| Monash University, South Africa | |
|---|---|
| Established | 2001 |
| Type | Private † |
| Vice-Chancellor | Tyrone Pretorius |
| Location | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Website | http://www.monash.ac.za/ |
| † Monash is considered a private higher education provider in the South African context, although it is a public university in Victoria. | |
Monash University's South Africa campus was opened in 2001. It was first foreign university established in South Africa. It is located on a 100 hectare site in Ruimsig in north-west Johannesburg, in the province of Gauteng. It has been described by one high-ranking Australian official as Australia's most significant partnership with Africa in any sphere.[1]
The student mix at Monash South Africa is diverse. In addition to domestic (South African) students, the campus is also home to many students from other African states who are funded by government bursaries. For example, a large number of students from Botswana attend the university. Furthermore, the number of students on exchange from Monash's Australian and Malaysian campuses makes it one of the most ethnically diverse universities in Africa. Many students live in the on-campus accommodation.[2]
The campus is wholly owned by Monash University. The current Pro Vice-Chancellor of the South Africa campus is Professor Tyrone Pretorius, a psychologist who has previously held research and administrative positions at the University of the Western Cape and Yale University.[3]
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Beginning in the 1990s, Monash University began an extensive internationalisation program. Vice-Chancellor at the time, David Robinson, aspired for Monash to have campuses on every continent.[4] The University's Malaysia Campus was the first of these, with plans for an African campus developing in the late 1990s. In 2001, it became the first international university to gain registration to operate in South Africa.[5]
The plan was initially opposed by some of the staff at Monash's Australian campuses, who were concerned that millions was being poured into overseas ventures, while staff were being made redundant in Australia.[6]
The campus has expanded rapidly since its establishment in 2001. In its first intake, Monash South Africa took on just over 100 students. By 2008, there were over 2200 students, and the University is rapidly expanding the campus to keep up with a demand for places which is increasing by 35% per year. A new library and learning commons were opened in 2007. Initially, the campus taught only a limited range of undergraduate degrees. In 2006, honours programs were introduced, to be followed by Masters and PhD programs in 2008.
The University is also developing the campus' research capacity, developing research nodes in water, injury prevention and global movements. Its research output (various projects and scholarly publications) is increasing, with the ambition of becoming one of the most research-intensive universities in Africa.[7]
Monash University South Africa offers undergraduate courses in three faculties. In 2008, Masters and PhD programs were introduced. Currently, the faculties at Monash South Africa are:
Many student volunteers at the Campus also run Saturday classes for children in the local Zandspruit settlement.[8]
The campus is located in Ruimsig, which is 25 km north-west of central Johannesburg. It is a purpose-built, greenfield, 100 hectare campus, which contains among the most modern and state of the art technologies of any Monash University campus. The campus also has extensive sporting facilities, including basketball and volleyball courts, and a field for rugby, soccer and hockey.[9]
The establishment of the campus has led to significant development in the local area, with several shopping centres, sporting and leisure facilities opening since 2001. The local area also contains substantial accommodation for those students who do not live on-campus.
Monash South Africa is wholly owned by Monash University Australia, which is a public university incorporated under an Act of the Parliament of Victoria. Monash South Africa itself is registered with the South African Department of Education as a private higher education provider, and an incorporated, not-for-gain association.[10]
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