Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Motto For Tomorrow
Type Public
Chancellor Mrs Santie Botha
Vice-Chancellor Professor Derrick Swartz
Admin. staff 4,160
Students 22,652
Undergraduates 19,768
Postgraduates 2,884
Location Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape and George, Western Cape, South Africa
Campus suburban
Former names University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth Technikon, Vista University PE campus
Colors Dark Blue, Red and White
Nickname Madibaz
Mascot Diba the dolphin
Affiliations IAU, AAU, HESA, ACU
Website www.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. The merger creating the NMMU was realized in January 2005 but its history dates back to 1882 with the foundation of Port Elizabeth Art School. The merger brought together the University of Port Elizabeth, the Port Elizabeth Technikon and the Port Elizabeth campus of Vista University. The University draws international students from all over the world. There are over 3000 international students and include students from the United States, France, China, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and many other 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. Questions have been raised regarding safety on the main campus [1] It has a 21-storey administration building. 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.

Contents

History, formation and campus developments

NMMU was formed through the merger of the following institutions: The PE Technikon, which had its roots in the Port Elizabeth Art School founded in 1882 (the oldest art school in South Africa). The institution later became the College for Advanced Technical Education (CATE). The college moved from Central to the coastal suburb of Summerstrand in 1974 and became the PE Technikon in 1979. The PE Technikon expanded to the Western Cape in 1985 when it took over the College for Forestry, Saasveld, from the Department of Forestry. The Teachers’ Training College, located opposite The Boardwalk Waterfront Complex [2] in Summerstrand, was taken over by the Technikon in 1994.

The University of Port Elizabeth (UPE) was the country’s first dual-medium (English and Afrikaans) residential university, came into being on 31 January 1964, and was assisted by financing and donations of land from the Broederbond. The first academic year commenced on 1 March 1965. UPE moved from Central to Summerstrand in 1974. The campus was officially opened in August 1975 and the final move from Bird Street came in 1979 with the opening of the science blocks at Summerstrand. The University of Port Elizabeth's campus is now what is the NMMU Summerstrand South Campus. The Summertrand South campus, is the largest campus of any university in the southern hemisphere of the world. Built on 830 ha of land donated by the then Port Elizabeth City Council, the campus was declared a nature reserve in 1983. It is the only university in South Africa to be situated on a nature reserve and the only university to offer game drives on its campus. The downside of being located on a wildlife reserve is that students are often attacked by monkeys. Three of the five Port Elizabeth campuses are situated close to Humewood Beach which has been awarded blue flag status.

NMMU's campuses are:

Ranking

In 2011, Webometrics ranked the university(Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) the 10th best in South Africa and 1586th in the world.[3]

Faculties

NMMU has the following faculties:

Sports

Notable alumni and staff

References

External links