CFP

2026 Siyaphumelela: 2026 Siyaphumelela Conference

Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre

Boksburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 23-26, 2026

Conference website	https://siyaphumelela.org.za/
Submission link	https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=2026siyaphumelela
Abstract registration deadline	March 30, 2026
Conference registration opening	March 30, 2026
Submission deadline	April 20, 2026
Siyaphumelela network partner sharing (for institutional leads ONLY)	May 6, 2026
Conference registration closing	June 6, 2026

Topics: institutional change teaching and learning use of data transition into university

2026 Siyaphumelela Conference

Reimagining student success and expanding opportunity for all

The Siyaphumelela Conference is Saide’s flagship national convening focused on data‑informed, equity‑driven student success in South African higher education. Held annually, it brings together a dynamic community of practitioners, institutional leaders, researchers, analysts, funders, partners and students committed to improving student outcomes at scale.

The 2025 Siyaphumelela Conference drew 450 in-person delegates, including 45 students and several senior sector leaders, reflecting strong national engagement across the post‑schooling landscape. Online participation increased reach, with plenary sessions attracting over 50 virtual attendees across the four days. Delegates were primarily from the 20 partner public universities with additional participation from non-network public and private higher education institutions, TVET colleges, international universities, philanthropic organisations, government bodies and civil‑society partners. This diverse attendance profile underscores the conference’s growing reputation as a leading national platform for collaboration, innovation and evidence‑based approaches to advancing student success.

The 2026 Siyaphumelela Conference will take place from 23-26 June 2026 at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg, Johannesburg. The Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre has become a preferred national venue for major education gatherings, such as the annual Basic Education Sector Lekgotla in 2025 and 2026, as well as the Gauteng G20 Provincial Education Indaba.

We continue to explore the conference theme, “Reimagining student success and expanding opportunity for all”, which aims to inspire delegates to reimagine traditional approaches and embrace new and innovative strategies that empower students to transition into and beyond university, complete their studies successfully, thrive in their careers, contribute meaningfully to society and achieve lasting economic mobility.

The theme further encapsulates our vision of scaling out, scaling up and scaling deep, fostering innovation and collaboration and driving systemic change.

About the 2026 Siyaphumelela Conference

Siyaphumelela Conference Aims

The Siyaphumelela Conference aims to:

Share Evidence-Based and Scalable Interventions – Share with delegates proven strategies that can be implemented for transformative post-secondary student success.
Encourage Collaboration – Create spaces for inter- and intra-institutional sharing of insights, learn from each other’s experiences and work together to drive change.
Advance Scholarship in Student Success – Explore what student success looks like from a Siyaphumelela practitioner’s perspective, how it is integrated within the institution, and deepen the academic discourse.
Embed the Student Voice – Ensure students actively participate in presentations and discussions to keep their perspectives central.
Foster Innovation and Advocacy - Advocate for Siyaphumelela as a transformative, sustainable and scalable model for Student Success, encouraging innovative practices and solutions.

Important Dates

30 March – 6 June: Conference registration open
12 March 13h00-14h00: Click here to view the recording.
20 April Deadline for Presentations to be submitted via EasyChair
6 May Deadline for Siyaphumelela Network Partner Sharing (for institutional leads ONLY) to be submitted via EasyChair
8 May Notification of Acceptance to all Presenters

Registration costs

Category	Registration Fee (R) (inclusive of VAT)
Network Delegate	R6,325
Non-Network Delegate	R7,900
Presenter*	R4,250
Full-time Student paid for by their university	R4,250

*Presenters whose proposals are accepted for 15-minute, 30-minute and 90-minute sessions will have their registration fee discounted (see above). This applies to one presenter per 15-minute and 30-minute presentation or up to three presenters per 90-minute session. Poster presentations are not eligible for the Presenter discount.

