The University of South Africa (Unisa) has reached a significant milestone in its research and innovation journey, reinforcing its position as one of Africa’s most globally connected and impactful universities. Through a landmark partnership with Messe Frankfurt, signed in Germany during the internationally renowned Techtextil and Texprocess trade fairs, Unisa became the first African university to formally partner with one of the world’s most influential trade exhibition platforms. Sources and observers say this achievement represents far more than collaboration; it…

Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) have long been regarded as neutral spaces of preservation and display. Yet historically, they have functioned as instruments of power, deciding whose stories are told, whose histories and herstories are preserved, and whose voices are amplified. In SA, this legacy is inseparable from colonial and apartheid frameworks that systematically excluded Black artists from institutional visibility. It is within this context that “The Pathway to Education Lies Between Thorns,” a travelling exhibition of works by…

In his Hiddingh-Currie award-winning autobiography, “His story is history,” published by Unisa Press, Dr Tlou Setumu asked a daring question: When does life begin? In the same text, Setumu offers different answers from different people. Some say life begins at 40, others say at birth, there are those who are saying in a womb, while others say when a person starts to stand on their own. Indeed, people perceive the beginning of life differently. This is also the same with…

In the latest QS World University Rankings, Unisa is ranked highly in six subjects, as opposed to one in the 2022 academic year, while the Department of Higher Education and Training ranks the institution fourth in the country in terms of its creative outputs and innovations during 2024. On 25 March 2026, QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Ranking released results for institutions in the subject areas in which such institutions have been nominated for evaluation. This includes the scores and…

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has defended its academic standing, governance and financial management, while outlining major milestones including the acquisition of an airport, during a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday. Principal and Vice-Chancellor Puleng LenkaBula described the institution as a trailblazer in distance learning, research innovation and academic transformation, with a legacy spanning more than 150 years. LenkaBula said the university’s performance between 2021 and 2025 demonstrated its continued contribution to skills development in the country. During…

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has reinforced its position as a pioneering force in higher education, announcing a series of groundbreaking “firsts”, including plans to launch a university-owned airport, as it reflects on recent achievements and charts an ambitious future. Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Puleng LenkaBula described the institution as a trailblazer in distance learning, research innovation and academic transformation, with a legacy spanning more than 150 years. LenkaBula said Unisa,…

The Covid-19 pandemic, disruptive technologies, and current developments in changing global geopolitics, specifically the US travel ban on 21 countries and counting, as well as the raging war in the Middle East, have led to a dire situation that requires repositioning of internationalisation in the higher education landscape. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional internationalisation activities, further stretching already limited resources and impacting international student and staff mobility. To date, delays in study visa processing continue to pose a major obstacle…

The University of South Africa (UNISA) has confirmed that Sarah-Jane Trent is a graduate of the institution after a statement circulating on social media falsely claimed she did not hold a degree from the university. In a media statement released on Monday, Unisa said Trent obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the institution in May 2013. The university also strongly distanced itself from a document that had been widely shared online and which purported to be from Unisa,…

Flooding, storms, droughts, and heatwaves have become common occurrences across the globe. Each time an extreme weather or climate event strikes, the same question arises: is this climate change? Weather and climate experts are often cautious in answering this directly, because linking a specific event to climate change requires detailed scientific analysis known as attribution studies. These studies examine how human-driven climate change alters the likelihood or intensity of specific extreme weather events. The findings are increasingly clear. The 2015–2017…

The University of South Africa has welcomed a series of high court judgments against Mogaila Mogashoa, Mandisa Mashego and Simamkele Xani, describing the rulings as a decisive stand against what it calls a sustained campaign of defamatory attacks on the institution and its leadership. In a statement released on Wednesday, the university confirmed that separate applications were brought before the courts in response to statements made by the three individuals. The institution said the judgments affirm its commitment to protecting…