As the Acting Executive Dean of CEMS, it is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all visitors to our website. CEMS stands as a beacon of excellence in commerce and strategic education, not only in Africa but across the globe. With a commitment to providing high-level personnel to both the private and public sectors, we take pride in our substantial contributions to shaping the future of business leadership and entrepreneurship.
Our college is home to a vibrant community of learners, with over 70,000 students enrolling in formal qualifications and 30,000 participating in short learning programs annually. Through our rigorous research efforts, we continuously strive to ensure the relevance and usefulness of our degrees and courses, offering lifelong learning opportunities that span from certificates to advanced postgraduate studies and even doctoral levels.
As the largest provider of business education in Africa and one of the largest in the world, Unisa’s College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS) makes a considerable contribution to the provision of high-level staff to the private and public sector.
Each year, around 70,000 students enroll for formal qualifications and 30,000 for short learning programmes. One in every four BCom degrees awarded by South African universities is earned by a CEMS student. At postgraduate level, the College has produced nearly half of all honours degrees and 30% of master’s and doctoral degrees in the country over the past five years.
To establish the relevance and usefulness of its degrees and course the college constantly conducts intensive research in the private and public sectors. This is done to ensure lifelong learning opportunities for all students through articulation from certificates up to advanced postgraduate studies and even doctoral level.
Speaking at a recent webinar hosted by Johannes Kepler Universität in Linz, Prof Annemarie Davis and Dr Charmaine Williamson of the Department of Business Management spotlighted the evolution of SAP research in South Africa, with a special focus on how to work within African philosophies.
Administrative staffer Mosibudi Ramoroka balanced work deadlines, meetings and late-night study sessions, and, ultimately, perseverance turned ambition into achievement.
Unisa recently hosted the 2025 EDHE Studentpreneurs Indaba and Lekgotla, bringing together student entrepreneurs, academics and policymakers from around the world under the theme "Entrepreneurship for Sustainability".
In a continued effort to foster inclusive academic environments, the Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology recently hosted a session titled “From diversity to cohesion”. The event invited staff and scholars to reimagine the way different generations and different levels engage within the university space.
Prof Katherine Malan's recent inaugural lecture at Unisa explored how deepening human understanding of artificial intelligence algorithms can lead to more reliable and responsible use of artificial intelligence in society.
Applications re-open for limited qualifications only. Apply between 3 November and 19 December 2025. Click here for more information.
The College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS) is committed to identifying African solutions to ensure that the College becomes a leading role player and producer of research in identified strategic niche areas on the African continent. Professor Mkansi, College Head for Research, Post-graduate studies and Innovation, leads the research portfolio of the College. In an effort to focus the research activities, the College has identified a number of research niche areas and put several structures in place to motivate and support staff. These include financial assistance from the College Research Committee and research-related assistance provided by the College of Graduate Studies and Research. CEMS researchers have access to several funding opportunities and support programmes within and outside the university. The College functions within four imperatives, namely transformation, sustainability, productivity and influence of the research and innovation framework.
| Contact Person | Designation | Contact |
| Leshaba Mohau | Administrative Officer (Acting) | 012 429-3925 |
| Kgotatso Mtsamai | College Information Coordinator (Acting) | 012 429-3925 |