Unisa postgrads awarded prestigious aerospace internship in China

Following a rigorous and highly competitive selection process, Elisep Mogapi, a doctoral candidate at the Unisa Centre for Astrophysics and Space studies (UCASS), and Nomcebo Sekgoto, a master’s degree candidate at the Centre for Augmented Intelligence and Data Science (CAIDS), both in Unisa’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology, have been selected to participate in the winter internship programme with STAR.VISION, a leading company in aerospace and AI technologies in Hangzhou, China. Their internship will run for a duration of six months.

The programme offers hands-on training on aerospace projects, guidance from experienced mentors, and collaboration on projects in aerospace, space engineering, AI, and related fields. The two Unisans will also collaborate with a diverse, international cohort of engineers and scientists.

“Being selected for this internship provides me with a great opportunity to align my Master of Science in Computing research project with world-class aerospace innovation,” says Sekgoto, reflecting on her selection for the programme.

She continues: “Through this experience, I aim to bridge the gap between satellite technology and terrestrial infrastructure resilience. My goal is to return with advanced technical frameworks that support South Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution objectives and Unisa’s leadership in digital systems.”

Sekgoto’s research, supervised by Professor Ernest Mnkandla, Head of CAIDS at Unisa, and Professor James Chibueze, Distinguished Professor and Head of UCASS, focuses on developing a machine learning (ML) framework for predictive maintenance of ageing energy infrastructure.

"What makes this particularly meaningful is STAR.VISION’s emphasis on AI-enabled satellite systems and space-based data processing," Mogapi notes. "Being part of such a forward-looking environment motivates me to deepen my understanding of how advanced technologies can transform Earth observation. This selection recognises my background in physics and my passion for applying data science to real-world space applications."

In August 2025, Unisa cemented relations with STAR.VISION through a memorandum of understanding that was signed as a key component of advancing space studies research and related activities within the institution through the design, development, testing, and deployment of advanced AI algorithms for remote-sensing satellites.

Unisa continues to "shoot for the stars," ensuring that its students remain competitive and are equipped to lead in the global knowledge arena. 

* By Dr Nozipho N Madzivha, Communication and Marketing Specialist (acting), College of Science, Engineering and Technology