Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

History and formation

Plans for NMMU where first revealed in 2002, by then Minister of Education, Kader Asmal. The proposal was a part of larger plan to restructure higher education in South Africa. The first step in the merger came with the incorporation of Vista PE by UPE on January 2, 2004 followed by the merger of PE Technikon and UPE on January 1, 2005.

NMMU was formed in 2005 through the merger of the Port Elizabeth Technikon, and the University of Port Elizabeth. In 2004, prior to the merger, UPE had taken control of the Port Elizabeth Campus of Vista University. PE Technikon had a satellite campus in George, which was also merged. The first Chancellor of the university was Chief Justice Pius Langa and Justice Ronnie Pillay was the first Chairperson of Council. Dr Rolf Stumpf was the first Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of the university, who was then succeeded by Professor Derrick Swartz on January 1, 2008.

PE Technikon

PE Technikon had its roots in the Port Elizabeth Art School, which was founded in 1882 and was the oldest art school in South Africa, and was situated in Russell Road, Central. It was later renamed the College for Advanced Technical Education (CATE). The college moved to University Way in Summerstrand in 1974, and became PE technikon in 1979. The Port Elizabeth Teachers' Training College was located in 2nd Avenue, Summerstrand. It was taken over by PE Technikon in 1994, and became known as the College Campus.

Saasveld Forestry College was founded as the Tokai School for Forest Apprentices in 1912 in Cape Town. The school was an offshoot of the South African College Schools. In 1932, it moved to its current location, between George and Knysna. The campus was taken over by PE Technikon from the Department of Agriculture in 1985.

The Algoa College of Education was situated in Struandale, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) away from Summerstrand. It became part of the PE Technikon in 2001, and was known as the Algoa Campus. In 2001, the George Campus was added to by purchasing Hurteria Building in the city centre.

At the time of the merger, PE Technikon had more than 10 000 students. The institution's last Chancellor was former Speaker of Parliament Dr Frene Ginwala, the last Vice-Chancellor Prof Hennie Snyman and the last Chair of Council being Mr Clive Stanton.

University of Port Elizabeth (UPE)

UPE was the country's first dual-medium (English and Afrikaans) residential university. It came into being on January 31, with the adoption by Parliament of Act 1 of 1964. The first academic year commenced on March 1, 1965. Initially situated in a series of buildings on Bird Street, in the historic Central district, UPE moved to a modern, purpose-built campus – incorporating residences, a sports complex and the towering Main Building – in 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 retained some of its Bird Street buildings and these became the centre of community outreach activities.

Built on 830 ha of land donated by the then Port Elizabeth City Council, the campus was declared a nature reserve in 1983.

At the time of the merger, UPE had more than 9 000 contact students and almost 5 000 distance education students. The last Chancellor was Dr Brigalia Bam, the last Vice-Chancellor Dr Rolf Stumpf and the last Chair of Council Mr Trevor Jennings.

Vista University (Vista PE)

Vista was founded on 1981. The Port Elizabeth campus was built in 1982. Subsequently, seven decentralized contact tuition campuses were established, centred on township areas where the need for accessible and affordable higher education was most urgent. In 1982 the Port Elizabeth campus consisted of a small, prefabricated building patched between the national road to Uitenhage and the edge of Zwide township. Its location opened up access to higher education for many students from socially and financially disadvantaged backgrounds.

The campus had its first academic year in 1983 and in 1991 a permanent brick structure was completed. Later additions such as the Conference Hall and Arena provided accessible facilities for the surrounding community for large events. With seating for 5 000, the Arena is the Eastern Cape’s largest indoor venue.

Initially focused on the upgrading of teachers through its Education Faculty, in its subsequent growth Vista far surpassed the narrow field of expertise cut out for it, producing graduates in business, law, science and the humanities.

At the time of the merger, Vista PE had approximately 2 000 students and was led by Acting Campus Principal Prof Miemie Struwig. with its first academic year in 1983. It was taken over by UPE.

Governance and administration

The ceremonial head of the university is the Chancellor, who, in the name of the university, confers all qualifications. The Vice-Chancellor is responsible for the day-to-day running of the university. Deputy Vice-Chancellors for Research and Engagement, Teaching and Learning, Institutional Support as well as the Registrar, acting as the Secretary to the University's Council, assist the Vice-Chancellor in his duties. There is an Executive Dean for each faculty, as well as teaching and learning. Other management committee positions are the Dean of Students, and campus principals for the Missionvale and George campuses.

The current Chancellor is Santie Botha, appointed in 2010. The current Vice-Chancellor is Professor Derrick Swartz, who was appointed in 2008. He is the former Vice-Chancellor and Principal at Fort Hare University, where he is credited for leading a profound turnaround strategy. He founded the Institute of Government in 1995 and served as Professor and Chair of Inter-Governmental Relations. The current George Campus principal is Professor Quinton Johnson, who was appointed in April 2013. and the current Missionvale campus principal is Dr Phakama Ntshongwana.

