The recent International Conference on Advances in Cement and Concrete Research brought together academics, students and professionals from across the world.
Recently, four leading Unisa researchers were inaugurated as members of the Academy of Science of South Africa and the South African Young Academy of Science for their outstanding scientific contributions designed to benefit society at large.
The university was recently awarded the prestigious DSTI-NRF SARChI Chair in Water and Environmental Biotechnology following a proposal submitted by the College of Science, Engineering and Technology's Prof Ilunga Kamika.
As South Africa observes World Diabetes Day on 14 November, the university’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences continues to lead vital research and community initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable, indigenous food systems as a response to the country’s rising diabetes crisis.
As part of the 2025 Unisa Innovation Festival, Dr Lardo Stander, an economic entrepreneur and CEO of the Tshwane Economic Development Agency, will judge renewable energy pitches by Unisa students who are finalists in the Tshwane Youth Innovation Challenge.
Behind every Unisa researcher is a network of support
Research is not only about making discoveries and finding answers to problems. It is also about successfully securing grant funding, applying for rating, navigating ethical clearance, practising the latest research methodologies, establishing research profile, communicating findings to fellow scholars and the public alike, developing supervisory skills, displaying the highest standards of research ethics and integrity, and commercialising inventions.
In short, research is complex and sophisticated, which is why university researchers require the support of research management professionals and administrators who understand the research environment inside out.
At Unisa, these research support and capacity-building professionals are housed within the Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation, and Commercialisation portfolio.
They provide a full range of research management and support services, which include grant management, research integrity services, research skills development, technology transfer and commercialisation services, library and information services, scholarly publishing opportunities and postgraduate academic training.
Attesting to the high quality of research support at Unisa are the professional qualifications or accreditation that the portfolio’s staff members hold from organisations such as the International Professional Recognition Council (IPRC) and the Research Ethics Committee Association of Southern Africa (REASA).
The Unisa Research Impact Report is an annual publication by the Department of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation reflecting the institution's alignment with its Strategic Plan 2021-2025. Read the 2024 Unisa Research Impact Report which offers a rigorous analysis of global and national ranking systems that evaluate and benchmark Unisa's research performance.
Unisa makes a strong contribution to national research outputs and strives to maintain this into the future through comprehensive and well-planned research support that spans the research cycle and all stages of researchers’ careers.
Unisa invests in researchers through a range of innovative research support programmes, encompassing researchers on all levels, from emerging researchers through to established and leading researchers.
Over the past decade, Unisa has made remarkable strides in enhancing its research performance. Our commitment to excellence has resulted in sustained growth in research outputs, improved global university rankings, and a significant increase in the number of National Research Foundation (NRF)-rated researchers across diverse disciplines. These achievements reflect our unwavering dedication to fostering a vibrant research culture that drives knowledge creation and societal impact.
A2 rated researcher
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B1 rated researcher
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B1 rated researcher
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The annual Research and Innovation @Unisa publication breaks down various elements of the university's research and innovation initiatives into more accessible parts. To access a wide range of information pertaining to research and innovation at Unisa (such as highlights from research projects and information concerning the National Research Foundation, researcher development and research outputs) in 2022 and preceding years, click on the relevant publication link below.
Flagship projects are undertaken within colleges and are in direct support of Unisa’s research focus areas.