University of South Africa

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 examing 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 in six faculties: Arts, Economic and Management Sciences, Law, Science, Education and Theology. Approximately 130,000 students are enrolled at Unisa.

At the time of writing (2001) Unisa is in a process of transformation that may see it merge with Technikon RSA[?] and the distance education component of Vista University[?]. The combined institution will probably be known as the Open Learning University of South Africa[?].

References:

• The University of South Africa website (http://www.unisa.ac.za)