Former office bearers

Campuses

The university currently uses six campuses. Five of them are located in Port Elizabeth, and one is in George. The South, North and Second Avenue campuses are all situated in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth close to the beach.

South Campus

South Campus is the main campus of NMMU and it houses the main administration in its 18 story Main Building and is home to NMMU's Vice-Chancellor. It was built on 830 hectares (2,100 acres) of land donated by the then Port Elizabeth City Council. The campus was declared a nature reserve in 1983, which covers 830 hectares and a conservation site for fynbos vegetation. The reserve has 22 mammal species (including springbok), 16 reptile species, four amphibian species, and 66 bird species. The 4.8 km Grysbok Trail is great for hiking and starts at the Biological Sciences parking area. NMMU is also the only university in South Africa to offer game drives in a 4X4 vehicle. The campus is also home to the High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope centre housing four state-of-the-art electron microscopes, including the only double aberration corrected transmission electron microscope on the African continent, making NMMU the only place in Africa where one can view atoms.

North Campus

North Campus is located adjacent to the South Campus. It was the main campus of PE Technikon before the merger. The campus houses a state-of-the-art Engineering Building with excellent facilities including a recently built Bitumen Lab, a full Conference Centre, and many of the university’s support services along with the Art School. The NMMU Art School has a stained glass studio and is the only university in South Africa to offer studies in stained glass. This Campus has residence facilities for over 1000 students and also offers sport facilities and recreational areas.

2nd Avenue Campus

The campus was the PE Technikon's College Campus, and is now used for various diploma programmes. The campus is situated directly opposite the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment complex and is about 5 km from the North and South Campuses. It houses the Business School - the first building in South Africa to receive an official Green Star design rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) which uses this building as an official benchmark standard for future building designs in South Africa. Also on this campus is the university’s Archives and Exhibition Centre and the Governance unit. In addition, the campus offers sport and recreation facilities and residence accommodation for about 500 students. The Department of Fashion and Textile Design also calls Second Avenue home. The MMM Loubser Hall is on this campus which often hosts concerts and shows for the student body.

Missionvale Campus

The campus is located along Johnson Road in the Missionvale area, within reach of communities such as Zwide and New Brighton. It is accessible on the thoroughfare between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhagea location identified as a major growth area by the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan municipality. The Campus offers academic programmes in Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology, Business and Economic Sciences, Health Sciences and Law and will soon be home to the university’s Foundation Studies programme in the Faculty of Education. It was the PE campus of Vista University, and now houses the largest indoor venue in the Province.

Bird Street Campus

The campus was used by Rhodes University, prior to becoming the initial campus of the University of Port Elizabeth. It is located in PE's central business district. It was recently home to the university's Business School but is now being converted into the university's art hub. The historic buildings on this campus are home to the School of Music, Art & Design’s postgraduate programmes, the Jazz Unit, a conservatoire, a culturally-focussed “American Corner” to promote cultural engagement and the final piece in the Bird Street puzzle is the visual arts incubator providing technical and business support to selected “incubates” as they start up their own creative businesses. The campus also houses the newly built Oppidani(Off-Campus) Study Centre for students who live off campus. The centre has a computer lab that is available throughout the week to all NMMU Oppidani students.

George Campus

The George Campus is located 8 km outside the city centre (between George and Knysna) and specialises in environmental studies, particularly Forestry, Nature Conservation and Game Ranch Management. The George Campus is at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains of George in the Southern Cape. The Campus aims to become a world-class knowledge catalyst for the green economy and a more sustainable future and plan to realise this through cutting edge research and engagement, quality teaching and learning; as well as competitive innovation and entrepreneurship. With brand new gym facilities, a swimming pool, rugby stadium; football and cricket fields, tennis and squash courts, mountain bike and hiking trails; and many other sports facilities all at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains, George Campus is a haven for any sport enthusiast. The campus has beautiful residence facilities and offers and array of different programmes.

University Shop

The University Shop is an Alumni project supported by the NMMU Alumni Association that aims to promote and develop the NMMU brand.

The University Shop is located at the Sanlam Student Village on University Way, Summerstrand. Satellite University Shops also operate on Missionvale and George Campus.

NMMU Archives and Exhibition Centre

The Archives is the official repository of all historically significant University records and also of material that is necessary for research regarding the University. The NMMU Archive Exhibition Centre was established at the beginning of 2011. The Exhibition Centre is housed in the Governance Administration Building on the 2nd Avenue Summerstrand Campus. The Centre can be visited from Monday - Friday.

