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, widely recognised as one of the first universities in the world to offer distance education at scale, continues to shape access to higher learning across South Africa, the continent and globally.
“We are a university of firsts,” she said, pointing to its historic role in open and distance e-learning as well as its ongoing efforts to expand opportunities for students and academics.
Among the most striking announcements was the acquisition of an airport — a first for a university not only in South Africa but across the African continent. The facility, expected to be officially launched between April and May, will support training in aviation, aeronautics, drone technology and digital systems.
LenkaBula said the airport would serve as a strategic hub to develop scarce and critical skills, particularly in engineering and aviation, while supporting innovation in emerging technologies.
“This is history in the making,” she said. “It will open opportunities for our students, our academicians and society at large to advance skills in aviation and related fields.”
The airport project forms part of broader efforts by the university to integrate science, technology and practical training into its academic offering, positioning Unisa at the forefront of future-focused education.
The announcement builds on a strong performance period between 2021 and 2025, during which Unisa consistently produced more than 50,000 graduates annually. This includes over 500 doctoral graduates and more than 900 master’s graduates, underlining the institution’s role in producing high-level skills for the country.
The university also moved to restore dignity to students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, hosting special graduation ceremonies in 2025 for more than 10,800 graduates from the disrupted 2020 and 2021 academic years.
On the research front, Unisa has made significant strides in both output and global recognition. The institution improved its standing in international rankings and is now counted among the top eight universities in South Africa and within the top 1,000 globally.
Nationally, its research output ranking has climbed, with growth driven by key focus areas such as digitalisation, biotechnology, renewable energy, social sciences and space science.
A flagship example of this innovation is Unisa’s partnership with the University of Namibia on the Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT) — the first millimetre-wave radio telescope to be built on African soil. The project will integrate into the global Event Horizon Telescope network, contributing to cutting-edge research on black holes and the broader universe.
LenkaBula said the AMT positions Africa as an active contributor to global scientific discovery, while also strengthening the continent’s role in space science and astrophysics.
Beyond research and infrastructure, the university has placed strong emphasis on investing in people — particularly at a time when many institutions are facing financial pressure and staff reductions.
