First Annual UCT Well-Being and Flourishing Conference

Dear colleagues and students

We are honoured to announce the call for abstracts for the first Annual University of Cape Town (UCT) Well-Being and Flourishing Conference, to be held on Tuesday, 9 September 2025 at the UCT Graduate School of Business.

This inaugural conference marks the official launch of the Centre for Well-Being and Flourishing – an emerging institutional hub. The centre is part of the UCT–Department of Student Affairs Key Strategic Area 7, which focuses on student success. This initiative represents a strategic shift in how UCT defines and advances student and staff success.

This initiative is made possible through the purposeful and values-driven leadership, and support, of:

• Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela
• Executive Director: Student Affairs, Mr Pura Mgolombane

Their support signals that well-being is not peripheral – it is a cornerstone of UCT’s institutional transformation agenda.

The academic programme is led by Associate Professor Anita Campbell and Mr Sean Paul Abrahams, the programme director of UCT’s Flourish, and specialist in learning and innovation.

The theme of the conference is “Flourishing Futures: Advancing Well-Being in South African Higher Education”.

The conference invites contributions that explore how flourishing can be embedded across teaching, learning, leadership and institutional culture. We welcome academic, applied and cross-sector submissions that reflect innovation, collaboration and systems thinking.

Indicative focus areas (for guidance only)

• emerging frameworks for embedding well-being in higher education
• resilience, belonging and emotional climate in academic and residence spaces
• inclusive leadership and student–staff partnerships
• curriculum, co-curriculum and the integration of positive psychology
• strengths-based strategies and institutional culture change
• scalable approaches to measuring impact

Submissions are not limited to these areas. Original contributions that challenge, extend or redefine the field are encouraged.

Submission guidelines

• Abstract: maximum 250 words
• Include: title, author(s), institutional affiliation, email address

Submissions should be done online.

• Make your submission.

Key dates

Call opens: 29 April 2025
Submission deadline: 10 June 2025
Notification of acceptance: 25 June 2025

This conference is a signal of intent. It is an invitation to help define the future of flourishing in higher education – grounded in evidence, informed by lived experience and led by a university committed to meaningful change.

Sincerely

Professor Elelwani Ramugondo
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements