There was a time when sending a message across the Unisa campus meant placing it in a departmental mailbox and waiting for a campus mailman to deliver it. Today, a single post on the university's social media platforms can reach millions of people within minutes.

Few people have witnessed that extraordinary transformation as closely as Dr Louise Schmidt, who has been part of the Unisa family since 1994. Over the past three decades, she has played an important role in helping the university embrace new technologies and reshape how it communicates with students, staff and the world.

Looking back on her journey, Schmidt reflects not only on how far technology has come but also on how Unisa has evolved into one of Africa's leading digitally connected universities.

When Schmidt joined Unisa in the early 1990s, the internet was virtually unknown in South Africa, and campus life looked very different.

Communication relied on an internal postal system. Every department had a mailbox, and messages were delivered by mailmen who followed daily routes across campus.

"I often joke that our campus life resembled an archaic postal service," Schmidt recalls. "If you wanted to reach someone, you either picked up the phone or walked across the campus."

It was a slower, more personal way of working, but one that seems almost unimaginable in today's connected world.

Dr Louise Schmidt

Schmidt began her career in the Department of Social Work, contributing to community development initiatives. However, as technology began changing the higher education landscape, new opportunities emerged.

Her move to the Department of Communication and Marketing marked the beginning of a new chapter. There, she became involved in coordinating web development across the university and started exploring how digital technology could improve communication and service delivery.

"As the internet gradually emerged, it got me thinking: how can we bring Unisa into this new digital age?" she says.

One of the defining milestones of her career was helping migrate the university's website onto a content management system. The move fundamentally changed how information was published and maintained, making it easier for staff to manage content while giving students better access to information.

The investments in technology soon began delivering tangible benefits.

The launch of myUnisa transformed the student experience by giving thousands of distance-learning students easier access to academic resources, study material and essential university services, regardless of where they lived.

Like any major digital transformation, the journey came with challenges.

"There were difficult periods within ICT as systems and structures evolved," Schmidt recalls. "But through teamwork and strong partnerships, we continued building the digital foundation that Unisa needed."

Those efforts helped position the university to meet the growing expectations of an increasingly digital student community.

As social media gained popularity, Unisa recognised another opportunity to connect with students in new and meaningful ways.

Around 2007, the university launched its first Facebook page.

"In the beginning, growth was gradual," Schmidt says. "But before long, it expanded rapidly, with different departments establishing their own social media presence."

Recognising the potential of digital engagement, Unisa partnered with Integrated Business Solutions to develop a comprehensive social media strategy that would shape the institution's online identity for years to come.

The results speak for themselves. Today, Unisa's social media platforms reach more than two million followers, connecting prospective students, current students, alumni and the broader public across platforms including Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.

The university's digital achievements have also earned national recognition. In 2024, Unisa received an award for having the country's best university website, a remarkable achievement for an institution whose digital story began with paper mail and campus couriers.

After more than 30 years of service, Schmidt remains as passionate about innovation as when she first started.

Before retiring, she hopes to see Unisa introduce an even more advanced instructional system that places students at the centre of the learning experience.

"My dream is to implement a separate instructional system that prioritises student needs," she says. "I'm hopeful that we will achieve this before I retire."

For Schmidt, technology has never been just about systems or software. It has always been about making education more accessible, strengthening communication and creating better opportunities for students.

"I have always believed in Unisa's mission to create pathways for learning and development," she reflects. "Despite the challenges, the excitement and privilege of working here have kept me motivated."

Her story mirrors Unisa's own journey, from a campus connected by mailboxes and handwritten messages to a globally recognised digital institution serving millions through technology. It is a reminder that behind every major transformation are dedicated people whose vision and commitment help shape the future.

* By Sipho Jack, Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement