The University of South Africa (Unisa) has marked a significant milestone, celebrating five years of academic excellence and resilience in the face of a complex global and national landscape. According to Unisa Vice-Chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula, the institution has demonstrated remarkable strength and determination over the past five years.
Between 2021 and 2025, Unisa saw over 50,000 students graduate annually, including more than 500 doctoral and 900 master’s graduates. This reaffirms the university’s leadership in high-level skills production. Additionally, over 10,800 graduates from the disrupted 2020 and 2021 academic years were honoured in special ceremonies, restoring dignity and recognition.
Research Output and Global Standing
Professor LenkaBula highlighted Unisa’s advances in research output and global standing, noting sustained improvement in international rankings, including the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Rankings). Locally, the university’s research output ranked among the top 10 nationally, with particular growth in digitalisation, biotechnology, renewable energy, and social sciences.
The university has also made significant strides in collaboration, including the Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT) project with the University of Namibia, a landmark initiative for African astrophysics under the guidance of Distinguished Professor of Astrophysics James Chibueze. This project expands the continent’s footprint in space-science innovation.
Financial Stewardship and Governance
Unisa’s financial stewardship and governance have remained strong, with university reserves growing from R9 billion to over R24 billion over five years. The university has also achieved multiple consecutive unqualified audit opinions between 2021 and 2024.
At the end of the press conference, Unisa announced the purchase of a 20-hectare airport to serve as a training and research facility for aeronautical, aviation, and engineering students. This move demonstrates the university’s commitment to innovation and practical education alongside strong governance and institutional integrity.
Some of the key benefits of this new facility include:
- Unique opportunities for students to apply their studies in practice
- Skills development in high-demand areas such as aviation and engineering
- Enhanced research capabilities in these fields
As Unisa continues to push the boundaries of academic excellence, its focus on practical education and innovation is set to have a lasting impact on the university and its students.
