On 4 November 2025, the Honourable Morakane Mosupyoe, Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, led an official visit to Unisa by Dr Luke Wood, President of Sacramento State University, to explore avenues for academic collaboration with Unisa, aimed at strengthening international academic exchange and cooperation. The meeting was held at Unisa’s Muckleneuk Campus and attended by delegates from the university’s leadership, Sacramento State University and the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

Based in California in the United States of America, Sacramento State University aligns itself with California’s federal and civil rights laws. It prides itself on providing equal opportunity in education and employment to all without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, colour, ethnicity or national origin.

The primary purpose of the meeting was to identify and encourage talented students interested in pursuing higher education in the United States, and to provide them with comprehensive information about, among others, academic programmes, scholarships and student support services that prepare them for campus life and global success. Further, the engagement highlighted the unique opportunities for prospective students, such as leadership development and community-focused offerings by the Sacramento State Black Honors College, a unique space where excellence, culture and community come together.

The meeting also centred on strengthening ties between Sacramento State University’s Black Honors College and Unisa’s Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs (TM-School), with the goal of advancing educational excellence, experiential learning and collaborative research.

The Unisa, Sacramento State University and the Gauteng Provincial Legislature delegation

Wood highlighted that the partnership between Sacramento State University’s Black Honors College and TM-School would align the institutions’ work focused on public policy. "We aim to mutually serve individuals who are minoritised in society, which is what we are passionate about. We want to ensure that we provide them with upward mobility," said Wood.

Mosupyoe explained that the visit to Unisa is part of a programme that the legislation has with Sacramento State University, which started in 2023, with the intention of identifying at least 40 students from the Gauteng Province to study in the United States. She added that the process took a long time, as it was important to ensure compliance with both South African and United States laws, thereby providing a seamless process for students. She remarked: "We had to identify students who would focus on the opportunity that they are given, and return to the country after graduating to plough back for a year or so, then spread their wings." For her, this would help build the country and the lives of other young people.

Further, Mosupyoe indicated that due to the change of government in America, they had to explore alternative ways of continuing with the programme. She expressed gratitude for how the Unisa leadership welcomed the delegation. "Through the collaboration, we want to achieve joint academic programmes between the institutions, then student exchange programmes in all disciplines and at all levels," she reiterated. "The TM-School and Sacramento State University’s programmes have similarities; therefore, this would also serve students from our country’s underprivileged backgrounds who have a desire to learn and achieve academic excellence. We wish to see the two institutions signing an agreement soon, and the Gauteng Provincial Legislature will remain the enabler of the process."

On behalf of Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Solomon Magano, Vice-Principal of Institutional Development, said: "We are delighted to have hosted the delegation from Sacramento State University, led by President Luke Wood. It is important for us as an institution of higher learning to have international partners." Also expressing appreciation for the role of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Magano affirmed that Unisa’s quest is to introduce its students to a way of life beyond South African boundaries.

Magano asserted that the two universities have common interests and aspirations, such as serving students from compromised economic backgrounds. He stated: "Our commitment is to transform lives, which, for Unisa, resonates well with its mission and vision of being the university that extends beyond boundary lines, and the African university that shapes futures in the service of humanity." Magano concluded: "This will be a two-way stream collaboration that advances the exchange of skills and knowledge at the scholar, academic and student levels. The joint programme prescribes that students will spend part of their study period in the country, and the remainder at a partner university, which will expand their worldview."

* By Nancy Legodi, Acting Senior Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement