National Colloquium on University-Led Collaborative Projects

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), in partnership with the University of Limpopo and other sector stakeholders, is pleased to announce the upcoming National Colloquium on University-Led Collaborative Projects, to take place from 21-22 August 2025 at Birchwood Hotel, Kempton Park.

This significant gathering will bring together higher education practitioners, researchers, academic leaders, and policy makers to reflect on the implementation, impact, and future of collaborative projects under the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP).

Since its inception in 2018, the UCDP has played a critical role in transforming the South African higher education landscape by focusing on student development, staff development, and curriculum/programme enhancement.

As part of this initiative, over 70 university-led collaborative projects have been launched, addressing key systemic challenges such as teaching excellence, student success, academic advising, capacity development in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields, growing capacity on entrepreneurship development in the system,  and support for postgraduate studies, among others.

This colloquium, marking the first of its kind, will serve as a platform to:

• Showcase the tangible impact and innovations emerging from collaborative projects.
• Foster intellectual exchange around implementation experiences, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Strengthen the formation of Communities of Practice (CoPs) that will support ongoing collaboration across institutions.
• Identify successful transformation-focused projects for potential upscaling.
• Lay the groundwork for a comprehensive research and impact assessment initiative on collaborative project implementation.

With participation expected from all 26 public universities, DHET officials, local and international partners, and members of business and industry, the colloquium will provide a vibrant, interactive space for dialogue, reflection, and strategic planning.

The event will be hosted in a hybrid format. Highlights will include plenary and breakout sessions, video showcases, poster presentations, and a gala dinner celebrating collaborative achievements. We encourage all stakeholders to prepare for active engagement in this strategic initiative aimed at shaping the future of higher education through inclusive, collaborative, and transformative practices.

For any enquiries or further information, please contact: