Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

"Nelson Mandela University" redirects here. For other tertiary education institutions, see Nelson Mandela School.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Former names	University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth Technikon, Vista University PE campus and Saasveld Forestry College
Motto	For Tomorrow
Type	Public
Established	1 January 2005 (merger of existing institutions)
Chancellor	Santie Botha
Vice-Chancellor	Professor Derrick Swartz
Administrative staff	4,000
Students	27,000
Undergraduates	23,000
Postgraduates	4,000
Location	Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape and George, Western Cape, South Africa 34.009°S 25.67°E / -34.009; 25.67
Campus	6 - 5 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape and 1 in George, Western Cape
Colours	Navy Blue and White with a touch of dark red
Nickname	Madibaz
Mascot	Diba the dolphin
Affiliations	IAU, AAU, HESA, ACU
Website	nmmu.ac.za

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) is a South African tertiary education institution with its main administration in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth. NMMU was founded through a merger of three institutions in January 2005, but its history dates back to 1882, with the foundation of the Port Elizabeth Art School. The University draws international students from all over the world. There are over 3000 international students, including students from the United States, France, China, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and many African countries.

NMMU is a comprehensive university offering professional and vocational training. The University has six campuses – five in Port Elizabeth and one in George. The main campus is the South Campus. Students at NMMU can study towards diplomas and degrees up to and including doctoral level qualifications. A number of courses include workplace experience as part of the curriculum. English is the university's medium of instruction.

History and formation

Main articles: University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth Technikon and Vista University

Plans for NMMU where first revealed in 2002, by then Minister of Education, Kader Asmal. The proposal was a part of larger plan to restructure higher education in South Africa.

NMMU was formed in 2005 through the merger of the Port Elizabeth Technikon, and the University of Port Elizabeth. In 2004, prior to the merger, UPE had taken control of the Port Elizabeth Campus of Vista University. PE Technikon had a satellite campus in George, which was also merged.

PE Technikon had its roots in the Port Elizabeth Art School, which founded in 1882 and was the oldest art school in South Africa, and was situated in Russell Road, Central. It was later renamed the College for Advanced Technical Education (CATE). The college moved to University Way in Summerstrand in 1974, and became a technikon in 1979.

Saasveld Forestry College was founded as the Tokai School for Forest Apprentices in 1912 in Cape Town. The school was an offshoot of the South African College Schools. In 1932, it moved to its current location, between George and Knysna. The campus was taken over by PE Technikon from the Department of Agriculture in 1985.

The Port Elizabeth Teachers' Training College was located in 2nd Avenue, Summerstrand. It was taken over by PE Technikon in 1994, and became known as the College Campus.

The Algoa College of Education was situated in Struandale, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) away from Summerstrand. It became part of the PE Technikon in 2001, and was known as the Algoa Campus.

In 2001, the George Campus was added to by purchasing Hurteria Building in the city centre.

UPE was the country's first dual-medium (English and Afrikaans) residential university. It was founded in 1964 via an act of parliament, with its first academic year in 1965.

Vista was founded in 1981. The Port Elizabeth campus was built in 1982, with its first academic year in 1983. The campus was completed in 1991, and in 2004, it was taken over by UPE.

Governance and administration

The ceremonial head of the university is the Chancellor, who, in the name of the university, confers all qualifications. The Vice-Chancellor is responsible for the day-to-day running of the university. Deputy Vice-Chancellors for Research and Engagement, Teaching and Learning, Institutional Support as well as the Registrar, acting as the Secretary to the University's Council, assist the Vice-Chancellor in his duties. There is an Executive Dean for each faculty, as well as teaching and learning. Other management committee positions are the Dean of Students, and campus principals for the Missionvale and George campuses.

The current Chancellor is Santie Botha, appointed in 2010, and the current Vice-Chancellor is Professor Derrick Swartz, who was appointed in 2008. The current George Campus principal is Professor Quinton Johnson, who was appointed in April 2013. and the current Missionvale campus principal is Dr Phakama Ntshongwana.

Former office bearers

• Pius Langa (Chancellor, 2006–2010)
• Dr RH Stumpf (interim Vice-Chancellor)
• NA Ogude (acting Vice-Chancellor)

Campuses

The university currently uses six campuses. Five of them are located in Port Elizabeth, and one is in George. The South, North and Second Avenue campuses are all situated in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth close to the beach.

South Campus

The South Campus is the main campus of NMMU, having previously been used by UPE. It was built on 830 hectares (2,100 acres) of land donated by the then Port Elizabeth City Council, the campus was declared a nature reserve in 1983. It is the only university campus in South Africa to be situated on a nature reserve and the only university to offer game drives on its campus.

North Campus

The North Campus is located adjacent to the South Campus. It is home to NMMU's Vice-Chancellor, and was the main campus of PE Technikon before the merger.

2nd Avenue Campus

The campus was the PE Technikon's College Campus, and is now used for various diploma programmes. It houses the university's Business School ( a "green" building) as well as the Archives and Exhibition Centre.

Missionvale Campus

The campus is located between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage. It was the PE campus of Vista University, and houses the largest indoor venue in the Province.

Bird Street Campus

The campus was used by Rhodes University, prior to becoming the initial campus of the University of Port Elizabeth. It is located in PE's central business district. It was recently home to the university's Business School but is soon (2015) to becoming the university's art hub.

George Campus

The George Campus is located 8 km outside the city centre (between George and Knysna) and specialises in environmental studies, partiuclary Forestry, Nature Conservation and Game Ranch Management.

Faculties

NMMU has seven faculties, each made up of different schools.

Faculty of Arts

The faculty is made up of three schools, and offers courses on the South Campus.

