Unisa proudly marked its inaugural participation in the prestigious 5^th BRICS Postgraduate Student Forum, hosted by the University of Campinas in São Paulo, Brazil, from 9 to 11 June 2026.

The opportunity arose through an invitation extended by the BRICS Research Institute to the Office of the Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation, Prof Mpho Ngoepe.

In collaboration with the College of Graduate Studies (CGS) and the various colleges across the university, a delegation of ten senior doctoral students was selected to represent Unisa on this global platform. The student delegation comprised representatives from the College of Accounting Sciences (CAS), the College of Human Sciences (CHS), the College of Education (CEDU), the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) and the College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS). Their participation showcased the breadth and depth of Unisa's postgraduate research excellence across diverse disciplines.

Preparing for global engagement

In preparation for the forum, CGS facilitated a pre-conference colloquium led by Prof Tennyson Mgutshini and Dr Amile Mavundla. The pre-conference training provided students with an opportunity to present their research, receive constructive feedback, and strengthen their presentation, networking and conference etiquette skills. This preparatory initiative ensured that students were equipped to engage confidently and professionally in an international academic environment.

Outstanding performance on the international stage

The forum adopted a competitive format, with postgraduate researchers presenting their work in thematic sessions and being evaluated by expert panels from across BRICS universities. Despite participating for the first time, Unisa's presence was strongly felt throughout the event. Several Unisa students were awarded excellence awards for achieving the highest scores within their respective presentation sessions:

• Lindiwe Mangisa (CAS)
• Lindiwe Msebeni (CEDU)
• Oyandi Sentse (CSET)
• Andiswa Msi (CEMS)

The university's success culminated in an exceptional overall performance, with Unisa securing both second- and third-place positions among all the BRICS universities represented at the competition:

• First Runner-Up: Lindiwe Mangisa (CAS)
• Second Runner-Up: Oyandi Sentse (CSET)

These remarkable achievements serve as a testament to the quality of Unisa's postgraduate scholarship/research training and as a seminal reflection of Unisa’s leading contribution to the global innovation economy.

The results are particularly significant as they coincide with the recent announcement recognising Unisa as the second-ranked higher education institution in South Africa for research output, further affirming the university's growing reputation as a leading research-intensive institution. The upward trend in Unisa’s research profile is attributed to a range of institutional initiatives introduced under the leadership of the university’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula.

Advancing Unisa's global research footprint

CGS congratulates all participating students for representing the university with distinction and extends special congratulations to the award recipients for their outstanding achievements. CGS also expresses its sincere appreciation to the colleges that responded positively to the call for financial support, enabling student participation in this important international engagement. Their investment contributed directly to advancing Unisa's strategic mandate of expanding its scholarly footprint, strengthening internationalisation efforts, and ensuring that postgraduate students are active participants in the global knowledge production economy.

As Unisa continues to strengthen its presence within BRICS academic networks, the success achieved at the 5^th BRICS Postgraduate Student Forum demonstrates the university's commitment to nurturing globally competitive researchers capable of addressing complex societal challenges through innovative scholarship.

* By Hanli Wolhuter, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Graduate Studies