Africa’s largest university becomes first on the continent to own an Airport

The University of South Africa has become the first tertiary institution on the continent to own an airport, marking a bold shift towards practical, skills-based education in Africa’s fast-evolving aviation and engineering sectors.

• The University of South Africa has become the first African university to own an airport.
• The 20-hectare facility will support practical training in aviation and advanced technologies.
• Vice-Chancellor Puleng LenkaBula says the move strengthens innovation and job-ready skills.
• The milestone aligns with UNISA’s global growth in research and technical education.

Vice-Chancellor Puleng LenkaBula confirmed the acquisition of the 20-hectare facility, describing it as a strategic investment to strengthen real-world training for students.

The announcement was made during a press briefing highlighting the university’s recent academic progress and rising global rankings.

LenkaBula said the airport would serve as a “launchpad for future innovators”, enabling the institution to move beyond its traditional distance-learning model and expand into hands-on technical training.

The facility is expected to support specialised programmes in aviation, drone technology, and advanced digital systems, areas seen as critical to Africa’s industrial growth.

The move reflects a broader trend among global universities seeking to align education more closely with labour market demands, particularly in high-skill sectors where practical experience is essential.

Boitumelo Senokoane, an associate professor in the College of Human Sciences, said the airport would provide students with a rare opportunity to translate theory into practice.

“This 20-hectare airport will give our students a unique opportunity to apply their studies in practice and gain skills that are in high demand in the aviation and engineering industries,” she said.

Founded in 1873, UNISA serves more than 400,000 students worldwide and is widely regarded as one of the largest universities globally.

The airport acquisition aligns with its expanding research focus in digitalisation, biotechnology, renewable energy, and space science, positioning the institution at the forefront of innovation on the continent.