Future Witsies get a glimpse of campus life

Future Witsies get a glimpse of campus life

21 August 2026 - Wits University

Parents Day creates an opportunity for families to experience the University for themselves and interact directly with academics.

More than 1,300 learners, parents and guardians attended Wits University's Parents Day 2026, getting a first-hand look at the academic opportunities, people and places that could become part of their university journey.

The event was held on Saturday, 15 August 2026, hosted by the Wits School Liaison Office (SLO) in partnership with faculties across the University. Parents Day gave prospective students and their families an opportunity to experience Wits beyond prospectuses and websites, while getting the information they need to make informed decisions about university study.

Approximately 900 learners and parents attended activities on Wits' main campus, while a further 450 participated in the programme at the Health Sciences campus.

Throughout the day, prospective students engaged with academics, explored different fields of study, participated in faculty activities and toured the campus. They also had an opportunity to find out more about admission requirements, career options and what they can expect from university life.

The programme exposed learners to a range of disciplines, including Accounting Science, Digital Arts, Film and TV, Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, Computer Science, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Chemistry and Health Sciences.

Boikhutso Johnson, a School Liaison Officer at the Wits School Liaison Office, said involving parents and guardians in these conversations is an important part of helping learners make decisions about their future.

Parents Day creates an opportunity for families to experience the University for themselves, interact directly with academics and ask questions about their children's prospective studies.

"We want parents to physically experience the campus, interact with academics and ask questions so that their concerns can be addressed," said Johnson.

She added that the initiative also seeks to reach families who may not initially have considered Wits as a university option and introduce talented learners from different schools and communities to the academic opportunities available to them.

The day began with a welcome in the iconic Great Hall, where Professor Lynn Morris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, encouraged prospective students to look beyond the degree they hope to pursue when deciding where to study.

"Choosing a university is an important decision. You are not simply choosing where you will attend lectures or write examinations. You are choosing the people who will teach and challenge you, the friends and networks you will build, and the opportunities that will shape your future," Morris said.

She encouraged learners to spend the day asking questions, exploring the campus and speaking to staff and students about the programmes that interested them.

For Grade 11 learner Naledi Mgiba, who attended Parents Day with her mother, those conversations provided valuable insight into what she needs to do now to work towards her goal of studying Civil Engineering.

"The campus is beautiful and the academics have been so helpful. I have received a lot of insight in terms of what is required from me to qualify for my desired degree," said Mgiba.

Having had the opportunity to experience Wits and engage with academics herself, she left campus even more enthusiastic about the possibility of studying at the University.

"I really cannot wait to be a Witsie," she said.

Parents Day offered learners such as Mgiba an opportunity not only to learn about degree programmes and admission requirements, but also to see the spaces where they could one day study, meet the people who could teach them and begin picturing themselves as part of the Wits community.