Executive Director’s message

Thank you for visiting the Unisa Research, Innovation and Commercialisation website, offering a one-stop view of the support provided for research, innovation and commercialisation activities at the university.

Research and innovation at Unisa is going from strength to strength. Since 2011, we have been investing strategically in world-class equipment and facilities, attracting and developing internationally acclaimed researchers, and providing unequalled support to our research community. The results over the years speak for themselves.

At the last count, Unisa had 207 NRF-rated researchers, including three with A ratings. We have a dedicated Science Campus fitted with the finest laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment. Unisa is one of only two South African universities to host two international research chairs from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). We are also very fortunate to host three SARChI chairs.

Our publication rate has increased by well over 60% since 2011 and scholarly books by 270%, but research at Unisa is not just about numbers. Research productivity is only one of four strategic imperatives for research at Unisa, alongside transformation, sustainability and influence.

In other words:

• We want our research to matter; to shape futures, solve real-life problems, change policies and influence practice, all to the benefit of the people of South Africa.
• We want our researchers to represent the many different viewpoints and voices of our dynamic, diverse society to ensure inclusivity and a better future for all.
• We want our research efforts to be sustainable, so that our research community is constantly being replenished with new perspectives and skills, underpinned by an unswerving commitment to sound research ethics.

Unisa welcomes opportunities to collaborate and partner with like-minded researchers, research managers and administrators, and our doors are open to postgraduate students seeking a research home where quality counts.

We look forward to hearing from you.