The University of Cape Town (UCT), in partnership with Applied Higher Education (AppliedHE), is establishing the All-Africa Rankings Initiative, a long-term collaborative project aimed at developing an African-informed framework for assessing university performance while remaining aligned with international standards.
Global university rankings have become influential benchmarks for institutional performance, international visibility and competitiveness. However, many ranking systems have been criticised for placing significant emphasis on research output, citations and international reputation, often overlooking universities' contributions to innovation, public policy, community engagement and sustainable development.
According to Professor Mosa Moshabela, Vice-Chancellor of UCT, this is not an issue unique to Africa. Universities worldwide are increasingly questioning whether traditional ranking methodologies adequately capture excellence in an era where societal impact, graduate employability, sustainability and technological innovation have become central to the role of higher education.
He noted that Africa has an opportunity not only to participate in this global conversation but also to help shape how excellence is defined for universities of the future.
Unlike conventional ranking exercises, the All-Africa Rankings Initiative will begin with an extensive consultation process rather than immediately developing ranking tables. Organisers say the first priority is to build a shared understanding of what excellence should look like for African universities in the 21st century.
The initiative will bring together university leaders, policymakers, governments, researchers, industry representatives and other stakeholders to co-create a framework that reflects both global benchmarks and Africa's unique higher education landscape.
This collaborative process will begin during the inaugural All-Africa Higher Education Xchange, scheduled for 31 August to 1 September 2026, where participants will discuss the principles, indicators and methodology that will guide the initiative.
Among the areas expected to inform the framework are graduate employability, innovation and entrepreneurship, societal and economic impact, contributions to public policy, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, institutional transformation and inclusion, international and intra-African partnerships, and the preservation and advancement of African knowledge systems.
Professor Moshabela emphasised that the initiative is not intended to replace established global rankings or introduce lower standards for African universities. Instead, it seeks to develop globally benchmarked measures that are also contextually relevant, ensuring African perspectives help shape the evolution of higher education assessment worldwide.
He added that the credibility and long-term success of the initiative will depend on broad participation from universities and stakeholders across the continent, arguing that no single institution or country can define what excellence should look like for Africa.
Ultimately, the initiative aims to shift the focus from identifying which university ranks first to addressing a more strategic question: What kind of universities does Africa need to drive the continent's future development, and how should their success be measured?
Article by Jed Mwangi
photo courtesy: University of capetown
Comment