The University of South Africa has become the first tertiary institution on the continent to own an airport,.
The development marks a bold shift towards practical, skills-based education in Africa’s fast-evolving aviation and engineering sectors.
The 20-hectare facility will support practical training in aviation and advanced technologies.
The Vice-Chancellor(VC) of UNISA, Puleng LenkaBula explained that the decision of the university to own an airport would strengthen innovation and job-ready skills.
The milestone, the VC said aligns with UNISA’s global growth in research and technical education.
The VC, who confirmed the acquisition of the 20-hectare facility, described it as a strategic investment to strengthen real-world training for students.
The VC disclosed this at a press briefing to highlight the university’s recent academic progress and rising global rankings.
According to LenkaBula , “The airport would serve as a launchpad for future innovators”, the enables the university 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.
Speaking on the bold move by the university to own an airport, sn Associate Professor in the College of Human Sciences, Boitumelo Senokoane, 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.
With this move, UNISA joins other notable universities who already own airports
Below are some of the universities that own airports:
- University of California, Davis – University Airport (EDU), California, USA
- Auburn University – Auburn University Regional Airport (AUO), Alabama, USA
- Purdue University – Purdue University Airport (LAF), Indiana, USA
- Kent State University – Kent State University Airport, Ohio, USA
- University of Oklahoma – Max Westheimer Airport, Oklahoma, USA
- Ohio State University
Courtesy: Business Insider Africa
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