The NMMU Archive Exhibition Centre exhibits historic and cultural collections that reflect the origins of the University and the community within which it operates, as well as the development and achievements of its officers, staff, students, alumni and prominent persons and organisations associated with the University.

Food Courts

Sports

Auditoriums and Conference Centres

Faculties

NMMU has seven faculties, each made up of different schools.

Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) is a vibrant, imaginative and socially engaged space and place, in which a diversity of interesting and valuable qualifications are offered in four interdisciplinary schools.

Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences

The faculty is made up of five schools, and offers courses on the 2nd Avenue, George, Missionvale and South Campuses. In addition, the Business School offers its Master of Business Administration program at satellite facilities in Cape Town, Centurion and East London. The MBA program received a four star rating (the highest possible) from Eduniversal.

Faculty of Education

The faculty is made up of three schools.

Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology (EBEIT)

The faculty is made up of three schools, and offers courses on the North and South Campuses.

Faculty of Health Sciences

The faculty is made up of four schools, and offers courses on the South Campus.

Faculty of Science

The faculty is made up of four schools, and offers courses on the North and South Campuses.

Research

The DVC: Research & Engagement portfolio is made up of the following departments/entities: • Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Engagement • Department of Research Management • Department of Research Capacity Development • Innovation Office • HIV/AIDS Research Unit • Library & Information Services • Office for International Education • Centre for Academic Engagement & Collaboration • Centre for Advancement of Non-Racialism & Democracy

Library

NMMU Library and Information Services encompasses the university's six libraries. The libraries are located on the universities South, North, Second Avenue, Business School and George campus, with the main administration run from the South Campus library. All of the libraries use the Library of Congress Classification system for their books, and share a common university data base.

Students and staff

In 2014 there were 27 000, students enrolled at the university. The student body's racial make up is 59% Black, 25% White, 14% Coloured and 2% Asian. Students from other African countries make up 6.5% of the student body, with a further 1.5% coming from non-African countries.

The university employed 4063 staff members. Their racial make up is 69% White, 28% Black, 2.6% Coloured and 0.4% Asian.

Student Representative Council (SRC)

The Student Representative Council (SRC) is the highest decision-making body of student governance. It represents all students at and their overall interest and social well-being in the university. It is involved in policy-making and co-operative decision-making on campus. it also often hosts social events for the student body.

The SRC is elected annually by the students and consists of 21 members who represent other student organizations. The SRC is a very important stakeholder within NMMU, as there is no decision that can be taken without the student voice.

NMMU Arts & Culture

The Arts and Culture Unit is involved in the broader Arts and cultural communities in the Nelson Mandela Metro and beyond its projects, events and programmes aim to address the need for a vibrant stimulating 'cultural space' where interactions between students and the community are able to play itself out in an environment that is relatively safe, yet challenging enough, to contribute to the transformative changes required at NMMU. It represents NMMU's community involvement in the Arts and its development within this sector.

It strives to provide learning and developmental opportunities for our students by integrating our activities and programmes into the broader learning and living objectives of NMMU. Their events have ensured engagement in learning outside of the lecture hall and encouraged the social integration of the NMMU Student body.

Newspaper-NMMYou

The NMMYou is the university's student run newspaper. The newspaper, released monthly takes the form of an electronic newspaper, tying in with the green image and footprint of the University as a whole. A dedicated team covers various categories and topics, including the covering of news, sport as well as various lifestyle tips and things to do in the Port Elizabeth area.

Socities

Student societies fall under three main groups: those managed by Arts & Culture, those managed by the Office for International Education, and those managed by Student Governance & Development.

Madibaz Radio

Madibaz Radio is an online urban contemporary on campus music radio station that is focused on providing edutainment to the youth of Nelson Mandela Bay. The station carries a variety of programming including news, sports, and spoken word programming as well as general music. Madibaz Radio broadcasts in three official languages (English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa). The station broadcasts for 24hours live from the NMMU South Campus, Monday to Sunday

Residences

The university has a number of residences. South Campus also offers housing for postgraduate students.

Oceana

This residence is situated on the 2nd Avenue campus, and houses men and women. The residence is within easy walking distance of some of the country's most beautiful beaches. Oceana Residence has separate housing for first year men and women. The students reside in mainly double rooms and share bathrooms. The residence can accommodate 112 ladies and 59 men. Facilities around the residences include a gym, sports fields and swimming pool. The residence has lovely spacious lounges where students can watch TV, a video or DVD, play pool or a game of table tennis. Each corridor has a phone where incoming calls can be received and there are payphones in the foyers of the men's and ladies residence.

Letaba & Lebombo Residences

These two residences are located on the North Campus, Letaba houses male students, while Lebombo houses female students. The ladies residence Lebombo, consists mainly of double rooms with communical bathrooms and can house 216 students.

