The South African National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM) hosted its annual meeting of the South African Network for UNESCO Chairs at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) on 26 August 2026, bringing together Chairholders and key stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and research partnerships.

Launched in 1992, the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme promotes international inter-university cooperation and supports UNESCO’s work in education, science, culture, and communication to address pressing global challenges.

The NATCOM coordinates 20 UNESCO Chairs across 10 local universities under the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme. South Africa holds the highest number of UNESCO research Chairs on the African continent, reflecting the country’s strong contribution to higher education, research, and sustainable development.

Delivering the opening remarks, Professor Ihron Rensburg, Chairperson of the South African National Commission for UNESCO, and Special Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Training, highlighted the important role of UNESCO Chairs in strengthening South Africa’s higher education and research ecosystem. He emphasised the value of collaboration, innovation, knowledge-sharing and international partnerships in addressing national, continental, and global challenges. Prof Rensburg also reflected on efforts to establish a UNESCO Chair at the University of Venda and stressed the importance of institutional champions in driving such initiatives. He acknowledged the contribution of UNESCO Chairholders to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2063 and South Africa’s development priorities.

The meeting also celebrated the renewal of existing UNESCO Chairs and welcomed newly approved Chairs to the South African network, reaffirming a shared commitment to advancing inclusive, sustainable, and transformative higher education.

Ms Qingling Kong, Education Programme Specialist at UNESCO ROSA, highlighted key challenges facing UNESCO Chairs, including limited resources, institutional positioning, connectivity, continuity, and demonstrating impact. She encouraged strong institutional leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, South-South partnerships, community engagement, and consistent reporting to demonstrate meaningful long-term impact.

UNESCO Chairs presented their work in areas including artificial intelligence, digital inclusion, African languages, cultural representation, values education, global citizenship, groundwater, climate resilience, geohydrology, mental health, and psychosocial support in education. Collectively, the presentations demonstrated the Chairs’ diverse contribution to research, innovation, policy development, capacity-building, and community impact.

Mr Carlton Mukwevho, Secretary-General of NATCOM for UNESCO, expressed appreciation to the 20 Chairs for their presentations and reporting. He commended their contribution to strengthening national and international collaboration in support of UNESCO’s priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.