Each year, Unisa Press undertakes a rigorous selection process to identify and announce a book of exceptional academic merit for the prestigious Hiddingh-Currie Award. This long-standing tradition honours original scholarship that addresses critical societal needs and makes a significant contribution to its discipline. These annual awards recognise works of the highest academic merit and original scholarship published by Unisa Press.

The university celebrated these achievements at the Unisa Institutional, Research, Teaching and Engaged Scholarship Excellence Awards held on 8 December 2025. During the ceremony, the awards were officially handed to the winners in the presence of the director of Unisa Press, Dr Meiya Nthoesane.

Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Puleng LenkaBula, stated that these awards affirm the university's excellence and its impact on society. She further noted that the awards support Unisa’s long-term strategy to position itself as a centre of academic excellence that serves humanity.

Unisa Press is proud to recognise the winners of the 2023 and 2024 Hiddingh-Currie Awards:

2023 Winner: Transforming mathematics education

The 2023 award was presented to Brantina Chirinda, Patrick Barmby and Kakoma Luneta for their groundbreaking work, Mathematical problem solving in South Africa: Research and practice.

This publication offers a deep dive into the pedagogical shifts needed to improve mathematical literacy and problem-solving skills within the South African context. By bridging the gap between theoretical research and classroom practice, the authors provide a vital resource for educators and researchers striving for transformative change in STEM education. Mathematical problem solving in South Africa: Research and practice is written for researchers and mathematics education practitioners interested in quality research, methodological rigour and potentially transformative implications to assist them in understanding the teaching and learning of mathematical problem solving in South Africa.

2024 Winner: A personal and academic journey into housing

The 2024 award recognises Dr Salphinah Vuloyimuni Ubisi for her deeply impactful book, Vuloyimuni: How research on hostels, housing and intergovernmental relations took me to my roots.

From left: Mathabo Nakene-Mginqi, Chief Information Officer and Vice-Principal: Information & Communication Technology; Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor; Dr Salphinah Vuloyimuni Ubisi, Awardee; Dr Matshidiso Molapo, Acting Vice-Principal: Strategy, Risk and Advisory Services; and Dr Meiya Nthoesane, Director: Unisa Press

Ubisi’s work is a unique blend of autoethnography and rigorous public administration research. It traces her personal journey from selling second-hand clothing to fund her studies to her academic exploration of the systemic challenges in South African housing. The book is hailed for its "unique contribution to scholarship", speaking to both the intellect and the heart. Ubisi’s book is a microcosm of the weaknesses of the South African tender system, which led to incomplete housing projects with extreme structural defects, illegal occupation, the illegal selling of the houses and vandalism.

Watch a recording of the ceremony

Explore the winning works:

• Mathematical problem solving in South Africa
• Vuloyimuni: How research on hostels, housing and intergovernmental relations took me to my roots

Unisa Press continues to illuminate the publishing space and remains the top scholarly publisher in Africa. It has significant distribution partners, such as Takealot and Exclusive Books at local level, and EBSCO and Cambridge at international level.

Mathematical problem solving in South Africa is sold for R236, and Vuloyimuni: How research on hostels, housing and intergovernmental relations took me to my roots for R250. These books can be ordered from the official Unisa Press website.

* Submitted by the Unisa Press Marketing Team