On Wednesday 18 February 2026, Unisa’s Inhlanyelo Hub NPC and the university’s Gauteng Region reaffirmed their commitment to advancing excellence through strengthened collaboration, innovation-driven programming and entrepreneurship-focused student support. This marked a decisive step toward enhancing Unisa’s regional footprint.

A strategic meeting between the leadership of Inhlanyelo Hub and the Gauteng Region focused on aligning priorities, enhancing programme implementation, and consolidating the region’s role as a centre of excellence in innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-enabled learning.

Located at the centre of the country, the Gauteng Region provides a comprehensive range of student support services to a collective student population of just over 100 000 across its regional service centres throughout Gauteng Province.

A central theme of the high-level engagement was redefining student support beyond traditional academic facilitation. Inhlanyelo Hub management underscored the importance of integrating entrepreneurship as a practical mechanism to alleviate poverty, stimulate economic participation and empower graduates beyond their qualifications.

Aligning innovation with regional impact

Discussions focused on ensuring that Inhlanyelo Hub’s programmes are meaningfully integrated within the regional office environment. Emphasis was placed on innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-mediated learning as key drivers of student success and regional development. Both parties acknowledged the importance of aligning innovation initiatives with established regional student support systems.

The Acting Regional Director, Dr Erin Marie Naudé, supported by Daniel Kekane and Dr Smangele Ntuli, highlighted strategic opportunities within the Gauteng Region that could further strengthen collaboration and expand community impact.

In turn, Inhlanyelo Hub’s leadership engaged with practical considerations for programme implementation within the regional context. A key outcome of the meeting was the shared recognition that structured collaboration between the Hub and regional offices should be progressively formalised to ensure clarity, accountability and sustainable implementation.

Practical steps were outlined to accelerate programme delivery within the Region, including

• the use of Gauteng Region facilities to host innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives.
• the utilisation of regional computer laboratories for the Inhlanyelo Hub’s Creative Media Cohort, subject to an assessment of technical requirements.
• support from the Gauteng Region to activate new laptops for use by the Inhlanyelo Hub as a contingency measure to ensure uninterrupted programme rollout.

The Sunnyside Regional Centre has been identified as a pilot site for the Bosadi Sewing Project, with a curated implementation plan to be developed collaboratively. The pilot programme aims to accommodate 15 participants, potentially across two time slots, with Inhlanyelo Hub guiding the planning process to ensure effective and sustainable delivery.

A strengthened collaboration framework

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to structured, results-driven collaboration between Inhlanyelo Hub and the Gauteng Regional Office. Both Naudé and Dr Tapiwa Muzata reaffirmed the importance of sustainable, entrepreneurship-driven initiatives that position regional offices as active contributors to innovation and economic transformation.

Through this strengthened collaborative engagement, Unisa’s regional offices continue to demonstrate that excellence is not confined to campuses; it is embedded within communities, powered by innovation and sustained through collaborative leadership.

* By Thembeka Mpapama, Manager: Communication and Marketing, Unisa Gauteng Region