Global Economist Prof Jeffrey Sachs to Deliver UFS Prestige Lecture on Africa’s Growth Strategies
Bloemfontein – The University of the Free State (UFS) is set to host world-renowned economist Prof Jeffrey Sachs for a special Prestige Lecture titled “Strategies for Rapid Long-Term Growth in Africa”.
The event, scheduled for Tuesday, 18 November 2025, will look at ways to build inclusive and lasting economic progress across the continent. Prof Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at UFS, will give a response after the talk.
Families and communities in South Africa, who often feel the pinch of slow growth and job shortages, can draw hope from discussions like this that aim to find real fixes for everyday challenges. As the country works to boost its economy after tough years, this lecture kicks off the university’s new Vice-Chancellor Prestige Lecture Series, showing UFS’s drive to spark big ideas on issues that touch local and global lives. With Sachs’s track record in helping poor countries grow, his words could guide leaders on how to create more jobs and fairness for all.
This gathering brings together thinkers, students, and leaders to chat about Africa’s future, at a time when the continent faces big hurdles like climate shifts and unequal wealth. By putting the spotlight on fast, green growth, UFS hopes to help shape plans that work for ordinary people in towns and farms alike.
About the Speaker: Prof Jeffrey Sachs
Prof Jeffrey Sachs serves as University Professor and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, where he previously led the Earth Institute (2002 – 2016). Recognised as one of the most influential economists in the world, Prof Sachs is President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Co-Chair of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition, and Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Development.
He has served as Special Adviser to three United Nations Secretaries-General and currently acts as an SDG Advocate under Secretary-General António Guterres. Before joining Columbia, he spent more than two decades at Harvard University, where he earned his BA, MA, and PhD degrees.
A recipient of 42 honorary doctorates, including one conferred by the UFS in 2015, Prof Sachs’ numerous accolades include the 2022 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development, the Legion of Honour (France), and the Order of the Cross (Estonia). His most recent publications include The Ages of Globalisation: Geography, Technology, Institutions (2020) and Ethics in Action for Sustainable Development (2022).
Sachs has helped shape policies in over 100 countries, focusing on ways to end poverty and build green economies. His work with the UN has pushed for fair goals that help poor lands grow without harming the planet. For South Africans, his ideas on quick growth could mean tips on creating jobs in farms, factories, and tech, helping families move out of hardship.
About the Respondent: Prof Philippe Burger
Prof Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the UFS since 2022, has served as Professor of Economics since 2007. He was a Fulbright Exchange Scholar (2016/17) at Columbia University’s Earth Institute and is the author of Getting it Right: A New Economy for South Africa, launched at the IMF, World Bank, and RAND Corporation.
He is also a Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow at the UN University World Institute for Development Economics Research, where he leads the Macro-Fiscal workstream for the SA-TIED II project. Prof Burger has served as an advisor to the IMF and OECD and is a former President of the Economic Society of South Africa.
Burger’s work focuses on ways to make South Africa’s economy fairer and stronger, with books and studies that guide leaders on fixes for joblessness and debt. His response to Sachs could bring local views, like how to grow without leaving rural areas behind, helping families in the Free State see how global ideas fit their daily lives.
Event Details and How to Attend
Date: Tuesday, 18 November 2025 Time: 14:00 – 15:30 Venue: Centenary Complex, Bloemfontein Campus, UFS RSVP: André Damons at damonsad@ufs.ac.za or 076 493 2044 Enquiries: Alicia Pienaar – PienaarAN1@ufs.ac.za
The lecture is open to all, but spots might fill fast, so get in touch soon. It forms part of UFS’s push to host big talks that spark change, like past events on health and rights. For students and locals, this is a chance to hear from top thinkers without leaving town, building skills for future jobs.
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