The University of South Africa's Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Puleng LenkaBula, has reinforced Unisa's growing influence in global higher education and sustainable development conversations through her participation in one of the flagship plenary sessions of the Global Sustainable Development Congress 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Taking her place among senior international higher education leaders on the high-level panel, themed "Research, Innovation and the Future of Sustainable Development", the VC contributed an African perspective to critical discussions on the future of research, innovation, funding and sustainability.

Significantly, she was the only woman and the only African represented on the panel, bringing a distinctive voice rooted in African intellectual traditions, decolonial scholarship and Unisa's commitment to socially responsive knowledge production.

Panellists, from left: Moderator, Chris Havergal, Editor Times Higher Education; Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Unisa; Summer Xia, Country Director of the British Council in Indonesia; and Ben Young, Vice-President of Student and Global Affairs at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

During the discussion, the VC raised concerns about the continued exclusion of women from key global decision-making platforms, arguing that sustainable development cannot be achieved without their participation. In contrast, women's experiences, knowledge and leadership remain marginal to conversations shaping the future.

Her intervention reflected Unisa's longstanding scholarly commitment to Bosadi, womanist and feminist intellectual traditions, which regard inclusion not as a symbolic aspiration but as a necessary condition for building sustainable and equitable societies.

The VC also challenged prevailing approaches to research funding and innovation. She argued that universities must resist becoming overly dependent on externally driven agendas and instead cultivate partnerships grounded in shared values, mutual respect and co-creation.

For institutions committed to societal impact, she noted, the objective should not simply be to secure funding, but to attract partners whose priorities align with the institution's mission and developmental objectives. In this model, funders become collaborators in addressing societal challenges rather than directors of academic inquiry.

She further emphasised the need for innovation ecosystems that deliberately dismantle structural barriers to participation, including those that continue to disadvantage women entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators.

The Unisa delegation

Reflecting on the significance of the congress, Prof LenkaBula said, "The world does not need monolithic approaches to its challenges. It requires the wisdom that emerges when diverse knowledge traditions, experiences and voices are brought into conversation with one another. As African universities, we have both a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute socially responsive scholarship, grounded in human dignity and committed to advancing a more just and sustainable future for all."

Beyond the congress programme, the VC led the Unisa delegation in a strategic engagement with South Africa's Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), His Excellency Ambassador Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro. The Ambassador and his team warmly received the delegation.

Prof Puleng LenkaBula with South Africa's Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN, His Excellency Ambassador Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro

The discussions provided an opportunity to strengthen relations between Unisa and South Africa's diplomatic mission in the region, while exploring ways to create pathways for student and staff exchanges and deepen engagement with institutions across Indonesia and the broader ASEAN region.

The meeting reaffirmed the strategic value of partnerships between universities and diplomatic missions in supporting South Africa's internationalisation objectives and expanding opportunities for students, academics and researchers.

The Unisa delegation at the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, with Ambassador Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro, Mr Fanie Thwala, the First Political Secretary, and Ms S. Cornelissen, the Third Secretary for Consular Services

As Africa's largest open distance and e-learning institution, Unisa continues to cultivate partnerships that amplify African scholarship, enrich the student experience and contribute to addressing shared developmental challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.

Through her participation in the congress, Prof LenkaBula demonstrated the critical role that African universities continue to play in shaping global conversations on sustainability, innovation and social justice, ensuring that the voices, experiences and intellectual traditions of the continent remain central to imagining and building a more sustainable future.

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Unisa takes African scholarship and sustainability leadership to the global stage in Jakarta 

* By Nolwazi Mwabi, Director: Communication, Marketing and Events, Department of Institutional Advancement