Held in Cape Town from 29 September to 1 October under the theme 'Knowledge, justice and futures: Universities in the age of intelligence', the summit will bring together leaders from higher education, government, business and civil society to explore how institutions can harness human, artificial and collective intelligence to address major global challenges.
Among the prominent speakers is Lord Marvin Rees, Labour peer and former Mayor of Bristol, who will join a panel discussion on ‘Higher education in the Intelligent Age: Purpose, people, pedagogy and planet’ on 1 October alongside Geordin Hill-Lewis, Executive Mayor of Cape Town. Their discussion will examine the role of universities as civic institutions in responding to technological change, economic transition, inequality and environmental pressures.
Lord Rees' participation comes at a significant moment in the University of Bristol's 150-year history, with the opening of its transformational Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus earlier this month. The 38,000 square metre building next to Bristol Temple Meads train station is a major new hub for education, research, innovation and collaboration at the heart of one of the UK's largest regeneration projects.
Developed through partnerships with local communities, businesses, public sector organisations and civic leaders, the campus embodies a shared ambition to create inclusive growth and drive innovation.
As cities and regions around the world seek new models for economic resilience and social mobility, the summit will explore how universities can act as anchors for modern re-industrialisation, helping to connect research excellence with skills development, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration.
Lord Rees of Easton said: "Great cities, like Bristol, are shaped not just by the buildings we create, but by the opportunities we provide for the people who live and work in them. In my home city, areas like Temple Quarter are an example of what can be achieved through true collaboration around a shared ambition for future growth, innovation, and inclusion."
"And that's why it's important for me to join these global discussions. To explore how collaborations can create new opportunities and lasting impact for Bristol, the West of England, and beyond.
“I am looking forward to being in Cape Town to progress understanding and action on how cities, universities, civic partners, and industry, can work together to navigate the changes ahead. There is a great deal we can learn from our colleagues around the world, while sharing Bristol's experience."
The importance of partnership between the South African and UK governments will be in the spotlight at a roundtable discussion with the British High Commission Pretoria and the Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
Senior representatives from government, academia, research institutions, and the innovation sector will explore opportunities for strengthening UK-South Africa collaboration in higher education, research, innovation, and skills development.
The summit will also feature Buti Manamela, South Africa's Minister of Higher Education and Training, who will discuss the future of university-government partnerships and the role of higher education in building stronger research and innovation ecosystems.
Speakers from the University of Bristol include:
- Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President
- Professor Tansy Jessop, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students
- Professor Michele Acuto, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement
- Professor Esther Dermott, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences
- Professor Marie-Annick Gournet, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor of Reparative and Civic Futures
- Mia Stevens, former Bristol SU Undergraduate Education Officer
Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, said: "Universities have a vital role to play in helping cities, regions and nations navigate a period of profound economic, technological and social change.
“Lord Rees has long championed the importance of civic leadership and collaboration in addressing inequality and unlocking economic potential. His participation at the World Academic Summit reflects the importance of place-based partnerships and the role universities can play in supporting regional renewal, strengthening local innovation ecosystems and helping shape the industries and jobs of the future.
"We are delighted to co-host this year's summit with the University of Cape Town and to bring together diverse perspectives from across the world. The challenges we face are global, but many of the most effective solutions emerge through strong local partnerships, shared ambition and a commitment to creating lasting public value."
The summit will also mark a significant milestone for the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations, a pioneering Africa-centred initiative co-created by major African higher education organisations and facilitated by the Perivoli Africa Research Centre (PARC) at the University of Bristol, in partnership with the University of Cape Town and the University of South Africa.
Launched in 2023, the Charter seeks to redress long-standing power imbalances in global knowledge production and establish a transformative model for international research collaboration.
Around 140 universities and organisations have become signatories to the Charter, including major higher education networks such as the Coimbra Group, CIVIS, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA).
On 1 October, University of Bristol representatives will join partners at the inaugural ‘Africa Charter Signatories Forum: Towards a Community of Action’, which will bring together signatories and supporters from around the world to launch the Charter's implementation framework and agree the next phase of collective action. The forum aims to move the Charter from a broad-based community of interest to an active global community committed to embedding transformative principles in research collaboration.
As part of the event, an agreement will be signed by the Universities of Bristol, Cape Town (UCT) and South Africa (Unisa), committing the partners to coordinate support for the initiative and advance its implementation internationally. The agreement reflects a shared commitment to advancing transformative knowledge creation and innovation and fostering a richer and more just global science and research system.