UP welcomes the 2026 Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Merit Award recipients
The University of Pretoria (UP) officially welcomed 40 exceptional first-year students into the prestigious Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Merit Award (VCDMA) programme on Tuesday, 27 January 2026. The event took place at the Future Africa Campus, marking the start of a multi-day leadership conference designed to groom the next generation of global leaders.
This year’s ceremony was particularly significant, as it marked the 10th anniversary of the VCDMA programme. Since its inception in 2016, the award has been granted to 523 students who have consistently demonstrated academic brilliance and social consciousness.
To celebrate the milestone, UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Francis Petersen, performed a ceremonial cake-cutting. In his keynote address, Professor Petersen praised the new cohort, noting that VCDMA recipients historically outperform national averages, with 86% completing their degrees in minimum time.
Alongside Professor Petersen, the UP Registrar, Professor Engela Schlemmer, addressed the students and their parents. The day included essential briefings from UP staff on:
• Comprehensive student support and mental wellness services.
• Student fees and funding logistics.
• The STARS Mentorship programme, which aids in the transition to university life.
Professor Petersen emphasised that the UP Way is about more than just grades; it is a commitment to diversity, kindness and innovation. “Our country and world today urgently need good leaders – leaders with foresight, compassion and wisdom who see the way forward to creating a better world,” he told the students.
The conference continues from 28 to 30 January with the Future Leaders Experience programme. This immersive experience aligns with UP’s position as a future-oriented institution. The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the university’s investments in robotics, AI and virtual reality, as well as the Centre for the Future of Work, ensuring graduates remain highly sought after in a fast-evolving global market.
As these 40 students begin their journey, they join a community ranked within the top 1.9% of universities worldwide and recognised as a leader in Sustainable Development Goals.