The Research and Innovation Portfolio recognises research excellence through the following prizes and awards:
The Principal’s Prize for Research Excellence
The Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Research is the second highest prize for research at Unisa following the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research. Both of these accolades are aimed at acknowledging research excellence and research performance.
The Prize is targeted at young and developing researchers (not older than 35 years) or groups who have achieved academic research excellence of the highest quality as published in the preceding two years. The research cohort comprises of scholars who are generally in the minority throughout the national higher education system. Traditionally awarded bi-annually, it alternates with the Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Research.
In 2022 for the first time, the Chancellor and Principal's Prizes were renamed Awards and are now both presented in the same year.
| Recipient | College |
| Prof Usisipho Feleni | Science, Engineering and Technology |
| Prof Jan Maluleka | Human Sciences |
| Prof Mlungisi Phakathi | Human Sciences |
| Recipient | College |
| Dr Jan-Harm de Villiers | Law |
| Dr Catherine le Roux | Economic and Management Sciences |
| Dr Elvis Nkoana | Education |
| Ms Alicia Weber | Economic and Management Sciences |
| Recipient | College |
| Dr Andy Carolin | Human Sciences |
| Dr Safia Mahomed | Law |
| Prof Lindelani Mnguni | Education |
| Ms Suvania Naidoo | Human Sciences |
| Recipient | College |
| Prof Ndikho Mtshiselwa | Human Sciences |
| Recipient | College |
| Prof Intaher Ambe | Economic and Management Sciences |
| Prof Marlene Wethmar-Lemmer | Law |
| Prof François Mulenga | Science, Engineering and Technology |
| Recipient | College |
| Kunofiwa Tsaurai | Economic and Management Sciences |
| Dr Babatunde Fagbayibo | Law |
| Prof Zenghui Wang | Science, Engineering and Technology |
| Dr Puleng Segalo | Human Sciences |
| Prof Philip Stroop | Law |
| Recipient | College |
| Prof Ayo Afolabi | Science Engineering and Technology |
| Mr Chris de Wet | Human Sciences |
| Prof Anel Ferreira-Snyman | Law |
| Prof Elmarie Kritzinger | Science, Engineering and Technology |
| Prof Inderasan Naidoo | Science, Engineering and Technology |
| Prof Kedibone Phago | Economic and Management Sciences |
| Mr Jacobus Vermeulen | Economic and Management Sciences |
Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence in Research
The Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence in Research is regarded as the most prestigious prize for research and innovation at Unisa. Formerly, awarded every second year and alternating with the Principal’s Prize, it rewards high-quality published research by permanent Unisa researchers and research groups.
| Recipient | College |
| Prof Mishack Gumbo | Education |
| Prof Moeketsi Letseka | UNESCO Chair on Open and Distance Learning, College of Education |
| Prof Gerhard Prinsloo | Agriculture and Environmental Sciences |
| Recipient | College |
|
Prof Michael Antwi |
Agriculture and Environmental Sciences |
|
Prof Noor Davids |
Education |
|
Prof Mokhotjwa Dhlamini |
Science, Engineering and Technology |
|
Prof David Hedding |
Agriculture and Environmental Sciences |
|
Prof Sin-Yu Ho |
Economic and Management Sciences |
|
Prof Ajay Kumar Mishra |
Science, Engineering and Technology |
|
Prof Mpho Ngoepe |
Human Sciences |
|
Prof Godwell Nhamo |
Economic and Management Sciences |
|
Prof Zenghui Wang |
Science, Engineering and Technology |
| Recipient | College |
|
Prof Barry Ackers |
Accounting Sciences |
|
Prof David Hedding |
Agriculture and Environment Sciences |
|
Prof Godwell Nhamo |
Economic and Management Sciences |
|
Prof Patrick Ngulube |
Graduate Studies |
|
Prof Azwihangwisi Mavhandu-Mudzusi |
Human Sciences |
|
Prof Babatunde Fagbayibo |
Law |
|
Prof Anthony de Villiers Minnaar |
Law |
|
Prof Themba Dube |
Science, Engineering and Technology |
|
Prof François Mulenga |
Science, Engineering and Technology |
|
Prof Renier Steyn |
Graduate School of Business Leadership |
| Recipient | College |
| Prof Fhatuwani Mudau | Agriculture and Environmental Sciences |
| Prof Norma Romm | Education |
| Prof Melinde Coetzee | Economic and Management Sciences |
| Prof Olusegun Akanbi | Economic and Management Sciences |
| Prof Godfrey Nhamo | Economic and Management Sciences |
| Prof Eric Udjo | Economic and Management Sciences |
| Prof Malik Maaza | Graduate Studies |
| Prof Kopano Ratele | Graduate Studies |
| Prof Lindiwe Zungu | Human Sciences |
| Recipient | College |
| Prof Vuyisile Msila | Education |
| Prof Michael van Wyk | Education |
| Prof Shenzhi Du | Science, Engineering and Technology |
| Prof Temba Dube | Science, Engineering and Technology |
| Prof Judy van Biljon | Science, Engineering and Technology |
| Prof Andre Mangu | Law |
| Prof Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni | Graduate Studies |
| Prof Patrick Ngulube | Graduate Studies |
| Prof Frans Cilliers | Economic and Management Sciences |
| Prof Busani Moyo | Economic and Management Sciences |
| Prof Renier Steyn | Graduate School of Business Leadership |
Last modified: 2023/08/07