UP celebrates 118 years and launches Thrive UP 2038 strategy
The University of Pretoria (UP) marked its 118th anniversary this week, with campuses coming alive through a range of activities as the academic year got under way. This milestone celebration coincided with the official launch of UP’s new institutional strategy, Thrive UP 2038, setting the tone for the University’s next phase of growth and impact.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Francis Petersen described the moment as both a celebration and a turning point for the University as it looks ahead to its 130th anniversary in 2038.
“This is a moment of reflection, affirmation and collective resolve as we chart our way forward,” said Prof Petersen. “We celebrate where we come from, while committing ourselves to the kind of impact the future demands of us.”
Thrive UP 2038 positions UP as an impact-driven, research-intensive university committed to building just, sustainable and resilient futures. The strategy places people at its centre, emphasising students, staff and communities as the University’s most valuable resource.
“We are a human-centred university,” Prof Petersen said. “Students matter. Staff matter. Communities matter. Knowledge matters because of what it enables in the world beyond our campuses.”
The strategy responds to a global context shaped by climate instability, biodiversity loss, pressure on food systems, rapid technological change and persistent inequality. According to Prof Petersen, these challenges place a clear responsibility on universities to translate knowledge into action.
“Universities are being called upon not only to generate knowledge, but to ensure that knowledge is translated into solutions that improve lives and safeguard futures,” he said.
He also highlighted UP’s strong global standing, referencing recent international rankings that reflect excellence across both STEM and non-STEM disciplines. Veterinary Sciences, based at Onderstepoort, continues to lead on the continent, while other disciplines have recorded historic first-time rankings.
As UP opens the 2026 academic year, Prof Petersen called on staff and students to see Thrive UP 2038 as a shared commitment rather than a static document.
“Strategy only becomes meaningful when it is lived through people,” he said. “Through our daily work, our teaching, our research and our engagement with society, each contribution matters.”