UNISA Enterprise (Pty) Ltd (UE) was established in 2016 through a Council Resolution to consolidate all third-stream income initiatives. As part of this process, the Bureau of Market Research (BMR) was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of UE.
As a 100% UNISA-owned entity, UE operates as a distinct legal entity separate from the university. Today, the UE Group of Companies—including BMR and UNISA Catering Services (UCS)—employs approximately 80 people and generates an annual revenue of around R50 million.
The university primarily relies on tuition fees and government funding for revenue. To achieve financial sustainability, it must diversify its income streams. UE is responsible for driving this third-stream income mandate, playing a critical role in supporting UNISA’s long-term financial stability and ensuring the continuation of quality education and development programs.
UE’s governance structure includes a Board of Directors consisting of 5-8 members, including representatives from the UNISA Council and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The Board oversees the company’s strategy, business activities, and operations across all its entities.
Dedicated to strong governance and financial integrity, UE has consistently received unqualified audit opinions since its inception. Through this structure, UE reports to UNISA on various operational and financial aspects, ensuring transparency and alignment with the university’s broader objectives.
Focus Areas
- Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD): We specialise in training, capacity building, and venture creation.
- Media Advisory Services: The division provides a range of services including Public Relations and Marketing, Printing, Media Buying and others.
- ICT: Through strategic partnerships with reputable original equipment manufacturers, UE delivers an array of ICT solutions and training services.
- Research and Innovation: BMR, a wholly owned subsidiary of Unisa Enterprise, stands as a leading research entity in South Africa.
- UNISA Catering Services (UCS): Unisa Enterprise, through its subsidiary Unisa Catering Services, operates catering facilities across multiple university campuses and offers catering services for events such as functions and conferences.
Unisa Enterprise; shaping the African future through skills enhancement, the elevation of creativity and innovation.
Our Vision
Shape the future by turning knowledge and ideas into tangible actions.
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Our Mission
Foster a collaborative culture in fast-forward world, with the focus is to drive real entrepreneurship and commercialisation by building a stronger network with the outside world. This means creating a deep connection with the community of industries – employees, customers, partners, academia and governments.
Our Values
• Agility
• Entrepreneurial
• Partnership
• Impact
• Innovation
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Value Proposition
The focus of UNISA Enterprise is to empower business, government, individuals and youth with sustainable solutions that can be used practically. By collaborating with key stakeholders through the exchange of ideas, we are determined to address societal needs and challenges.
Operational Model
Panel of Experts
Unisa Enterprise collaborates with experts from different fields to engage, and pinpoint specialized services that will cater for a wide variety of projects across multiple industries.
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Spin-off Companies
Ideas and projects that are incubated and become sufficiently developed are commercialized by Unisa Enterprise; these ideas and projects are housed in self sustaining entities and ultimately become a subsidiary of Unisa Enterprise.
Collaboration
In the event of a skills, industry experise and funding scarcity, Unisa Enterprise collaborates and partners with external parties through a mutual understanding and agreement that will ensure the delivery of skills and products.
Some of Our Clients and Collaborations
