Unisa Press has marked 70 years of academic publishing with a vibrant poster exhibition that traces its journey from humble beginnings in 1956 to its position as Africa’s largest academic publisher.

Unveiled on 17 August 2026 along the walkway connecting the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and OR Tambo buildings at Unisa's main campus in Tshwane, the exhibition highlights key milestones in the Press's seven-decade history and its contribution to the creation and dissemination of knowledge.

When Unisa Press began in 1956, its work centred on printing research, study materials and academic guides, which were subsequently stored in the university library. Over the decades, its publishing activities expanded significantly.

Today, Unisa Press publishes and disseminates books, e-books and journals in a range of formats. Its publications reach readers through trade and scholarly bookshops, subscription-based journals, as well as hybrid and open-access platforms, which continue to expand the reach of academic scholarship.

The Press has also embraced new publishing models and partnerships. These include collaborations with platforms such as ScienceOpen to develop a new preprint server and UnisaRxiv, which provides a platform for the open, peer-reviewed publication of preprint manuscripts. These initiatives support the rapid dissemination of emerging research across a broad range of disciplines.

The location of the exhibition carries particular significance.

The poster exhibition celebrates key milestones in the seven-decade journey of Unisa Press.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Dr Meiya Nthoesane, Director of Unisa Press, described the walkway connecting the two buildings as a fitting setting for the exhibition.

"It is indeed most appropriate that the posters are on display on this walkway connecting two iconic Unisa buildings," Nthoesane said. "This physical space symbolises the bridge that the Press has, and continues, to create between knowledge creation and knowledge dissemination."

Reflecting on the Press's seven-decade journey, Nthoesane said the anniversary provided an opportunity to assess its contribution while looking ahead to the future.

"Standing here, we are able to look back and retrace our steps over seven decades and take stock of our contribution," he said.

He added that the foundation established over the past 70 years would support Unisa's publishing ambitions for decades to come.

"We are confident that the solid foundation we have created is strong enough to carry the university's academic publishing endeavours over the next seven decades and beyond," Nthoesane said.

He also emphasised the need for Unisa Press to remain responsive to changes in the publishing landscape.

"We are making sure that the Press evolves, morphs and remains contextually relevant as we move into the future," he said.

Over the past seven decades, Unisa Press has played an important role in documenting, publishing and disseminating scholarship about Africa and making African scholarship accessible to audiences beyond the continent.

Unisa Press management and staff at the unveiling ceremony.

Its publishing programme has contributed to a deeper understanding of Africa's histories, societies, cultures and contemporary realities, while providing a platform for scholars whose work contributes to the continent’s intellectual tradition.

As it looks to the future, Unisa Press aims to strengthen its customer-focused approach while using technology and an expanded distribution strategy to reach new markets in Africa and around the world.

The 70th-anniversary exhibition therefore serves not only as a celebration of the Press's history, but also as a reminder of the role academic publishing plays in ensuring that knowledge is preserved, shared and accessible to future generations.

Visit the Unisa Press website.

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* By Philip van der Merwe, Editor, Unisa Press

* Photography by Mduduzi Khathamzi, Unisa Multimedia Centre