Earlier this year Akademia shared the exciting news that by 2026 this higher education institution will be expanding its geographical footprint to the Western Cape. This expansion appeals to the institution’s new growth phase that led to the commissioning of an additional full-time campus in Centurion as well as the launch of two brand new live in residences.

According to Marthinus Visser, managing director of the institution, the Western Cape dream is taking shape quickly and the new satellite campus will probably be in the Paarl area. “We have already appointed an acting manager, Tony van der Merwe, for the Western Cape and the negotiations for a suitable location for the campus is at an advanced stage,” says Visser. An announcement in this regard will be made soon. In the meantime, tireless work is being done to meet the proposed infrastructure and capacity needs.

More exciting news is that Prof. Gawie du Toit, that is currently the dean of the Faculty of Education at Akademia will be of service as the head of the Western Cape campus. Since 2019, Du Toit occupies the dean’s position and has been actively involved in the higher education sector for more than 35 years as researcher, head of department, curriculum developer, programme director and senior manager.

Visser explains that the proposed satellite campus will add to the institution’s existing footprint in the Western Cape. Currently Akademia enjoys a presence, by means of centres, in George, the Paarl and Somerset West. These centres are used by students that study via the after-hours distance model. About student numbers, Visser hopes that there will be 1 500 students with the commencement of the campus. Furthermore, thirteen programmes will be presented over Akademia’s existing faculties and students will be able to choose between the institution’s dynamic teaching-learning models.

Mindful of Akademia’s commitment to the community, Visser is excited about the future impact that the institution and its students will have in the Western Cape. The latter speaks directly to the institution’s mission statement as an independent higher education institution that is closely committed to the Afrikaans language and cultural community.

More information on this exciting expansion will follow as the establishment process progresses.