University of South Africa

The University of South Africa (Unisa, pronounced you-nee-sah) is the largest university on the African continent and attracts a third of all higher education students in South Africa. The university has a student headcount of over 300,000 students, including African and international students in 130 countries worldwide, making it one of the world's mega universities.

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Unisa is a dedicated open distance education institution. Open distance learning (ODL) entails a student-centred approach that gives students flexibility and choice over what, when, where, and how they learn, and provides them with extensive student support.

As a comprehensive university, Unisa offers both vocational and academic programmes, many of which have received international accreditation, as well as an extensive geographical footprint, giving their students recognition and employability in many countries the world over.


History

Founded in 1873 as the University of the Cape of Good Hope, the University of South Africa (or Unisa as it is commonly known) spent most of its early history as an examining agency for Oxford and Cambridge universities and as an incubator from which most other universities in South Africa are descended. In 1946, it was given a new role as a distance education university and today it offers certificate, diploma and degree courses up to doctoral level.

Largely because it was a distance education university, it remained multiracial during the years of apartheid in South Africa. In January 2004, Unisa merged with Technikon Southern Africa (formerly known as Technikon SA) and incorporated the distance education component of Vista University. The combined institution retained the name University of South Africa, unlike other merged institutions, which underwent name changes. It is now organised by college and by school; see below.
The University
Unisa Muckleneuk campus at night
Location

Unisa's Muckleneuk Campus is located in Pretoria and is a major landmark of the capital city. It was in 1972 that Unisa moved into its new home on Muckleneuk Ridge having vacated the old quarters in central Pretoria. The complex of buildings was designed by Bryan Sandrock Architects in the 1960s and expresses an international style characterised by monumental proportions and engineering feats like the cantilevered structures. The most striking feature is the long projection from the brow of the hill, supported by a giant steel girder resting on a massive column.

Also in Pretoria is the Sunnyside campus, the main area of student activity. The Florida campus in Johannesburg is set to become Unisa's science hub. The College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and some departments of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology are already situated there.

The university has seven regional centres in South Africa, servicing students in all nine provinces. These are:

    Eastern Cape (East London, Mthatha, Port Elizabeth)
    Gauteng (Ekurhuleni, Florida, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Vaal Triangle)
    Kwazulu-Natal (Durban, New Castle, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, Wild Coast)
    Limpopo (Giyani, Makhado, Polokwane)
    Midlands (Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Kroonstad, Mafikeng, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg)
    Mpumalanga (Middelburg, Nelspruit)
    Western Cape (Cape Town, George)

Students and staff

According to the Department of Institutional Statistics and Analysis (DISA) at the university, Unisa had 328,179 students enrolled in 2011 from South Africa, Africa, and other international states. The largest portion of these students are South African, being 91.5% (300,211) of the sum of the student enrollments. The majority of these students enrolled at the College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS), being 42.5% (139,358) of the sum of the student enrollments.

According to the same department, Unisa had 5,575 staff members in 2011. The majority of the staff employed are non-professional administrative staff, being 56.8% (3,164). The number of institutional/research professionals are 33.2% (1,846) of the sum of the staff employed.
Academic Community

As an Open Distance Learning (ODL) institution, and one of the world’s mega universities, Unisa presents academic offerings associated with both technological and traditional universities. These include, but are not limited to, a combination of career-orientated courses usually associated with a university of technology, and formative academic programmes typically linked to a traditional university.

    College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
    College of Education
    College of Economic and Management Sciences
    College of Graduate Studies
    College of Human Sciences
    College of Law
    College of Science, Engineering and Technology
    Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL)

In addition to the seven colleges and SBL, Unisa has numerous Bureaus, Centres, Institutes, Museums and Units supporting academic development and research.


Distance education at Unisa
Accreditation

Unisa received a Royal Charter in 1877. It currently operates under the Statute of the University of South Africa issued in terms of the Higher Education Act (No. 101 of 1997), and is accredited by the South African Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education (CHE). Its qualifications (including those of the SBL) are registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
International Accreditation of Unisa’s qualifications

Unisa is inter alia listed in the following publications: International Handbook of Universities published by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and officially verified by the International Association of Universities.

In other cases the publication of an institution’s name in specific authoritative publications forms the basis of accreditation. Students must however enquire from the specific foreign country/university whether Unisa’s qualifications are accredited/recognised.

Internationally, Unisa is listed in the Commonwealth Universities Handbook of 1999 and also in the International Handbook of Universities of 1998.

On 12 January 2002, Unisa was granted full institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The accreditation lapsed in March 2007, and Unisa did not pursue renewal.
Entrance requirements

Students need a school-leaving qualification that would entitle them to enter a university or college in their own country.
Advantages

Market research has shown that Unisa is rated as one of the top universities in South Africa (2001) - Unisa qualifications are sought after in the marketplace.

    Courses are offered at one-quarter to one-third the price of residential universities;
    Courses are accessible as students who do not have a university entrance matric can register for Unisa's access programme;
    Courses are flexible, because students can plan their studies to fit into their lifestyles;
    The qualifications are credible, because of the international recognition afforded its qualifications.