University of Limpopo

This article is about the institution formerly known as the University of the North. For the institution with the same name in Colombia, see Universidad del Norte, Colombia.

University of Limpopo

Motto	The University of Limpopo for human and environmental wellness in a rural context; finding solutions for Africa!
Type	Public university
Established	1 January 2005 (by merger of existing institutions)
Vice-Chancellor	Prof. Mahlo Mokgalong
Location	Sovenga, Limpopo / Medunsa, Gauteng, South Africa
Website	http://www.ul.ac.za/

The University of Limpopo is a university in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2005, by the merger of the University of the North and the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA). These previous institutions form the Turfloop and MEDUNSA campuses of the university, respectively.

History

The University of the North was established in 1959 under the apartheid regime's policy of separate ethnically-based institutions of higher learning policy. The university was sited at Turfloop farm about 40 km east of Pietersburg. The town that grew around the university was named Sovenga, (Sotho, Venda, Tsonga) for the three ethnic groups that were supposed to study there. In reality, most inhabitants refer to the town as Mankweng, after one of the chiefs of the area. Under later apartheid, UNIN served as a "model" university where dignitaries were brought to show the "viability" of the separate facilities. As such, it received heavy government subsidies, but the real problem was that the students that the university supposedly served were so under-resourced in their standard education that the quality of instruction was placed under incredible demands.

The university was a center of resistance to apartheid in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s with the SADF occupying the grounds often during those years. After the end of apartheid, the university struggled through various re-organization and rationalization schemes, yet always managed to survive. Enrollment fluctuated wildly in the years after liberation and while some faculty did not transition very easily, others were able to seize upon the new opportunities.

The University of Limpopo is the result of a merger between the former Medical University of Southern Africa and the University of the North, which merger occurred on 1 January 2005.

The Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA) was established in 1976 to provide tertiary education and training facilities to the educationally disadvantaged in the fields of Medicine, Allied Health and Nursing Sciences, and Dentistry intended to meet the health needs of the country..

The Campus is situated to the north-west of Pretoria. Its grounds extend over some 350 ha adjoining the Ga-Rankuwa Township and are easily accessible by roads and rail. Regular bus and taxi services operate between Pretoria and Dr George Mukhari Hospital as well as between Mabopane and Medunsa.

The extension of University Education Act of 1959 made provision for the establishment of racially exclusive universities for black South Africans. Under the provisions of the Act, the University College of the North was established about thirty kilometres from the Limpopo Province town of Polokwane on 1 August 1959. The College was placed under the academic trusteeship of the University of South Africa. This formative relationship was maintained until the South African Parliament promulgated the University of the North Act (Act No. 47 of 1969) thus bringing to an end the College status as of 1 January 1970.

The University is in the foothills of the Hwiti (Wolkberg range) in Mankweng, midway between Polokwane and Magoebaskloof.

Ranking

Notable alumni

• Frank Chikane
• Cyril Ramaphosa

External links

• University of Limpopo website
• Turfloop campus website (previously University of the North website)
• Medunsa campus website (previously Medunsa website)

Foundation of Tertiary Institutions of the Northern Metropolis Members University of Johannesburg University of Limpopo North-West University University of Pretoria University of South Africa Tshwane University of Technology Vaal University of Technology University of Venda University of the Witwatersrand

South African universities University alliances CHEC FOTIM HESA SERA Public Traditional universities Cape Town Fort Hare Free State KwaZulu-Natal Limpopo North-West Pretoria Rhodes SMU Stellenbosch Western Cape Witwatersrand Comprehensive universities Johannesburg Nelson Mandela Unisa Venda Walter Sisulu Zululand Universities of technology Cape Peninsula Central Durban Mangosuthu Tshwane Vaal Planned universities Mpumalanga Sol Plaatje Private Design and Art Schools AFDA Inscape Design College The Open Window School of Visual Communication Theological seminaries College of the Transfiguration Auckland Park Theological Seminary Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa Doxa Deo School of Divinity George Whitefield College South African Theological Seminary Universities and colleges CIDA City Campus CTI Education Group Damelin IMM Graduate School of Marketing Midrand Graduate Institute Monash Regenesys Business School St Augustine College of South Africa Stenden University South Africa Related DHEAT SAQA Chancellors and vice-chancellors Endowment Rankings South African Technology Network Category List

South African business schools Business school alliances: South African Business Schools Association Eastern Cape Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School Rhodes Investec Business School - Rhodes University Free State University of the Free State Business School Gauteng CIDA City Campus Henley Business School South Africa Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) - University of Pretoria Milpark Business School Regenesys Business School Regent Business School Southern Business School Tshwane University of Technology Business School University of Johannesburg Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) - University of South Africa Wits Business School - University of the Witwatersrand KwaZulu-Natal University of KwaZulu-Natal Management College of Southern Africa Limpopo University of Limpopo North-West Graduate School of Business and Government Leadership - North-West University Potchefstroom Business School - North-West University Western Cape University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business University of Stellenbosch Business School Distance Varsity College School of Business and Technology Rankings

Coordinates: 23°53′10″S 29°44′17″E / 23.886°S 29.738°E / -23.886; 29.738