Johannesburg – Public trust in universities is not static; it is a living, evolving relationship shaped by how institutions conduct themselves, serve society, and respond to the demands of their time.
Universities are being asked to demonstrate their value in more visible, grounded, and socially consequential ways, at a time when expertise is routinely contested, evidence competes with misinformation, and citizens scrutinise public institutions more closely.
Against this backdrop, Prof. Sibongile Muthwa, Vice‑Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University, delivered a keynote at the recent University Chancellors’ Thought Leadership Event hosted by Universities South Africa (USAf) at Wits University.
Her address, “Public Trust: The Role and Relevance of a University”, offered a rigorous and insightful examination of what it means for universities to remain credible, necessary and trusted in contemporary society.
Universities essential, but must prove their value anew
Prof. Muthwa challenged deficit‑based narratives that portray African and South African universities as failing institutions.
Despite governance failures, funding volatility and rising public scepticism, she argued that the sector continues to “punch above its weight”, producing knowledge, innovation and graduates who materially improve society.
“Public trust is a social judgement formed over time. It rests on whether the university acts competently, ethically and responsively to societal need,” she said, adding that universities remain indispensable public institutions; but their relevance must be demonstrated through visible societal contribution, not assumed.
Demand for intellectual seriousness and social consequence
Prof. Muthwa unpacked the crisis of trust within a global context marked by disinformation, political expediency, and attacks on academic freedom.
Universities become both targets and guardians of truth at times when evidence is weakened and expertise discredited.
In South Africa, this challenge is amplified by the historical promise that higher education would repair exclusion, widen opportunity, cultivate citizenship and strengthen democracy.
Public trust thus hinges on whether universities are seen to be delivering on this mandate.
Pressures shaping public trust
Prof. Muthwa outlined several pressures that shape public perceptions of universities:
- Deep inequality and youth unemployment, which fuel public frustration.
- Expectations that universities solve societal crises, from poverty to climate vulnerability, despite limited institutional mandates.
- Criticism that universities reproduce inequality, widen aspiration without widening opportunity, and remain distant from lived realities.
Yet she cautioned against interpreting these pressures as evidence of institutional failure. Instead, they reflect the continued relevance of universities as focal points of aspiration, critique and hope.
Clarifying the purpose of the university
A central theme of Prof. Muthwa’s address was the need to re‑articulate the purpose of the public university.
She argued that universities must be understood not only as centres of knowledge production, but as institutions with a civic and ethical responsibility to advance the human condition.
Excellence, she noted, is essential, but excellence alone is insufficient. Universities must pair intellectual seriousness with social consequence, ensuring that their work resonates beyond academic boundaries and contributes meaningfully to societal wellbeing.
“Excellence without social consequence is insufficient. Responsiveness without intellectual rigour is equally inadequate,” she said.
Universities must therefore be conceptualised as responsive, transformative and transformational institutions that advance the human condition through knowledge, innovation and civic responsibility.
A renewed covenant with society
Prof. Muthwa called for a renewed social compact between universities and the communities they serve, grounded in relational accountability, epistemic humility and co‑creation of knowledge.
“Trust is relational, not transactional,” she stated, adding that communities must be treated as partners and co‑authors of knowledge, not merely beneficiaries or sites of data extraction.
This requires universities to listen more deeply and respect community knowledge systems, while also demonstrating transparency and fairness and aligning institutional values with institutional practice.
Prof. Muthwa argued that trust is built through lived experience, such as responsible stewardship, ethical governance, meaningful transformation and visible responsiveness to societal concerns.
A practical leadership framework to boost public trust
Prof. Muthwa offered a set of actionable priorities for university leaders:
- Improve graduate employability through industry partnerships, curriculum renewal and future‑skills development.
- Prioritise research that addresses societal challenges, especially inequality, unemployment, climate vulnerability and public health.
- Deepen community engagement through co‑creation, participatory research and locally grounded innovation.
- Respond visibly to public concerns, demonstrating attentiveness to lived realities.
- Strengthen transparency and accountability, ensuring decisions, resources and governance processes are open and trustworthy.
Prof. Muthwa urged leaders to protect academic freedom, confront injustice within institutions and exercise stewardship equal to the responsibility they have inherited.
She concluded with an appeal to chancellors and university leaders: “Trust is not a reputational asset to be managed. It is a relationship to be earned, renewed and sustained.”
