Unisa Strengthens Its Position in Global Sustainability Assessments

The University of South Africa, known widely as Unisa, has recorded notable progress in the latest edition of the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings. Released in June 2026, the rankings assess how universities worldwide contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through research, teaching, operations and community engagement. Unisa improved its overall standing, moving from the 601-800 band into the 401-600 band among 1,646 participating institutions from 116 countries and territories.

This advancement highlights Unisa's ongoing commitment to open distance e-learning and its role as Africa's largest university by enrolment. The institution's performance reflects deliberate strategies in areas such as quality education, gender equality and institutional governance, which align closely with national priorities in South Africa for inclusive development and social transformation.

Understanding the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings Framework

The Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings, formerly known as the THE Impact Rankings, provide the only global benchmark focused exclusively on university contributions to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Participation requires data submission for SDG 17 on partnerships plus at least three additional goals. The overall score combines performance on SDG 17 with a university's three strongest individual SDG results.

Each SDG table evaluates institutions on research output, teaching and learning initiatives, operational practices and societal outreach. Scores range from zero to 100, with bands used for ranking where precise positions are not published. This methodology encourages broad participation while rewarding evidence-based impact rather than sheer volume of activity.

In the South African context, where higher education institutions face challenges related to access, equity and resource constraints, these ratings offer a valuable lens for measuring progress beyond traditional academic metrics. Unisa's results demonstrate how distance-learning models can deliver meaningful contributions across multiple goals simultaneously.

Key Improvements Across Specific SDGs

Unisa's strongest contributions came from SDG 4 on quality education and SDG 5 on gender equality, both placing the university in the global top 200. These areas benefit from Unisa's long-standing focus on widening participation through flexible study options that support working adults and students from underserved communities across South Africa and the broader African continent.

Performance on SDG 16, peace, justice and strong institutions, also strengthened, advancing Unisa into the 201-300 band. The university's legal studies programmes and governance research play a central role here. SDG 17 on partnerships for the goals saw a significant lift into the 601-800 band, underscoring growing international collaborations and community linkages.

Additional gains appeared in SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy, where Unisa moved into the 401-600 band. Efforts around campus energy efficiency and research into renewable solutions for off-grid communities contributed to this progress. SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation maintained its 301-400 position while improving underlying scores.

Pillar-Level Strengths in Research, Access and Operations

Beyond overall bands, Unisa achieved top-quartile or top-half performance in numerous sub-indicators. In quality education, strong results emerged for the proportion of first-generation students and lifelong learning measures. Gender equality metrics highlighted high shares of female graduates and research output in this domain.

Research contributions stood out across several goals, including health and wellbeing, reduced inequalities and responsible consumption. Operational indicators such as water consumption per capita and energy use density also performed well, reflecting practical sustainability measures at Unisa's multiple campuses and administrative centres.

These pillar results illustrate how an institution with a predominantly distance-learning model can still drive impact through targeted research, inclusive admissions policies and efficient resource management. Unisa's scale enables it to influence large numbers of students and alumni who apply sustainability principles in their professional and personal lives.

Photo by Jolame Chirwa on Unsplash

Context Within South African Higher Education

South African universities operate in a unique environment shaped by post-apartheid transformation goals, persistent inequality and the need to expand access while maintaining quality. The Department of Higher Education and Training emphasises the role of public universities in advancing national development priorities that overlap substantially with the SDGs.

Unisa's results complement those of other leading South African institutions. The University of Johannesburg achieved the top position nationally and continentally, ranking 39th globally overall. Such collective performance signals growing maturity in how South African universities integrate sustainability into their core missions.

Distance and open-learning providers like Unisa play a distinctive role by reaching students who might otherwise be excluded from traditional campus-based programmes. This model supports SDG 4 targets around equitable access and lifelong learning, particularly important in a country where many adults seek to upskill while remaining economically active.

Alignment with Unisa's Strategic Priorities and Catalytic Niche Areas

Unisa has identified ten catalytic niche areas that guide its research and teaching investments. These include themes such as environmental sustainability, social justice and technological innovation, which map directly onto multiple SDGs. The latest ratings results validate the effectiveness of this strategic focus.

Leadership under Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula has prioritised an empathetic, impact-oriented approach that resonates with the institution's motto of service to humanity. Investments in research capacity and staff development appear to be yielding measurable returns in international assessments.

The upward trajectory in sustainability metrics also mirrors Unisa's broader improvements in other global rankings, suggesting a coherent institutional strategy rather than isolated initiatives. Continued emphasis on evidence collection and data-driven decision-making will be essential for sustaining momentum.

Implications for Students, Staff and Broader Society

For prospective students and current learners, Unisa's ranking performance signals opportunities to engage with programmes that embed sustainability principles. Graduates equipped with knowledge of the SDGs are better positioned for roles in government, non-governmental organisations and the private sector where environmental and social governance considerations increasingly matter.

Academic and professional staff benefit from an institutional environment that values and rewards contributions to societal impact. Research funding and collaboration opportunities may expand as Unisa's profile rises in these specialised rankings.

Society at large gains from universities that translate knowledge into practical solutions. Unisa's large alumni network, spread across South Africa and internationally, amplifies the reach of sustainability education and research findings into communities, workplaces and policy arenas.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

While the 2026 results represent clear progress, maintaining and improving positions requires ongoing attention to data quality, stakeholder engagement and resource allocation. South African higher education institutions continue to navigate funding pressures and infrastructure needs that can affect sustainability performance.

Opportunities exist to deepen integration of the SDGs into curriculum design, expand community-based research projects and strengthen partnerships with government and industry. Unisa's open distance model offers particular advantages for scaling educational interventions that address goals such as reduced inequalities and quality education.

Future editions of the ratings will likely place greater emphasis on measurable outcomes and long-term impact, rewarding institutions that demonstrate sustained commitment rather than one-off achievements.

Photo by Jolame Chirwa on Unsplash

Looking Forward: Unisa's Role in Africa's Sustainability Journey

As the continent's largest university, Unisa occupies a pivotal position in shaping higher education responses to global challenges. Its performance in the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 underscores the potential of open and distance learning to contribute meaningfully to the SDGs at scale.

Continued investment in research excellence, inclusive practices and strategic partnerships will support further advancement. The institution's focus on becoming the African university in the service of humanity aligns closely with the collaborative spirit embodied in SDG 17.

Stakeholders across the higher education sector in South Africa and beyond will watch Unisa's trajectory with interest as it builds on these gains in subsequent ranking cycles.