The men in the Letaba residence are housed in ten individual double-storey units. Each of these units can accommodate 34 students - in total 272 students .

The units comprise mainly double bedrooms and shared bathroom facilities. These residences are equipped with telephones, M-net, TV sets and dining facilities. Recreational and sporting facilities that are also available include a swimming pool, tennis courts, sports fields and food courts. As limited accommodation is available, early application is essential.

Melodi Residence

This residence houses junior females. Melodi Residence is involved in sporting activities that are injunction with the NMMU Residence League. The Residence swimming pool can be found at the Xanadu-Melodi (XM) Clubhouse. Students are able to study in the comfort of their room or to study at the Study Centre located behind the Residence. A computer lab where students can gain access to the internet and complete academic work if they do not have their own personal computers. The Residence is Wi-Fi enabled. Students are able to access Wi-Fi in the comfort of their room.

Xanadu Residence

Xanadu Residence is located on the South campus, close to the Indoor Sports Centre. Xanadu is a unique residential community with a universal focus. Each room in Xanadu houses two male students. Xanadu is an active living and learning environment that is centred on student participation. Students who live in Xanadu must have a desire to share their political, socio-economic and cultural knowledge with others as well as learn about political, socio-economic and cultural differences that are different from their own. This is an all junior male residence.

Veritas Residence

Veritas houses 309 ladies from all parts of the world. This elegant yet traditional residence has both single and sharing rooms, a conference room, a committee room, spacious bathrooms and lounges, as well as small flat lounges. It upholds academic excellence, sisterhood and diversity as its core values. Veritas Residence is a clean and upgraded house that believes that happy residents excel academically and in every arena of their lives. Through active engagement and participation we strive to enhance the growth of our ladies holistically. It is the mission of this house to give excellence a new definition that will challenge NMMU students to complete their qualification in record time. Comfort and safety remain the residence's number one priority.

Unitas Residence

Unitas and Veritas were the first residences to be built at South Campus in 1972. Initially, Unitas was a male residence but with the increased demand for female residences, the Annex was converted into a female residence at the time of the merger (UPE to NMMU). Both Unitas Main and Annex features single rooms and is for senior male and female students and has self-catering kitchens. The Unitas residences are divided into 19 'flats' which house 17 students in each flat. Each student is therefore a member of a much smaller group and living together in a flat means that in time, flatmates form strong bonds resulting in flat traditions of their own. There is a 24-hour security for the safety of students and their belongings. Close circuit televisions are situated in strategic places within the residences and there is also access control at the entrance doors. A DIY laundry service is available in each building, which is free of charge and includes automatic washing machines and tumble driers.

SSV-Indwe Residence

Sanlam Student Village-Indwe is a senior female residence that caters for 3rd year, 4th year, BTech and honours students. It is nicely situated and is within walking distance from the south and north campuses. This makes it easier for students with late lectures and those who wish to use either the 24hour computer labs or the library.

SSV-Ikamva Residencece

Ikamva promotes social and individual development, creating an ergonomic environment for students that promotes excellence.

SSV-Protea Residence

Protea Residence regards itself as a home away from home, fondly known as the "House of Responsible Minds".

The residence is ultra-modern and provides self-catering for 312 senior students. It is located within the boundaries of the Sanlam Student Village.

Rooms are single and spacious, equipped with Wi-Fi, mattress and base sets, a built in cupboard, desk, bookshelf, chair, study lamp and modern plugs catering for your electronic needs. Rooms are configured in flat lets of two, three and four, sharing a kitchen, bathroom and a compact lounge. Kitchens are equipped with a mid-sized fridge, two plate hob and microwave. At the east end of each corridor, on each level, are common facilities such as a Group Study Room, Lounge with LED TV and (free)Laundry. All blocks are equipped with modern TV rooms, study areas and (free) laundry facilities. The buildings are "smart" and lights are controlled by sensors. The residence has fully accessible units specially reserved for people with mobility impairment. All four floors are serviced by elevators. The buildings are centrally located between North and South campuses (within 1 km walking distance). Two comprehensive shopping centres are located within 3 km of the residence and transport is available. A brisk 10 minute walk will take you to a beautiful rejuvenating beachfront.

Off Campus Residences

Off campus accommodation is provided at the Laboria Residence, Digs @ Military and South Point in central, Port Elizabeth.

The George campus has four main residences, as well as 21 student houses on campus.

Sports

NMMU currently offers the following sport codes. •Athletics & Athlons (Tri-, Bi-, Du- and Biathle) •Basketball •Chess •Cricket •Cycling •Golf •Hockey •Judo •Karate •Netball •Rowing •Rugby •Soccer •Squash •Surfing •Swimming •Table Tennis •Tennis •Underwater Sport •Volleyball •Waterpolo •Blackball pool

Notable alumni and staff