University students should leave higher education with more than a qualification. They should develop the critical thinking, values and ethical awareness needed to succeed in their careers and contribute meaningfully to society, according to Nelson Mandela University Chancellor and former Cabinet Minister Dr Naledi Pandor.
Pandor has called on universities to strengthen ethical leadership, protect academic integrity and create campus environments grounded in dignity, fairness and intellectual honesty.
She made the remarks during a roundtable discussion at the recent Chancellors Thought Leadership Seminar hosted by Universities South Africa (USAf), which focused on the role of university chancellors and vice-chancellors in strengthening public trust in higher education.
“Ethical leadership is not an abstract ideal in higher education; it is the foundation upon which public trust, institutional credibility, and academic excellence rest,” Pandor said.
Universities Have A Role In Developing Ethical Leaders
Drawing on her experience in public service and academia, Pandor highlighted the important role universities play in developing the character, capabilities and values of future generations.
“To fulfil this role, higher education institutions must be governed with integrity, stewarded with responsibility, and led with moral clarity.”
She said higher education should be a transformative experience that develops critical thinking, protects academic freedom and exposes students to ideas that challenge and broaden their perspectives.
Reflecting on her own experience as a student at the University of Botswana, Pandor said she entered the institution as one person and left as another, demonstrating the potential impact of higher education on personal development.
“Every young person who enters must exit as a very different person,” Pandor said.
She said universities should deliberately teach the principles that underpin democratic academic life, including academic freedom, transparency, institutional autonomy and ethical reasoning.
“These cannot be assumed; they must be intentionally cultivated.”
Ethical Governance In Universities
Pandor said ethical governance requires open decision-making, fair allocation of resources and clear policies that university leaders can explain and defend.
She also stressed the importance of university councils, senates and executive management structures understanding their respective roles and responsibilities.
“Leaders who say, ‘I don’t explain anything’ often do so because they don’t understand the policy. Effective governance requires clarity, humility and accountability; not authority without responsibility,” Pandor said.
She also warned that governance problems can arise when university council chairs overreach their responsibilities. She called for clear distinctions between the roles of council chairs, vice-chancellors and other executive leaders.
Pandor recommended the revival of council orientation and training programmes to strengthen governance, clarify responsibilities and help prevent unnecessary institutional conflict.
Academic Ethics And The Use Of AI
Pandor warned that academic misconduct can undermine the credibility and reputation of universities. She identified issues including plagiarism, falsified research, rigged competitions, the selling of grades, sexual harassment and procurement irregularities as concerns that institutions must address.
She called for research ethics to be properly taught, supervised and enforced. Universities should also promote responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies without compromising originality, creativity and critical thinking.
“You haven’t experienced higher education if you’ve not felt the roughness of a paper or smelt the ink,” she said, emphasising the importance of authentic scholarship and learning.
Pandor said ethical leadership is demonstrated through actions rather than position. University leaders should model integrity, uphold constitutional values such as dignity, justice, equity and accountability, and reject nepotism, favouritism and exploitation.
She also highlighted the importance of ensuring that students understand university rules and the consequences of misconduct.
“Ethical leadership requires shaping institutional culture, not merely managing it,” she said.
Respect And Ethical Conduct On Campus
Pandor raised concerns about incidents involving students mistreating university workers. She said such behaviour highlighted the need for universities to do more to promote respect and ethical conduct within campus communities.
Universities, she said, should ensure that students encounter environments based on dignity, fairness and intellectual honesty.
Universities And Technical Education
Pandor also challenged the perception that obtaining a university degree is the only pathway to professional success, referring to this as the “diploma disease.”
She said South Africa needs skilled artisans, technicians and vocational specialists and called for stronger partnerships between universities and colleges.
“South Africa needs artisans, technicians and vocational specialists, and universities must partner with colleges to strengthen articulation pathways and elevate technical education,” Pandor said.
She also called for practical discussions around public-private partnerships, noting that the public sector alone cannot sustain the scale of higher education needed for national development.
Restoring Public Trust In Higher Education
Pandor said universities have a responsibility to protect academic freedom and uphold constitutional values while creating environments where students can develop academically and personally.
She emphasised that ethical leadership should be treated as a fundamental part of university governance and institutional culture.
According to Pandor, ethical leadership is not optional but a “cornerstone of institutional integrity and the key to restoring public confidence in higher education.”
