The world has changed dramatically since the events of 16 June 1976. However, much remains the same. This day is forever marked in our calendars because it recognises the oppression of the past, and looks forward to the future filled with hope.

It highlights the significant role of the youth in South African society as agents of change who helped to make way for a democratic South Africa by fighting against apartheid, and it continues to highlight the importance of young people in our society. Youth Day highlights the gains made since apartheid when access to knowledge and education for black students was curtailed through discriminatory language policies. Today, the University of Pretoria is proud that we have widened access to tertiary education with high-quality academic programmes and we attract a range of local and international students.

At the University of Pretoria, the majority of our community is made up of young people and we are very proud to be the home of some of the brightest minds in the country. I’d like to remind our students that your lecturers have many years of experience, skill and commitment to academic excellence behind them. Please make use of their skill, ask questions and value their advice and input so that you can learn from their expertise.

This year, we embark on our last five-year strategic plan that will lead us to 2025 and beyond. To achieve this, we need to collectively redouble our efforts to achieve our strategic goals: student access and success; high-quality research for greater societal impact; global recognition; diversity, equity and inclusion; and institutional sustainability. As we advance towards and beyond 2025, we will continue to strive to meet our goals for the greater good and benefit of society as a whole. Our well-educated, skilled graduates and relevant transformative research are key agents and drivers of sustainable inclusive development.

As a UP student, we know that you are well on your way to being a creative, well-rounded graduate and responsible citizen. We have a national crisis of youth unemployment. Our newly launched Centre for the Future of Work is looking at all the new ways of working and seeing fulfilment in our work. In this way, we are making in-roads into creating a better future for young people through research in order to address issues like youth unemployment, the gig economy and improved and better ways of flexible and hybrid work.

We know that you need more than just a world-class degree to make a success of your life. So, we have specially designed courses that are free and are available online on clickUP for you to step ahead of other graduates in the job market. The Ready for Work courses will help you learn how to prepare for the workplace, improve your CV, write a cover letter with your application, how to handle a job interview and what to expect from a corporate work environment. These are just a few of the skills you will get through the course.

There are many opportunities available for young South Africans as entrepreneurs. As UP students, you have access to the Entrepreneurship programme which is another free, online course that will teach you how to use your knowledge, skills and talents to start your own business. In this way, you have the chance to become a job creator rather than a job seeker.

Whichever option you choose for yourself, UP has systems in place to help you to make the most of your time with us and to take control of your own future and your own success.

We hope that with the added value that UP gives all its students with our work readiness and entrepreneurship courses, you too, can make a positive impact in South Africa and, collectively, be remembered in history as the generation who used their education to uplift society.

As we reflect on how far South Africa has come since June 1976, we should also give thought to finding solutions to issues that affect the youth and South Africa today and actively work to make today and every day matter. Remember, you all play a key role in contributing towards UP becoming a leading research‐intensive university in Africa, recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact, as also for developing people, creating knowledge and making a difference locally and globally.

Prof Tawana Kupe

Vice-Chancellor and Principal