As the embers of 2024 die down, we look forward to a new year and the continued role that tertiary institutions play in shaping the national dialogue of growth and national prosperity, creating a beacon of hope and positioning South Africa as one of the leading economies in Africa.

Over the past five years, the global approach to education has faced significant disruption, with technology becoming a massive influencer in models that have focused on the delivery of education in a specific way for centuries.

As South Africa continues to plot its new political discourse under the Government of National Unity, education has been identified as a critical focal area where key reforms will lead to future economic growth. However, barely three months after the establishment of the GNU and the appointment of new education ministers, the sector still suffers from uncertainty. 

On May 29, South Africa held one of the most pivotal elections in the country's democratic history. As politicians diligently work to find common ground and make the Government of National Unity function, there is a palpable concern about the future of some of the country's most crucial sectors.

International World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April. This year’s celebration comes at a time when many health systems worldwide are looking for ways to address capacity issues and funding for essential services. Mental health is becoming a growing focal point, with many asking if enough is being done to address the issue appropriately.  

Higher education institutions worldwide are currently facing a critical period in their existence. They have to redefine their value proposition to a cohort of students who are not only digital natives but have grown up in an environment where the pace of technological change is quicker than ever before while trying to maintain the core values, principles, and practices that have served them well for centuries.

World Teachers Day is celebrated on 5 October and pays homage to the teachers who have made a difference and continue to make a difference in the lives of many learners and communities. Regarded by many as a selfless profession, South African teachers face several challenges as the local education landscape faces a significant transition period.

The South African tertiary education system is currently the subject of significant scrutiny, with the future value proposition offered by its tertiary education providers taking centre stage in many household debates and family discussions. 
 

Generative AI, and technology's increased role in our daily lives, have been important narratives influencing societal development for the past ten years. However, it has been the events of the past three years - which have been shaped by a global health pandemic - that has increased the importance of this narrative.

South Africa's unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2023 was 32,9%. This places South Africa among the highest in the world and puts the gravity of the unemployment crisis into sharp perspective.