The University of South Africa celebrates improved global rankings, international recognition for eight academics and more than 61,600 qualifications awarded during its 2026 graduation seasons.
The University of South Africa (Unisa) has ended its 2026 academic governance calendar on a positive note, celebrating progress in research, teaching and learning, international rankings and graduate development.
During its final Senate meeting of the year, held on 28 October 2026, the university reflected on several achievements that demonstrate its continued contribution to South Africa’s higher education sector and the broader African academic community.
The meeting was chaired by Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula, who acknowledged the contribution of Senate members and the wider university community in advancing the institution’s academic objectives.
As one of Unisa’s key academic governance structures, Senate plays an important role in overseeing teaching, learning and research while ensuring that academic standards remain strong.
Unisa Improves Its Position in Global University Rankings
One of the major highlights discussed at the meeting was Unisa’s improved performance in the 2027 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.
Released in September 2026, the rankings placed Unisa in the 1,201–1,400 global band, an improvement from its previous position in the 1,201–1,500 band.
The university also moved up nationally, advancing from joint 10th to joint ninth position among South African universities.
This progress came during a period of increased competition, with the number of South African institutions represented in the rankings rising from 13 to 17.
THE assesses universities across five major performance areas:
- Teaching quality and learning environment.
- Research environment.
- Research quality.
- International outlook.
- Industry engagement.
Unisa’s strongest performance was recorded in the research environment category, highlighting its efforts to strengthen research capacity and support academic scholarship.
The university also maintained a distinctive position among African institutions, emerging as the only African university among six open distance e-learning institutions featured in the rankings.
This recognition reinforces Unisa’s role in expanding access to higher education through flexible and distance-learning opportunities.
Eight Unisa Academics Recognised Among Africa’s Leading Education Researchers
Unisa’s research achievements received further recognition in the 2027 AD Scientific Index rankings, which placed eight of its academics among Africa’s top 100 education researchers.
Among the recognised academics was Professor Paul Prinsloo, who secured third place in Africa and second position in South Africa.
The achievement highlights the growing influence of Unisa researchers in education scholarship and knowledge production.
Professor LenkaBula attributed the university’s success to the collective efforts of its academic community and the work undertaken through Senate.
She noted that Unisa had the second-highest number of researchers represented on the continental list, crediting the institution’s academic decisions and research-focused initiatives.
The recognition also reflects the importance of research in improving teaching practices, addressing educational challenges and strengthening higher education across South Africa and the continent.
Unisa Awards More Than 61,600 Qualifications in 2026
Another major achievement highlighted during the Senate meeting was the number of qualifications awarded by the university throughout its 2026 graduation seasons.
Unisa conferred:
- 44,712 qualifications during the Autumn Graduation season.
- More than 16,900 qualifications during the Spring Graduation season.
Together, the two graduation periods accounted for more than 61,600 qualifications awarded during the year.
These figures demonstrate the university’s contribution to developing skilled graduates and widening access to higher education.
For thousands of students, obtaining a qualification represents an important milestone that can open doors to employment, career advancement, entrepreneurship and improved opportunities for their families and communities.
Unisa’s graduation achievements also support the objectives of South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030, which identifies education and skills development as important drivers of economic growth, employment and the reduction of inequality.
The university’s work also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Senate’s Role in Strengthening Academic Standards
Beyond celebrating institutional achievements, the final Senate meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the importance of academic governance in sustaining Unisa’s progress.
Senate oversees key academic responsibilities, including the quality of programmes, research activities, teaching practices and learning standards.
Its role is central to ensuring that the university continues to deliver relevant and credible qualifications while supporting innovation and socially responsive research.
Professor LenkaBula acknowledged the contribution of academics, researchers, professional staff, administrative teams and governance structures in achieving the university’s objectives.
The collective commitment of these stakeholders has helped Unisa strengthen its academic standing while continuing to serve students across South Africa and beyond.
Unisa Looks Ahead to the 2027 Academic Year
As preparations for the 2027 academic year continue, the university’s priorities remain focused on improving academic quality, expanding research capacity and strengthening teaching and learning.
The achievements highlighted during the final Senate meeting demonstrate the institution’s ongoing efforts to remain competitive in the global higher education environment while fulfilling its responsibility to provide accessible learning opportunities.
From improved international rankings and research recognition to thousands of qualifications awarded, Unisa’s 2026 performance reflects progress across several areas of its academic mandate.
The university now looks ahead to building on these achievements as it continues contributing to knowledge production, skills development and educational transformation in South Africa and across Africa.
