Vision Statement
The University of the Witwatersrand aspires to be a leading world-class research-intensive university firmly embedded among international top league universities by 2022.

Mission Statement
The mission of the University of the Witwatersrand is to grow its global stature as a leading research-intensive university, and to be a gateway to research engagement and intellectual achievement in Africa. It will achieve this by building on the principles of intellectual excellence, international competitiveness and local relevance. As an institution built on principles of intellectual excellence, we are committed to providing high-quality, internationally competitive education, founded on high academic standards, cutting-edge research, public engagement, and productive partnerships with leading institutions throughout the world.

Wits will seek to use all its assets – both human and physical – to serve the intellectual, professional and educational needs of South African society

Purpose

Amplify our generation and dissemination of groundbreaking knowledge in niche areas.
Optimise our international visibility and impact of research, and our reputation for teaching.
Maintain a high proportion of international students and staff.
Recruit highly talented students for undergraduate education.
Maintain a high proportion of carefully selected postgraduate students.
Produce highly influential graduates for the global civil society.
Widen our footprint globally through extensive strategic networks.
Attract and retain distinguished scholars and prize-winning leaders in niche and strategic fields.
Attract and retain the best academic and support staff.
Contribute to society through research, teaching and social engagement.
Maintain a distinctive focus and reputation for groundbreaking research and scholarships in science, engineering and technology (SET) areas.
Benchmark with top-league and top-100 universities, including the UK Russell Group, the Australian Group of Eight, and the Big 5 in South Africa.
Provide a high-quality, supportive research and educational environment for students and staff.
Establish and sustain a base for diversified sources of income.
Retain a high degree of academic freedom and institutional independence.
Retain our long-lasting legacy of high-level achievement and excellence
Identity and Values

Independent enquiry and trust: Academics and students will demonstrate the capacity to function independently in line with the quality standards, principles and values of the University and in accordance with the mandates and responsibilities that may impact on particular areas of work.
International engagement: Members of the University have roles as public intellectuals, members of the global civil society and as intellectual leaders. These roles find expression through curricula and research that demonstrates commitment to our local context, but understands our role as a globally relevant University.
Intellectual excellence and integrity: All those associated with the University are active participants in an intellectual community and the work they do must be characterised by the highest standards of intellectual integrity.
Academic freedom and institutional autonomy: This includes, but is not limited to, protecting our right to decide who we teach, how we teach, what we teach and what research we undertake. At Wits we will be guided by international standards of intellectual excellence.
Collegiality: The University is a collegial community of scholars, which is more than a constellation of economically driven relationships within a legally constituted organisational structure.
Social engagement and responsiveness: Members of the University have roles as public intellectuals, members of the society and as intellectual leaders. These roles find expression through curricula and research.
Diversity: A sufficiently diverse range of knowledge areas should be maintained and reflected in teaching and research – including an explicit commitment to cross-cultural accessibility and internationalisation.
Accountability: Wits governance structures are inclusive and broadly representative, which includes the onus of deliberating on all points of view.
Debate and critical engagement: The University’s intellectual project is an educational one predicated on intellectual depth and robust engagement.