University of Pretoria Distance Learning

For a number of years, the University of Pretoria has been offering a variety of distance education programmes.The Faculty of Education has established itself as a national leader in teaching innovation and education research. Its programmes enjoy international recognition, and are aimed at training world-class leaders to develop a generation of innovative thinkers.

The University of Pretoria is a comprehensive contact tertiary institution and one of the premier research universities in South Africa. In 2002, the University of Pretoria decided to launch a distance education initiative within its Faculty of Education. The purpose of this initiative is to play a constructive role in addressing the dire need among practising teachers, especially in rural areas, to improve their qualifications.

The Unit for Distance Education at the University of Pretoria is specifically responsible for this initiative. The Unit for Distance Education acts as a focal point from where all related activities and business processes are coordinated. The Unit of Distance Education itself consists of a manager, two administrative staff members, an accountant, a researcher and a learning designer.