The University of Venda, situated in Thohoyandou in the scenic Vhembe district of the Limpopo Province of South Africa was established in 1982. The University has ever experienced tremendous growth and change. From its early years, staff members were drawn from various backgrounds in South Africa, but by 1994 staff members were increasingly recruited from other African countries and overseas.
The presence on campus of staff from diverse backgrounds created a unique atmosphere and a fertile environment for new ideas and a capacity for change. During this time the institution remained a traditional University that offered a full-range of courses straddling the humanities, social sciences, natural and applied sciences.
With the advent of democracy in 1994 and a new leadership at the helm, Univen embarked on a process of accelerated transformation. From 1995 the university shifted its focus to science and technology, resulting in the introduction of new programmes with an increase in Student enrolment in the natural and applied sciences.
In 2002, the Department of Education mandated the Institution to transform into a comprehensive University that offers career-focused programmes. Prior to its new mandate, Univen had already taken a step to establish some career-focused programmes with emphasis on science and technology.
During each stage of transformation the university aligned its vision and mission to the needs of the community at local, regional, national, continental and international levels. This process of transformation created significant changes in administrative governance and in the size and shape of the curriculum. It also attracted better qualified staff and resulted in improved student profile.
To date the University has established itself as a national asset through its niche on problem oriented, project based curriculum with a strength in nurturing under prepared students into nationally competitive graduates. The University has therefore become an important player in the South African higher education landscape, contributing significantly to the human resources and development needs of the country and region.
Our goal is to develop responsible citizens who will impact positively on the growth and development of South Africa. Univen has the necessary human resource capital and is ready to serve as the engine that drives the regional growth and development strategy in South Africa in general and the Limpopo Province in particular.
As part of the restructuring of higher education in South Africa, Univen was mandated by government to become a comprehensive University. This entails a fundamental academic planning exercise that involves the re-engineering of our core business. Committed to quality and excellence, we offer a diverse range of academic, professional and career focused programmes – both on undergraduate and postgraduate level - that are relevant to the job market. These range from Agriculture, Health Sciences, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Law, Human and Social Sciences, Management Sciences, Environmental Sciences to Education.
Univen Foundation
The Univen Foundation is a registered Trust which exists for the sole purpose of advancing the interests of the University. The day to day operation of the Foundation is overseen by the Development Officer and the Secretary who reports to the Boards of Trustees and Governors, who delegate everyday line management responsibility for the Foundation to the Vice-Chancellor and Director of Communications and Marketing.
The University of Venda Foundation is a registered non-profit organization which exists to mobilise resources for the development of the University to achieve the objectives and the goals as set by the University Council. The Foundation reports to the Council of the University of Venda.
The Foundation, given the magnitude and urgency of the challenges faced by the University in recent years embarked on a one Billion rand capital campaign to raise resources for buildings, teaching and research, living space, human capital – endowed chairs in key areas, teaching and research equipment. This is the undoubtedly, the biggest campaign in South African tertiary education.
The goal of the Foundation is to establish a platform for sustainable giving to the University for generations to come. To realise the above goals the Foundation aligns its activities with that of the University’s strategic priorities and key developmental needs. The involvement of key constituencies in advancement, building a better diversified and more sustainable donor base is key in achieving the said objectives.