• School of Architecture
• School of Governmental and Social Sciences
• School of Language, Media & Culture
• School of Music, Art & Design

Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences

The faculty is made up of five schools, and offers courses on the 2nd Avenue, George, Missionvale and South Campuses. In addition, the Business School offers its Master of Business Administration program at satellite facilities in Cape Town, Centurion and East London. The MBA program received a four star rating (the highest possible) from Eduniversal.

• Business School
• School for Industrial Psychology and Human Resources
• School of Accounting
• School of Economics, Development and Tourism
• School of Management Sciences

Faculty of education

The faculty is made up of three schools, and offers courses on the 2nd Avenue and South Campuses.

• School for Initial Teacher Education
• School for Continuing Professional Development
• School for Education Research & Engagement

Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology

The faculty is made up of three schools, and offers courses on the North and South Campuses.

• School of Engineering
• School of Information and Communication Technology
• School of the Built Environment

Faculty of Health Sciences

The faculty is made up of four schools, and offers courses on the South Campus.

• School of Behavioural Sciences
• School of Clinical Care Sciences
• School of Lifestyle Sciences
• School of Medicinal Sciences

Faculty of Law

The Faculty of law is a stand-alone faculty, and offers courses on the South Campus.

Faculty of Science

The faculty is made up of four schools, and offers courses on the North and South Campuses.

• School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences
• School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics
• School of Environmental Sciences
• School of Natural Resource Management

Library

NMMU Library and Information Services encompasses the university's six libraries. The libraries are located on the universities South, North, Second Avenue, Business School and George campus, with the main administration run from the South Campus library. All of the libraries use the Library of Congress Classification system for their books, and share a common university data base.

Students and staff

In 2014 there were 27 000, students enrolled at the university. The student body's racial make up is 59% Black, 25% White, 14% Coloured and 2% Asian. Students from other African countries make up 6.5% of the student body, with a further 1.5% coming from non-African countries.

The university employed 4063 staff members. Their racial make up is 69% White, 28% Black, 2.6% Coloured and 0.4% Asian.

Newspaper- NMMYou

The NMMYou is the university's student run newspaper. The newspaper, released monthly takes the form of an electronic newspaper, tying in with the green image and footprint of the University as a whole. A dedicated team covers various categories and topics, including the covering of news, sport as well as various lifestyle tips and things to do in the Port Elizabeth area.

Student life

The university has number of residences. Oceana is situated on the 2nd Avenue campus, and houses men and women. There are two residences on the North Campus, Letaba houses male students, while Lebombo houses female students. The South Campus has four residences. Melodi, which houses first year women, Veritas, for senior women, Xanadu, first year men, and Unitas, for senior men and women. The South Campus also offers housing for postgraduate students. The student village, situated between the North and South campuses, also offers student housing. Off campus accommodation is provided at the Laboria Residence, and Digs @ Military in Central, Port Elizabeth. The George campus has four main residences, as well as 21 student houses on campus.

Sport

• Athletics: The athletics club is based at Xerox NMMU Sports Stadium, on the South Campus. The stadium has an all-weather running track and is flood lit.
• Basketball: The NMMU basketball club has an arena, with approximately 5000 seats, in indoor centre, located on the Missionvale Campus. As of 2013, the club has two men's teams and one women's team. The teams play in the USSA Eastern Cape League.
• Cricket: The NMMU cricket club plays in the Eastern Province Super League, the highest league in Port Elizabeth. It has a cricket field located at the Summerstrand South Campus and at the 2nd Avenue Campus. The current club and its predecessors has produced national cricketers Ashwell Prince, Robin Peterson, Wayne Parnell and Simon Harmer.
• Golf: The University is situated right next to Humewood Golf Club (though located in Summerstrand). NMMU students get special incentives at the Humewood Golf Club, if they are registered with the NMMU Golf Club.
• Hockey: The Port Elizabeth hockey club is based on the North Campus, which has an Astro turf hockey pitch, with flood-lights. The team plays in the Eastern Province Premier League. The George campus has a hockey club based at York High School
• Netball: The 2nd Avenue and South campuses have outdoor netball courts. Netball is also played at the Indoor Sports Centres on Missionvale and South campuses. The netball team competes in the Varsity Sports Netball competition.
• Rugby: The rugby club is based at the Xerox NMMU Sports Stadium on the South Campus. NMMU participates in the FNB Varsity Cup, for universities, as well as the Eastern Province Grand Challenge, a club championship.
• Soccer: The Xerox NMMU Sports Stadium is the home to NMMU F.C.. The club plays in the Varsity Sports Football challenge and the Port Elizabeth Football Association Premier Division. The stadium was used as a training venue during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Residence soccer leagues exist.
• Tennis: The NMMU Tennis club has tennis courts located on all campuses. On the South Campus, there are 14 tennis courts at the tennis complex.
• Other sports:
  • Indoor sports include: aerobics, underwater hockey, bodybuilding (NMMU has an on campus gym and its own Biokinetics & Sport Science Unit/Centre), indoor swimming, boxing, chess, dance, judo, karate, squash and table tennis.
  • Outdoor sports include: surfing, bodyboarding, hiking, rowing, softball, swimming, volleyball, badminton, archery and horse-racing.

Notable alumni and staff

• Dave Richardson – ICC general manager and former Proteas cricket player
• Adv Kemp J Kemp – Jacob Zuma's lawyer
• Eben Venter – Afrikaans novelist and master's graduate
• Jenni Button – fashion designer
• André Vos – former Springbok captain
• Dr Bridgette Gasa – youngest member of the National Planning Commission
• Garth Wright – former Springbok
• Alan Knott-Craig (Jnr) – technology entrepreneur
• Styli Charalambous – CEO and publisher of Daily Maverick
• Nashwa Eassa
• Mark Richter – Director of IT at Amano McGann

External links

• Official NMMU Website
• NMMyou Publication Website