Nobel Prize Laureate keynote speaker at universities summit

THE, a global authority on higher education, has partnered with UJ to host the third annual BRICS & Emerging Economies Universities Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Building on the success of the summits in Moscow in 2014 and New Delhi in 2015, this year’s gathering will bring together higher education sector leaders, policy makers, inspiring academics and industry representatives to UJ, on the theme of ‘Reimagining the world-class university’.

Professor Ihron Rensburg, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg said, “The conference will not only explore and celebrate flagship BRICS universities that are determined to be at the forefront of new knowledge creation alongside traditionally acclaimed universities, it will also examine innovative ways to capture a wider range of university missions, and to provide performance analyses on a much wider set of institutions with a BRICS and emerging economies universities focus.”

The third annual BRICS & Emerging Economies Universities Summit is a vital space for the critical reflection of university and business and industry leaders, and policymakers on the state of higher education, science, technology and innovation in the service of developing a far more caring, inclusive and sustainable human society and planet.

Attending delegates will have an opportunity to meet fellow higher education leaders and network at the three-day Summit and prestigious gala dinner; hear from thought leaders from across the world; share ideas, engage in debates and set the agenda on the future of world-class universities; and also gain exclusive insights the experts will be launching the 2017 THE BRICS and Emerging Economies Rankings.

Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, said, “Professor Soyinka is one of Africa’s greatest writers as well as someone who has taught at the finest universities in the US, UK and Africa, so we are delighted he will join this prestigious and important Summit. Our rankings will reveal the best institutions on the continent and in emerging economies in the world, but I hope that by bringing the leaders of these universities together in Johannesburg, we can challenge and scrutinise the rankings, and help each other to improve higher education in the 21st century.

Topics of the conference:

• Visions of the university of the future
  
• Strategies for driving up quality in teaching, research and knowledge transfer
  
• Learning futures in the digital world
  
• Leadership challenges facing institutions in developing economies
  
• University performance data and university rankings in socio-economic contexts

Registered delegates will be able to download the THE World Summit Series App via iTunes and Google Play and enhance their networking opportunities. The App gives attendees access to the full delegate list, arrange meetings and make contact with other delegates before and at the event.