January 18, 2005
By Tammy O'Reilly
TWO of the city's educational giants, Rand Afrikaans University and Technikon Witwatersrand, merged officially on the first day of 2005 - embracing a new name, a new logo and a new approach to higher education.
The merger of the institution, now known as the University of Johannesburg, is intended to tackle inequalities in the country's higher-education system and make higher education accessible to all.
The merger is distinctive in that universities and technikons have traditionally been seen as two very separate entities - the former providing a predominantly theoretical education and awarding degrees as qualifications; the latter focusing on practical evaluation and awarding diplomas.
In combining these ideals, the University of Johannesburg is being promoted as one of the first comprehensive universities in the country.
Such a university offers a broader spectrum of qualifications with different entry requirements and exit levels. Academic and career-orientated qualifications - which include certificates, diplomas, degrees and higher degrees - are also offered.
"Our aim is not to blur the distinction between academic and technology degrees, but to extend the range of possible training activities," says the new interim vice-chancellor, Prof Roux Botha.
"The challenge of creating a comprehensive institution, such as the University of Johannesburg, lies in protecting the essence of the university while extending it beyond its current parameters."
The university will offer the full spectrum of professional and vocational courses offered by RAU and TWR. Some courses may yet be added.
"For the foreseeable future things will remain as they are. Integrating two institutions of this magnitude is a mammoth undertaking which will take its thousands of staff members beyond their own personal parameters," says Botha.
The new university has done some work on its branding and has adopted a new logo that depicts two orange birds, linked and facing each other. The link represents the union of the two institutions into one powerful force.
"After much workshopping and consultative forum discussion, it was finally agreed that a bird would form the core of the design, says Giles Shepherd of Interbrand Sampson, the brand developers.
"There was consensus that the bird's connotations of flight, achievement, freedom, independence, dignity and mobility best represent the education opportunities offered by the University of Johannesburg."
All current students will complete the qualification for which they have enrolled without any changes taking place. Students will not be required to travel between campuses.
With more than 45 000 students and 3 500 staff members, the University of Johannesburg has become the largest residential university in the country.
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