Unisa PhD graduate earns spot at prestigious Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

Unisa proudly celebrates the achievement of one of its distinguished alumni, Dr Unathi Thango, who has been selected to attend the prestigious Eighth Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting on Economic Sciences. The event will take place from 26 to 30 August 2025 in Lindau, Germany, bringing together more than 250 promising early-career researchers from around the world to engage with Nobel Laureates.

Dr Unathi Thango

Since the inception of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings in 1951, they have fostered dialogue across generations, cultures, and scientific disciplines. This year’s meeting on economic sciences continues the tradition of promoting global academic exchange and collaboration.

Thango, who earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Management Studies from the University of South Africa (Unisa), hails from the Eastern Cape. She is not only a dedicated academic but also a mother of two, a person of faith, and an avid enthusiast of life. Reflecting on her doctoral journey, she describes it as “transformative, both academically and personally”.

“My PhD journey at Unisa was nothing short of exciting and eye-opening,” she says. “With the guidance of two exceptional women supervisors, I grew as a researcher and discovered my resilience and voice.”

Among her notable achievements, Thango was the first runner-up in the Doctoral Research Competition, which led to an international exchange opportunity at the University of Basel. She also won the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, enhancing her ability to communicate complex research with clarity and impact. Her involvement in the North America and Caribbean Network on Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems (NACLICS) programme expanded her global academic network and included a visit to Canada.

Thango’s doctoral research, which focused on driving change in the public sector, drew the attention of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), which subsequently nominated her for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. Selection for this prestigious event is based on academic excellence, strong research potential, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing knowledge, with an emphasis on diversity and global impact.

"Unisa’s support was instrumental in opening these incredible doors,” she notes. “It provided more than just academic training – it gave me access to international opportunities and collaborative networks that have shaped my career.”

To aspiring scholars, Thango offers heartfelt advice: "Believe in your worth, set clear goals, embrace collaboration, and keep investing in personal growth. Progress may be gradual, but with persistence, impactful change is always within reach."

Thango’s selection for the event is a testament to the calibre of scholars emerging from Unisa and serves as an inspiration to the next generation of researchers.

* By Nthabiseng Majeng, Intern: Unisa Foundation and Alumni Relations