Port Elizabeth’s University

If you know students, are a student, want to become a student, or ever have been a student, you have probably heard about the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University – or at least the University of Port Elizabeth. This is what it was called before its merger with PE Technikon and the Port Elizabeth branch of Vista University. What you might not know is that its history is bursting with surprises.

The Nelson Mandela Metro’s enormous university promises to marry the best of what was historically deemed ‘technikon’ and ‘university’ -educations. It also brings with it the expertise and rich histories of all three institutions.

The one part of the NMMU, previously called PE Technikon, started out more than a century ago as South Africa’s oldest art school. It was originally named the PE Art School – almost one hundred and thirty years ago – in 1882.

Also adding to the rich tapestry of times gone by, is the institution previously called UPE – the University of Port Elizabeth. It was the first residential university in South Africa to boast dual-medium lectures, and it opened its doors in 1964. The University’s original campus (now called South Campus), is built on an immense 830 ha of land, in a nature reserve on the coast of Port Elizabeth.

The final addition to the trinity that forms the Nelson Mandela University was previously known as Vista University. This facility for higher education filled a vital role: that of providing affordable, reachable education in township areas. This enabled many socially and economically disadvantaged students educational opportunities only previously dreamed of.

With three diverse backgrounds, three surprising histories, approximately 25 thousand students and 2500 staff members, the institutions pulled off another incredible feat and merged in 2005.

They now thrive, as one, in a democratic era, in the form of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

Related Links on Port-Elizabeth.net

• Summerstrand

  More about the Summerstrand, located close to the University.

Related External Links

• The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

  The home site of The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University – Port Elizabeth’s main tertiary learning institution.