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Unisa History
Unisa is 150 years old!
Unisa is the direct descendant of South Africa’s first university — the University of the Cape of Good Hope (UCGH), which was established in 1873 by an act of the Cape Colony’s Parliament. UCGH was modelled after the University of London, which focused on setting academic standards and conducting examinations for associated ‘university colleges’ rather than direct teaching.
Following the unification of South Africa’s colonies under a single government in 1910, UCGH was tasked with overseeing university colleges across the country. In 1916, it was renamed the ‘University of South Africa’ (Unisa) and relocated to Pretoria in 1918. Unisa played a crucial role as a dedicated examination centre for many of the institutions that now constitute South Africa’s major independent universities.
In 1946, as the last of Unisa’s colleges moved towards independence, Unisa initiated ‘postal tuition’. Since then, it has evolved into one of the world’s largest distance learning institutions, serving 400 000 students across approximately 130 countries.
Unisa’s history closely parallels South Africa’s modern journey, encompassing shifts from colonialism into apartheid and eventually democracy. Throughout, this tumultuous history Unisa has reflected the nations complexities. It has simultaneously adhered to successive state ideologies while also providing academic opportunities to opponents of the state, most notably the imprisoned Nelson Mandela.
Unisa Vision
The Unisa community is inspired by its vision to become the African university shaping futures in the service of humanity.
Our vision defines everything that we do. It describes our wish to serve every country on the African continent and the broader global community while transcending language and cultural barriers. We are 100% committed to the communities and individuals we serve.
Unisa Mission
We are clear on our mission to be a comprehensive, open, distance and e-Learning (CODeL) institution that produces excellent scholarship and research, provides quality tuition and fosters active community engagement. We are guided by the principles of life-long learning, student-centeredness, innovation and creativity. Through our efforts, we contribute to the knowledge and information society, advance development, nurture a critical citizenry and ensure global sustainability.
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