The Central University of Technology hosted the Inaugural Annual Youth Development Conference under the theme: “Cultivating Youth Agency in a Complex Societal Setting: Transcending the Africa that is Desirable" (The continent shall never be the same again).

The two-day conference, which took place on 28 and 29 July 2025, was a response to the urgent need to build youth agency to tackle Africa's pressing socio-economic challenges. The aim was to foster leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills, and to promote health, wellness, and socio-economic transformation while inspiring Pan-African unity and sustainable development.

CUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Pamela Dube, highlighted this significant moment in the history of the University, as it hosts the inaugural annual Student Development Conference.

“Delegates, one of the strategic aims of this conference is to enhance youth employability. The 2.7% export figure poses a significant threat to job opportunities for young people. In 2024, an estimated 11.2% of African youth aged 15 to 24 were expected to be unemployed. In South Africa, over 60% of the population is under 35, indicating that youth are central to growth and change. To address these catastrophic socioeconomic challenges, support for enterprise development is essential for the continent's prosperity. We promote learning and teaching methodologies that empower our students to tackle societal challenges, fostering innovation and African solutions. Our academic programmes have embedded entrepreneurship and innovation. This undertaking remains a radical approach with the potential to develop innovative and entrepreneurially oriented students,” she added.

South African political scientist and author, Prince Mashele, encouraging students to be more active in the academic eco-system.

Well-known South African political scientist and author, Prince Mashele, used his keynote to directly address the students, providing them with a few life tips. Mashele encouraged them to try to connect with the outside world.

“Join something, join a debating society that will take you from this campus to somewhere else. Connect with the outside world while you are still studying. Those who do, are the ones who will find jobs first when they leave this campus because, they will be in front of these potential employers,” said Mashele.

The conference embodies CUT's Vision 2030, where youth represent the future of the continent. The urgent need for practical solutions to the complexities faced by Africa was a recurring theme, emphasising the call for action and the role of the youth in this transformative journey.

Uploaded: 30 July 2025