The University of Pretoria (UP) has been ranked first in South Africa for Employer Reputation in the QS World University Rankings 2026, climbing to 326th globally. While the ranking reflects how employers perceive UP graduates, it also raises a question for current students: what is behind that reputation, and how is the university preparing graduates for the world of work?
According to QS, the employer reputation indicator is based on feedback from employers and measures how they perceive graduates from universities around the world. Rather than focusing only on academic performance, it considers employers’ confidence in graduates’ skills, preparedness, and ability to succeed in the workplace.
At UP, that preparation extends beyond the lecture hall. The UP website says Career Services supports students throughout their studies by offering career guidance, employer engagement opportunities, career fairs, and resources designed to help students transition into employment. Among these are the Ready for Work Programme, employability workshops, annual career guides, and career development certificates, all aimed at equipping students with practical workplace skills alongside their academic qualifications.
Career Services manager Tando Tyakume said that the university’s employer reputation is built on a combination of academic excellence, strong industry partnerships, and a deliberate focus on graduate employability. She said that Career Services contributes by helping students develop workplace skills, connect with employers, and better understand what is expected in professional environments.
According to Tyakume, Career Services maintains regular engagement with employers through recruitment activities, career fairs, advisory discussions, and industry partnerships. She said that feedback from employers is used to update workshops, introduce new career resources, and ensure that students are exposed to current recruitment trends and workplace expectations.
The workplace continues to evolve, with employers increasingly seeking graduates who can demonstrate more than technical knowledge. Tyakume said that communication, teamwork, adaptability, digital literacy, resilience, and problem-solving have become just as important as academic achievement. She added that Career Services continues to expand its programmes and employer engagement to help students develop these competencies before they graduate.
The impact of these initiatives can also be seen in students who have made use of them. Postgraduate student Lelethu Dekeda said that she has participated in several Career Services initiatives, including career fairs and the Ready for Work Programme. Although she has chosen to focus on completing her Honours degree before entering full-time employment, she said that the programmes have helped her better understand the career path she wants to pursue and have given her confidence that she will be prepared for the workplace once she graduates.
The UP website says that Career Services also provides students with one-on-one career guidance, CV and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, mentorship opportunities, and networking events throughout the academic year. It describes these initiatives as part of the university’s broader effort to prepare students for employment by combining academic learning with career development opportunities.
For students, the university’s employer reputation is more than a position in a global ranking. It reflects how employers perceive UP graduates, but it also highlights the growing importance of developing workplace skills before graduation. As competition for graduate opportunities continues to increase, the university’s investment in career development raises a broader question not only about where students study, but how prepared they are when they leave.
Visual: Jemma Thomson
