
Time	Programme
08:00–08:50	Registration and welcome
08:50–09:10	Opening cultural performance
09:10–09:30	Welcome remarks
09:30–10:00	Opening Conversation Catalyst The future of African higher education and the reimagining of university excellence for the continent
10:00–10:45	Group photograph, refreshments and networking
10:50–11:00	Conversation Catalyst A global perspective on transforming higher education
11:00–11:30	Setting the scene The purpose and ambition of the co-creation workshop
11:30–12:00	Why rankings matter, and what they miss Why AppliedHE built their rankings
12:00–12:30	Major university ranking methodologies at a glance
12:30–13:00	Institutional Perspective UCT and the rankings landscape
13:00–13:30	Institutional Perspective Sunway University Harmonising mission with benchmarked excellence
13:30–14:30	Lunch
14:30–15:45	Co-creation Activity The Gap Wall Surfacing what current approaches capture, overlook or distort
15:45–16:00	Refreshment and comfort break
16:00–16:30	Regional Perspective The AppliedHE ASEAN methodology
16:30–16:50	Day One synthesis What we have heard and where we go next
17:00	Close of Day One
19:00	Gala networking dinner

Day Two

Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Part Two Rethinking excellence for African universities

Part Three Measuring what matters and the All-Africa Principles for University Excellence

Day Two programme, Tuesday, 1 September 2026
Time	Programme
08:45–09:00	Arrival coffee and reflections from Day One
09:00–09:15	Day One playback What the conversation revealed
09:15–09:45	Conversation Catalyst Defining excellence for African higher education Rethinking quality, measuring impact, and building the All-Africa Rankings Initiative
09:45–10:45	Co-creation Activity The Excellence Wall Reimagining what university excellence means in Africa
10:45–11:00	Refreshment and comfort break
11:00–11:45	Co-creation Activity Stress-testing excellence across Africa’s institutional diversity
11:45–12:45	Co-creation Activity What matters most? Prioritising the dimensions and markers of African university excellence
12:50–13:50	Lunch
13:50–14:05	From excellence to evidence Translating principles and dimensions into potential measures
14:05–15:15	Co-creation Activity Measuring what matters Exploring potential measures and data realities
15:15–15:35	Gallery exchange Reviewing and strengthening the emerging measures
15:35–15:50	Refreshment and comfort break
15:50–16:30	Co-creation Activity Testing what matters Relevance, fairness, validity, feasibility and comparability
16:30–16:40	The Capture Emerging synthesis from the co-creation process
16:40–17:10	All-Africa Principles for University Excellence Building shared agreement
17:10–17:40	From Cape Town to the future Roadmap for the All-Africa Rankings Initiative
17:40–18:00	Closing ceremony and cultural performance
18:00	Close of Xchange

All times are South African Standard Time (SAST).

Be in the room

Join the conversation in Cape Town.

Register for AppliedHE Xchange 2026 @ UCT - ALL-AFRICA and take part in every session, catalyst and co-creation activity on the programme.

Register Now Event page

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