In a landmark achievement, three professors from the University of South Africa (UNISA) have been recognised at the South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) 11th Scientific Merit Awards, the nation’s premier platform for celebrating excellence in health research. Professors Zilungile Mkhize-Kwitshana, Lindiwe Zungu, and Usisipho Feleni were honoured for their pioneering contributions to public health, occupational safety, and environmental sustainability, cementing UNISA’s role as a leader in innovative and socially impactful research. Established in 1969, the SAMRC is dedicated to…

The University of South Africa (UNISA) held a career day exhibition for female inmates at the Gender Responsive Centre, formerly the Female Correctional Centre, in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, on Thursday, 13 February 2025. The initiative, organised in partnership with the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and It’s Possible for All, a non-profit organisation, provided academic guidance, addressed administrative queries, and facilitated dialogue on the transformative role of education. Attendees included incarcerated students and correctional officials. During the event, the university donated…

South Africa has a new chairwoman at the helm of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). My esteemed colleague, Dr. Karen Stander, a senior lecturer in the Department of Business Management at Unisa’s College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS), has stepped into a role riddled with complexities. Yet, her appointment, while worth celebrating—also signals something more troubling: the ever-persistent reality of the glass cliff. Dr. Stander’s appointment by the Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Nobuhle Pamela Nkabane, as…

The University of South Africa (UNISA) has described Dr Karen Stander’s appointment as chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board as an indication that its staff and graduates are among the sought after industry leaders in the country and beyond. Dr Stander, a senior lecturer in UNISA’s College of Economic and Management Sciences, was appointed by Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Pamela Nkabane to lead the embattled NSFAS for a four-year term starting 1 February 2025.  She…

In its first edition of 2025, the Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities shows that Unisa rose from the 797th (2024) to the 732nd (2025) place internationally, while the institution retained a solid seventh position among the 124 South African institutions of higher learning (including also colleges and academies, both private and public) ranked by Webometrics. The ranking is an initiative of the Cybermetrics Lab, which is part of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), the largest public research body…

The University of South Africa (UNISA) and Makerere University in Uganda have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration in teaching, learning, research, and community engagement. The MoU was signed on January 13 during Makerere University’s 75th graduation ceremony, held at the university’s Freedom Square in the capital Kampala. This graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of 13,658 students, including 143 PhD, 1,813 master’s degree, and 243 postgraduate diploma graduates. Established in 1922, Makerere University is the oldest and…

Speaking at Makerere University, Uganda’s largest and oldest institution of higher learning, Professor Puleng LenkaBula shared her thoughts on the resilience, actions, and leadership of African women in the quest to shape the continent’s future and its position in the world. On 13 January 2025, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), delivered the commencement address at Makerere University’s 75 th graduation ceremony, sharing her thoughts on the resilience, actions, and leadership of African women in the quest to…

The University of South Africa (Unisa) is set to introduce a compulsory academic integrity course for all students beginning in the 2025 academic year. The academic integrity course is designed to equip students with foundational knowledge and practical skills to navigate their studies ethically and responsibly. Key topics include the principles of academic integrity, academic writing, strategies to avoid plagiarism, ethical usage of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and the importance of ethical decision-making in assessments and research. This comprehensive approach…

The African National Congress (ANC) and UNISA’s National Student Representatives Council (NSRC) have called on the institution’s community to rally behind re-appointed Vice Chancellor Professor Puleng LenKabula in her second term. Together with the Academic and Professional Staff Association (APSA) of South African Universities, South Africa’s governing party and student body NSRC have expressed support for the council’s decision to extend Professor LenKabula’s term. They also celebrated the achievements made under her administration since 2021. In a media statement released…

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has reappointed Professor Puleng LenkaBula as Principal and Vice-Chancellor for a second term. This decision was announced by the University’s council during a meeting on Monday, December 09, 2024. Professor LenkaBula, the first woman to hold this position in Unisa’s 151-year history, began her first term on January 01, 2021. Her second term will commence in January 2026, for a further five years. In a media statement released on Monday, the university said the…