Behind every successful conference is a leader with the vision to imagine it, the determination to sustain it, and the ability to inspire a team to bring it to life. At Mangosuthu University of Technology’s 13th Focus Conference, that leader was Dr Manyane Makua.
As Senior Director of MUT’s Learning and Teaching Development Centre (LTDC), Dr Makua has guided the Focus Conference from strength to strength, establishing it as an important platform for serious reflection on teaching, learning and the future of higher education.
The 13th edition of the conference, held from 19 to 21 August 2026 at the Royal Majesty Hotel in Durban, was evidence of how far that vision has travelled. Under the theme, “Responsive Universities: Reimagining Higher Education for Global Relevance and Human Advancement,” the conference brought together scholars, researchers, policymakers, institutional leaders, practitioners and students from South Africa and beyond.
With more than 200 delegates, and more than 140 research papers presented across its various sessions, the conference reflected both an impressive scale and strong academic substance. Its hybrid format, which included on-site and online presentations, enabled broader participation, while livestreamed sessions extended important conversations beyond the physical venue.
For Dr Makua, the Focus Conference has never been simply another event on the higher education calendar. It is a carefully cultivated intellectual event in which educators can question established practices, share research and explore how universities can respond more meaningfully to students and society needs.
The conference began even before the formal opening, with pre-conference workshops on 17 and 18 August. These sessions provided focused opportunities for professional development and deeper engagement, demonstrating the LTDC’s commitment to ensuring that the conference produced practical value alongside scholarly debate.
The calibre of the speakers reflected the standing the Focus Conference has earned within the sector. Attracting speakers of this calibre does not happen by chance. It reflects years of relationship-building, academic credibility and the confidence that scholars across the sector have developed in the Focus Conference as a respected platform for the exchange of ideas.
One of Dr Makua’s defining qualities is his ability to create space for others to contribute. Throughout the conference, his leadership was evident not in self-promotion but in the quality of the programme, his team’s confidence, and the smooth coordination of the gathering.
The professionalism of the 13th Focus Conference was evident from the delegates’ arrival to the final academic sessions. While Dr Makua provided the leadership and direction, the success of the conference belonged equally to the hardworking LTDC staff who translated that vision into reality.