Monash South Africa

Monash South Africa
Type Private university
Established 2001
Administrative staff
 220 (80 academics)
Students 4,000
Location Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Colours Red and black          
Affiliations Laureate International Universities, Monash University
Website http://www.msa.ac.za/

Monash South Africa is a private university founded in 2001, located on a 100 hectare site in Ruimsig in north-west Johannesburg, in the province of Gauteng. The student mix at Monash South Africa is diverse. In addition to domestic (South African) students, it is also home to many students from other African countries. For example, a large number of students from Botswana attend. Furthermore, the number of students on exchange from Monash's Australian and Malaysian campuses makes it one of the most ethnically diverse education providers in Africa.

The President and Academic President of Monash South Africa is Professor Alwyn Louw.[1]

History

Beginning in the 1990s, Monash University in Melbourne, Australia began an extensive internationalisation program. Vice-Chancellor at the time, David Robinson, aspired for Monash to have campuses on every continent.[2] The University's Malaysia Campus was the first of these, with plans for an African offering developing in the late 1990s. In 2001, it became the first international university to gain registration to operate in South Africa.[3]

The plan was initially opposed by some of the staff at Monash's Australian campuses, who were concerned that millions of dollars was being poured into overseas ventures, while staff were being made redundant in Australia.[2]

The campus expanded rapidly since its establishment in 2001. In its first intake, Monash South Africa took on just over 100 students. By 2008, there were over 2,200 students, and the operations are expanding to keep up with a demand for places which is increasing by 35% per year. A new library and learning commons were opened in 2007. By 2012 a fully modernised sports precinct was built, which played host to the eventual Gauteng state champion Monash South Africa female basketball team, coached by Tomas Sanchez and Matthew Falvey.

Financial issues were unresolved and in August 2013, Monash South Africa was effectively 'sold' to Laureate Education who purchased its freehold land and buildings and took over running the university. Monash in Australia has come under pressure from the Auditor-general in the state of Victoria (in which Monash is located) to reduce its spending on overseas operations.[4]. A AU$150 million grant from the International Finance Corporation was part of the deal, awarded to strengthen higher education in Africa[5]. Monash in Australia continues to assure academic standards, but Laureate Education has now become the majority partner. The university is no longer branded with Monash's insignia.

The University has developed some research capacity, with research nodes in water, injury prevention and global movements. Its research output (various projects and scholarly publications) is increasing, with the ambition of becoming one of the most research-intensive sites in Africa.[6]

Faculties and Courses

Faculties

Initially, the university taught only a limited range of undergraduate degrees. In 2006, honours programs were introduced. Monash South Africa offers undergraduate courses in two faculties. Currently, the faculties are:

Faculty of Business, Engineering and Technology

The faculty offers a range of exciting undergraduate programmes, Honours programmes, postgraduate diplomas and master's degrees. It also recognises the busy working professional, whether they are at early, mid- or advanced career levels, and accommodates flexible part-time and postgraduate options.

Monash South Africa's Faculty of Business, Engineering and Technology offers undergraduate degrees in the following areas:[7]

  • Accounting
  • Computer and Information Sciences
  • Economics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Law
  • Management
  • Marketing

It is one of only two private institutions to receive South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) accreditation for its accounting degree.

Faculty of Social and Health Sciences

Monash South Africa's Faculty of Social and Health Sciences currently offers undergraduate degrees in the following areas:[8]

  • Child and Youth Development,
  • Communication and Media Studies,
  • Criminology and Criminal Justice,
  • Development Studies (incorporating Human Geography),
  • International Studies,
  • Journalism Studies,
  • Philosophy,
  • Political Studies,
  • Psychology,
  • Public Health
  • Public Relations Practice, and
  • Sociology.

1The Bachelor of Social Science with a major in psychology is accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA).

Courses

Monash South Africa offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and short courses. Currently, the degrees and short courses on offer are:

Undergraduate

  • Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences
  • Bachelor of Social Science
  • Bachelor of Public Health
  • Bachelor of Commerce in Law
  • Bachelor of Business Science (majoring in Accounting, or Economics, or Management or Marketing)
  • Bachelor of Business Science (Specialising in Accounting)
  • Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
  • Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Social Science (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Business Science (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Public Health (Honours)

Postgraduate

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Master of International Business (MIB)[9]
  • Master of Philosophy[10]
  • Master of Philosophy in Computer and Information Science
  • Master of Philosophy in Integrated Water Management[11]

Foundation Programme

In addition, the location also offers a Foundation Programme[12] course for students who do not meet the minimum requirements for admission into the various undergraduate degrees on offer

Location

Monash South Africa is located in Ruimsig, which is 25 km north-west of central Johannesburg. It is a purpose-built, greenfield, 100 hectare campus, which contains among the most modern and state of the art technologies of any Monash location. It also has extensive sporting facilities, including basketball and volleyball courts, and a field for rugby, soccer and hockey.[13]

Its establishment has led to significant development in the local area, with several shopping centres, sporting and leisure facilities opening since 2001. The local area also contains substantial accommodation for those students who do not live on-campus.

Governance and Administration

Monash South Africa Limited incorporated in Australia External Profit Company is registered with the Department of Education as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act of 1997. Registration number: 2000/HE10/002.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Monash SA Names Professor Alwyn Louw Academic President - Monash SA".
  2. 1 2 Maslen, Geoff (16 November 2009). "An African venture". The Age. Melbourne.
  3. ↑ "SOUTH AFRICA: Monash slowly recovers investment - University World News". universityworldnews.com. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Monash South Africa partners with Laureate International Universities". msa.ac.za. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  5. ↑ "Laureate buys Australian campus in South Africa - University World News". www.universityworldnews.com.
  6. ↑ http://www.msa.ac.za/research/annual_report.pdf%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
  7. ↑ http://www.msa.ac.za/about/schools/business-economics/ School of Business and Economics Homepage
  8. ↑ http://www.msa.ac.za/about/schools/health-sciences/ School of Health Sciences Homepage
  9. ↑ "Monash South Africa - Master of International Business". www.msa.ac.za.
  10. ↑ "Master of Philosophy - MPhil - Monash South Africa".
  11. ↑ "Water research - Monash South Africa".
  12. ↑ http://www.msa.ac.za/study/courses/foundation-index.html Higher Certificate in Higher Education Studies (HCHES)
  13. ↑ Campus facilities and services, Monash South Africa
  14. ↑ "Home, Monash South Africa". msa.ac.za. Retrieved 28 November 2015.

Coordinates: 26°05′00″S 27°52′37″E / 26.08333°S 27.87694°E / -26.08333; 27.87694

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