Unisa firmly sets its sights on the next 150 years and beyond

As the academic year kicks off, Unisa has set its sights on the next 150 years and beyond. In  a pre-recorded keynote addres at the 2025 Academic Opening Ceremony, Buti Manamela, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, commended the university for its commitment to its key objectives, which include digital dynamics, student-centredness, governance, and reclaiming Africa’s intellectual futures into the next 150 years and beyond. The event, which was also streamed online, was hosted on 14 February 2025 at the university’s main campus.

On the stage at the 2025 Academic Opening Ceremony

Commitment to transformation and global competitiveness

In his welcome address, Dr Dan Mosia, Chairperson of Council, stated that the annual gathering is critical as it is used as an essential platform not just to look back, but to outline the immediate and long-term organisational plans of the institution.

Mosia reflected on the last Council sitting in 2024, at which Professor Puleng LenkaBula, Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), delivered her State of the University Address. “One profound aspect of the address was the reminder about the challenging times that Unisa has had to endure,” he said, “as well as the proud moments it encountered as the institution continued to serve its primary stakeholders, that is, its students.”

Chairperson of the Unisa Council, Dr Dan Mosia

 Continuing, Mosia noted that despite the odds that were heavily stacked against the university, it remained resilient and resolute. Mosia reminded the audience of the seven strategic pillars of the university, which anchor it as

• an academically excellent and research-intensive university
• a sustainable university
• a student-centric university
• a community-engaged university
• a university of sound governance and leadership
• a digitally dynamic university
• a reputable university

Mosia emphasised that these pillars and the university’s ten catalytic niche areas will guide the university’s strategic direction and future developments.

Concluding his message, Mosia stated that the strides that the university is making, and the victories scored on many fronts, including in research outputs, engaged scholarship projects, and global university rankings, are a cause for celebration and that the university will continue aiming higher.

A university connected to society

In her welcome address, the VC said that Unisa exists to inform, question, and enter into dialogue with society. She added: “Our teaching, learning, research, and engaged scholarship are what make us socially relevant and responsible to the society that we serve.”

Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula

The VC stressed that social ills still plague the nation and the world, ranging from poverty, inequality, unemployment, crime, racism, and sexism, to divides within and between nations, and gender-based violence. “These are challenges toward which universities and the global society must contribute,” she said.

Geopolitical tensions

The VC noted with concern the rising geopolitical tensions, which, she said, require a response in terms of the position of the university as a knowledge partner in society. She continued: “It should not be easy for whole countries and their leaders to engage in conflict and trade wars as a means of settling disagreements and disputes.” She said a more peaceful, just and equal society is what each human being, irrespective of her/his/their geopolitical and social locations, deserves and should strive for.

The propellers of the university

The VC reiterated that the university is mindful of the domestic, regional and global issues that impact lives, and said: “Luckily, we see these issues as propellers to change our attitudes and to view them as providing an opportunity that enables us to remain relevant, competitive and impactful at a local and global scale.”

She continued: “These propellers are found in our rigid foundation, driven by our vision in strengthening Unisa as an open, distance and eLearning higher education institution.” The VC stated that this vision prioritises academic work, ensuring the following:

• Remaining at the cutting edge of teaching, learning, research, engaged scholarship and student-centredness
• Finding creative ways to be sustainable in resourcing the university in the context of where demand for higher education is rising
• Ensuring that Unisa becomes the university of choice for students in South Africa and across the world
• Continuing as a pathfinder and innovator through programmes such as engaged scholarship
• Strengthening governance to achieve better results in order to increase operational efficiency and compliance
• Ongoing positioning as a digitally dynamic and technologically advanced education provider among peers, remaining in the top tier of entities providing online, affordable and high-quality education

Concluding her message, the VC stated that this year marks the final year for the university’s operational theme, Reclaiming Africa’s Intellectual Futures. However, she promised that the university will stay on course and build on its rigid foundation.

A pioneer of accessible education

In his pre-recorded keynote address, Buti Manamela, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, praised Unisa as a university that stood the test of time, emphasising that it is a national treasure, which has pioneered accessible education for over 150 years, and in so doing, launched the careers of celebrated leaders, entrepreneurs, freedom fighters, scholars and pioneers who have navigated the rigorous path of distance education.

Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela

“History reminds us,” Manamela continued, “that great institutions are defined not by their struggles but by their capacity to rise above them, stressing that this year demands the institution’s renewal and recommitment to the values that have set apart Unisa as a beacon of excellence.

In the era of rapid technological advancement and shifting global dynamics, Manamela posited that Unisa must lead and continue to innovate in research pedagogy in its mission to centre African epistemologies. He said to achieve this, institutional governance and stability must be strengthened and ethical leadership embedded to uphold the university as a continental leader.

Secondly, he said Unisa must continue to advance African knowledge systems in developing curricula rooted in African experiences and knowledge systems so they can lead anywhere in the globe

Thirdly, he emphasised that Unisa must continue championing and accelerating digital transformation,  and harness  artificial intelligence, automation and partnerships to revolutionise distance education.

Concluding, Manamela stated for more than 150 years, Unisa has maintained its status as a leading institution of knowledge, positioned to illuminate Africa’s development path forward for the next 150 years.

Passionate recommitment to key commitments

In his vote of thanks, Professor Moloko Sepota, Acting Registrar, thanked the attendees and congratulated the VC on her second-term appointment, effective from 2026. Sepota acknowledged the VC’s comments on strengthening governance systems and student support, among others, stating that, together with her, the university’s extended management intensify their efforts to meet the said objectives.

Concluding his message, Sepota stated that the VC’s continued upliftment of the university is undoubtedly stellar, and “inspires us to participate meaningfully and objectively in our time to reclaim Africa’s intellectual futures.”

To view a recording of the ceremony, click here

* By Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement

** Photography by Shooheima Champion, Multimedia Centre