Accommodation

Accommodation is available at the Birchwood Hotel, with 3-star at Birchwood and 4-star at Silverbirch, both on the conference premises. The conference rates will be shared shortly. Birchwood arranges complimentary shuttles to/from OR Tambo International Airport.

Call for Presentations

Presentations

We seek proposals addressing session themes in five different concurrent session formats:

90-minute Multi-Institutional Session: Incorporating robust and multi-institutional engagements in a session theme related to work streams, imbizo-style discussions, cluster dialogue time – with case study presentations, workshops, etc.

30-minute Evidence-Based Sharing (20 min presentation and 10 min Q&A discussion): Including the use of data to demonstrate successful strategy execution in one of the session themes and providing strong evidence of success at scale with substantive improvement in student and institutional outcomes.

Lightning Sharing (10 min presentation and 5 min Q&A): Highlighting innovation in one of the sub-themes through a shorter presentation format. This session may be particularly suited for new or evolving interventions, demonstrations of software or tools, and student presenters or co-presenters.

Siyaphumelela Network Partner Sharing (for Institutional Leads only) (20 min presentation and 10 min Q&A): As in previous years, partner institutions have been allocated a space in the conference programme. The sharing will be in parallel sessions, focusing on a selected session theme. We request that at least one student be included to share their perspective.

Posters: The posters are reimagined for Siyaphumelela 3.0 and are intended to provide an opportunity to a) showcase the visuals and artefacts that have been produced through Siyaphumelela or b) an alternative option for lightning sharing. These should be broadly aligned to the session themes.

Session Themes

Proposals are encouraged on evidence-based practices for student success within the following themes:

Transition into University - including innovative programmes focused on high school interventions from grade 9-12 that assist disadvantaged learners to be accepted into university and to be better prepared for university
Student Support – including holistic student supports, academic and peer advising, first year experience, senior student experience, mental health, design/systems thinking, AI chatbots, and gender-focussed interventions.
Use of Data – including equity performance gaps, tracking and interventions of high-impact modules, student tracking, data ethics and governance, know your students and use of AI in data analysis.
Institutional Change – including student success committees, use of ICAT, student success frameworks, policies, monitoring and evaluation and mental health frameworks.
Teaching and Learning – including digital transformation and use of AI, learning design, authentic learning and assessment, curriculum, literacy and mathematics, or open education resources
Student Voice – focusing on how the student voice has been embedded or used to inform student success practices or understand the student journey.
AI for Student Success – including digitisation, automation and optimisation, innovative use of AI for student success, demonstration of AI tools, such as chatbots, etc.
Beyond University – considering employability and the world of work and business, transition to post-graduate studies, self-employment, entrepreneurship etc.

Preference will be given to proposals which have strong evidence of success at scale.

Identifying what Proposal to Submit

	90-minute multi-institutional session	30-minute Evidence-Based Sharing	Lightning Sharing	Siyaphumelela Network Partner Sharing	Poster
Are you an institutional lead at a partner university?				Yes
Are you involved in student success interventions at your institution with strong evidence of success at scale?		Yes	Yes
Are you involved in a new or evolving student success practice at your institution and want to share it with others?			Yes		Yes
Are you a student involved in a student success intervention and want to share your perspective?			Yes		Yes
Are you a work stream, regional network, or Partner, and want to propose a longer multi-institutional engagement?	Yes
Do you have visuals and artefacts that have been produced through Siyaphumelela?					Yes
Are you not yet part of the Siyaphumelela Network and want to share your student success intervention that has strong evidence of success?		Yes	Yes
Are you not yet part of the Siyaphumelela Network and want to share your new or evolving student success practice with others?			Yes		Yes

Further Information

There will be an open webinar explaining the conference session themes and five different concurrent session formats on 12 March 13h00-14h00. Click here to view the recording.

The deadline for proposal submissions is 20 April 2026. Proposals can be submitted via EasyChair. The link will be shared at the beginning of April.

Please direct any queries to info@siyaphumelela.org.za