Frankfurt, 22. April 2026. UNISA and Messe Frankfurt South Africa formalise an MoU at Techtextil and Texprocess that will bring Africa's academic voice into the heart of South Africa's most prominent trade exhibitions.
At a signing ceremony held on the sidelines of Techtextil and Texprocess - two of the world's foremost textiles and textile technologies trade fairs hosted in Frankfurt by Messe Frankfurt GmbH - the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Messe Frankfurt South Africa (MFSA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding that formally recognises what both institutions have long understood: making South Africa's knowledge economy visible and enabling interaction with industry.
The agreement was signed by Professor Puleng LenkaBula, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UNISA, and Mr Michael Dehn, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt South Africa in the presence of Mr Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board, Messe Frankfurt GmbH.
“Trade fairs create visibility beyond markets. They are places where new perspectives enter global conversations. By bringing African academia and industry into closer exchange on these platforms, we strengthen international visibility and highlight the growing role of African knowledge and talent in shaping future industries,” said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board, Messe Frankfurt GmbH.
Education, industry, and public life in South Africa are most powerful when they speak to each other. With this partnership we develop a framework to enable this dialogue,” added Michael Dehn, Managing Director, Messe Frankfurt South Africa.
UNISA is the only African university to have signed an agreement with Messe Frankfurt. It is also the only university to have participated in the Messe Frankfurt Techtextil fair; demonstrating the institution’s commitment to building formidable strategic partnerships that advance its catalytic niche areas, including Aviation and Aeronautical Studies, Automotive Studies, and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and Digitalisation, for the mutual benefit of both institutions.
UNISA is not a conventional university. With over 400 000 students enrolled across South Africa, Africa, and the wider world, it is the largest Comprehensive Open Distance eLearning institution on the African continent, and the longest-standing dedicated distance education university. Its students are working adults, entrepreneurs, healthcare workers, engineers, and public servants who are building the country in real time while earning the qualifications that sharpen how they do it. UNISA meets them where they are.
The collaboration is already beginning to be visible in two areas of the MFSA events portfolio. At AERO South Africa, the continent's premier general aviation trade show, held annually at Lanseria International Airport, UNISA's growing aviation research profile will find a natural platform, one made more compelling by the institution's recent acquisition of an airport site near Pretoria. This year’s show will be held from 10-12 June 2026. At AllFashion Sourcing in Cape Town, UNISA students will participate in the Young Designers Competition, bringing academic mentorship and creative talent into one of the city's most forward-looking fashion industry gatherings. And across the broader event portfolio, UNISA's senior leadership will contribute research perspectives and expert inputs at CEO Breakfast sessions and high-level conference discussions - the kind of industry-facing engagements where policy, practice, and knowledge meet. The 2026 AllFashion Sourcing event will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 14-16 July 2026.
“Unisa’s vision is an African university in the service of humanity. That vision lives in the industries, communities, and creative sectors that our students are part of every day. This partnership with Messe Frankfurt South Africa opens new spaces for our knowledge to make a real difference.” Professor LenkaBula.
The choice of Frankfurt as the signing location is itself a statement. Techtextil and Texprocess are among the world's most internationalised trade platforms: events that draw buyers, innovators, and policymakers from across the globe. That two South African institutions chose this stage to formalise an African education and industry partnership speaks to the ambition behind the MoU: this is a collaboration designed to be seen, and to grow.
For a country whose trade exhibition sector and higher education system have historically operated in parallel, this MoU marks something worth noting: the beginning of a more deliberate conversation between the places where South Africa learns and the places where South Africa does business.
About UNISA
The University of South Africa is the largest comprehensive open distance eLearning university in Africa and the longest-standing dedicated distance education university in the world. With over 400 000 students enrolled in South Africa, across the African continent, and internationally, UNISA provides accredited teaching and learning, research, innovation, and engaged scholarship across eight colleges.
About Messe Frankfurt South Africa
Messe Frankfurt South Africa is the local subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, one of the world's leading organisers of trade fairs, congresses, and events. With a team of over 30 professionals in show management, marketing, sales, and operations, MFSA organises Automechanika Johannesburg, Festival of Motoring, AERO South Africa, AllFashion Sourcing Cape Town, Hobby-X and Solar Power Africa.
https://za.messefrankfurt.com/johannesburg/en.html
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
www.messefrankfurt.com/background-information
