Times Higher Education Announces 2026 Africa Universities Summit in Nairobi

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Tristan Horlick, Regional Director for Africa at Times Higher Education (THE) (L), George Okeyo, Director of Academics and Associate Teaching Professor at Carnegie Mellon University Africa (M), and Abiodun Adebayo, Professor and Former Vice-Chancellor at Covenant University (R), at Africa Universities Summit on March 19, 2025.

NAIROBI, Kenya – Times Higher Education (THE) has announced it will bring its global event series to East Africa, hosting the THE Africa Universities Summit in Nairobi on March 30-31, 2026.

The two-day summit is set to convene over 350 attendees, including experts from the region’s tertiary education, industry, and policy sectors. The event will serve as a platform to network, collaborate, and discuss the future of higher education governance, investment, and research.

The agenda for the 2026 summit focuses on several core ambitions within the African higher education ecosystem. Key topics will include skills development, entrepreneurship, and innovation, alongside the goal of building equitable education opportunities for all.

Organizers aim to explore methods to enhance African-led research and promote best practices within universities across the continent. The discussions will also address how vocational opportunities can align with a more sustainable knowledge economy.

The event is expected to attract more than 100 institutions and organizations, featuring over 80 expert speakers delivering 25+ hours of content. The anticipated audience is highly senior, with approximately 45% of attendees expected to be C-suite executives, chancellors, vice-chancellors, or government ministers.

Past attendees have highlighted the value of these gatherings. Ferina Marimuthu, Head of Department at the Durban University of Technology, noted that previous summits provided “a unique platform for African universities to collaborate, share insights, and discuss innovative solutions to common challenges”.

Strategic Partnerships

THE is currently inviting partners to collaborate on the event, offering opportunities for organizations to showcase their brands to sector leaders. Partnership tiers range from “Regional co-host” packages—which include speaking slots in the main plenary—to specific content and networking partnerships designed to facilitate impactful discussions.

As the sector looks toward 2026, the summit in Nairobi promises to be a pivotal moment for driving forward the region’s educational and economic development.