The North-West University (NWU) buzzed with energy and purpose recently as the Gender-Responsive Opportunities for Women in Academia (GROW) Gender Summit 2026 brought together a powerhouse of professors, scholars and change-makers from across the globe at the Tsebonokeng Hall on the Vanderbijlpark Campus.
The project is a partnership between the NWU and the University of Lincoln. Funded by the British Council, the summit turned the spotlight firmly on women in academia, celebrating their achievements, addressing systemic inequalities, and equipping the next generation of leaders to break barriers and shape the future of higher education.
The summit coincided with International Women’s Day and formed part of the GROW project. This is a UK–South Africa partnership initiative aimed at empowering women academics through leadership development, mentorship, access to development opportunities, research capacity training and the creation of sustainable gender-responsive academic networks.
The project ran from April 2025 to April 2026 and focused on strengthening the career paths of women academics through mentorship, workshops, soft-skills development and international collaboration. Participants – female academics from universities across the SADC region -– engaged in monthly webinars, research training and leadership programmes designed to strengthen their professional growth and academic impact.
The summit programme was co-hosted by Dr Debbie Mtshelwane and Dr Kelebogile Paadi from the NWU, who played a key role in conceptualising the initiative. Project leads included Dr Tracey White from the University of Lincoln and Dr Paadi, alongside Olanrewaju Olaoye from the University of Lincoln, and NWU academics Dr Thapelo Chacha , Prof. Martin Chanza , Dr Mtshelwane and Dr Lynelle Coxen.
Opening the summit, Prof. Crizelle Els, director of the Workwell research entity at the NWU, spoke about transformation and the importance of advancing women within academic institutions.
“The fact that we are hosting this summit while celebrating International Women’s Day is a declaration that we are taking a stand,” she said, emphasising the need for meaningful change in higher education.
Dr White highlighted the challenges faced by women in academia and praised the collaboration between institutions across the world to advance social good and gender equality in higher education.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr Meekness Lunga-Ayidu under the theme “From policy to practice: Advancing gender-inclusive higher education in Africa”. She noted that although more women than men are enrolled in universities in South Africa, inequalities remain deeply entrenched.
“There are more women in universities, yet unemployment among women remains higher and gender disparities persist,” she said, adding that while policies addressing gender equality exist, they often fail to translate into tangible outcomes. She also highlighted the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence and the growing role of women entrepreneurs in the economy.
Another highlight of the summit was a presentation by political analyst and academic Dr Asiphe Mxalisa, titled “Survival to sustenance: Feminist ethics of care and intergenerational mentorship in higher education”. Dr Mxalisa emphasised the importance of mentorship, solidarity and collective knowledge in academic spaces.
“Knowledge is never an individual achievement. This programme is an epitome of the fact that none of us are journeying this alone,” she said, while encouraging women academics to move forward with courage in spaces that were historically not designed for them.
She also urged academic leaders to ensure that the hardships they faced are not passed on to the next generation.
“As we move forward, let us remember not to transfer the trauma we endured to others. Knowledge without care is empty,” she said.
The summit also featured mentorship testimonials from participants, including Skyler Pedro, Doreen Morukhu, Katlego Rachidi and Prudence Ngwenya, who reflected on their experiences in the programme. Senior academics and mentors such as Prof. Ellen Rungani and Dr Hilary Duckett also shared insights on mentorship and academic leadership.
Dr Coxen delivered a presentation on “Women leaders breaking the glass ceiling”, focusing on career progression in academia and the challenge of balancing professional responsibilities with personal demands. She encouraged emerging academics to take up space and contribute to shaping the future of higher education.
The programme also included an Executive Leadership Lounge panel discussion, moderated by Tumi Lebaka and featuring leading academic voices, including Prof. Hester Klopper, vice-chancellor and principal at the University of the Free State, Nontsikelelo Kote-Nkomo, executive director for strategy and strategic projects at the office of the NWU vice-chancellor, and Prof. Eunice Seekoe, acting deputy vice-chancellor for teaching, learning, community engagement and student support at UNISA. During the discussion, panellists reflected on leadership, mentorship and the importance of supporting women academics as they navigate and transform institutional spaces.
The summit concluded with a certificate ceremony celebrating participants in the GROW programme, marking the completion of the year-long mentorship initiative. Many of the mentees reported significant career progress during the programme, with some receiving promotions while others successfully completed or had their doctoral degrees approved.
The event ended on a celebratory note, reaffirming the importance of mentorship, collaboration and leadership in advancing gender equality and strengthening the future of academia.
Reflecting on the event, Dr Mtshelwane described the summit as a success. “The GROW gender summit has exceeded our expectations. It created a platform for mentorship, collaboration, and leadership development that will continue to strengthen women academics across the region,” she said.
