Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education
Encyclopedia
The Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (abbreviated PU for CHE) was a medium-sized South African university
located in Potchefstroom. Tuition was mainly in Afrikaans. In 2004, the university was merged with other institutions to create the North-West University
, and became the Potchefstroom Campus
of the newly merged university.
, abbreviated as GKSA), which was founded on 29 November 1869 in Burgersdorp
. At the founding meeting, it was decided that education would also be offered to prospective teachers and to persons without any particular profession in mind.
Initially, there were only five students and two lecturers.
In 1877 a "Literary Department" was established, with one professor
, with the specific aim of educating students for academic degrees or as teachers.
In 1905, the Theological School, including the Literary Department, was transferred from Burgersdorp to Potchefstroom.
In order to qualify for government subsidies, the Literary Department was separated from the Theological School in 1919 and the Potchefstroom University College for Christian Higher Education (Het Potchefstroom Universiteitskollege voor Christelike Hooger Onderwijs in Afrikaans, and usually abbreviated as PUK) came into being. It was decided that the PUK would be a higher education institute separate and independent from the GKSA, although the PUK would continue to train GKSA ministers.
In 1921, the Potchefstroom University College (without the "for Christian Higher Education" suffix), was incorporated into the University of South Africa
; the PUK only got the "for Christian Higher Education" part of its name back in 1933.
The Potchefstroom University College for Christian Higher Education was officially recognised as an independent university and was renamed the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education in 1951.
In 1993, Private Law status was established. In 1998, the statutes of the PUK were amended in order to enable her to better fulfill her role as part of the co-ordinated higher education system in South Africa according to her original mandate as an institution of Christian higher education.
The Vaal Triangle Campus of the University was established in Vanderbijlpark in 1966 in order to provide that area with tertiary education.
By 1996, the first online courses were offered. Students were offered interactive courses, the systematic application of multimedia. To facilitate the learning process, over 25 study centres were established country-wide.
On 1 January 2000, the Potchefstroom Onderwyskollege was incorporated with the Potchefstroom University's Potchefstroom campus.
In 2004 the Potchefstroom University became one of the three campuses of the new North-West University, the others being in Mafikeng and Vaal (situated in Vanderbijlpark). The fourth campus, Mankwe, was closed by end of 2004.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
located in Potchefstroom. Tuition was mainly in Afrikaans. In 2004, the university was merged with other institutions to create the North-West University
North-West University
The North-West University is a newly merged institution from 1 January 2004 onwards with four campuses at Potchefstroom, Mafikeng, Vanderbijlpark and Mankwe. The Potchefstroom Campus is the largest, and the head office of the University is situated at this location...
, and became the Potchefstroom Campus
Potchefstroom Campus
The Potchefstroom campus of the North-West University was formerly known as the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education...
of the newly merged university.
History
Potchefstroom University developed out of the Theological School of the Reformed Churches in South Africa (Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika in AfrikaansAfrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
, abbreviated as GKSA), which was founded on 29 November 1869 in Burgersdorp
Burgersdorp
Burgersdorp is a small town in the Ukhahlamba District Municipality of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.The Afrikaner Bond political party was founded in Burgersdorp in 1881.-Rail:The first rail connection to Burgersdorp was opened on 19 March 1885...
. At the founding meeting, it was decided that education would also be offered to prospective teachers and to persons without any particular profession in mind.
Initially, there were only five students and two lecturers.
In 1877 a "Literary Department" was established, with one professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, with the specific aim of educating students for academic degrees or as teachers.
In 1905, the Theological School, including the Literary Department, was transferred from Burgersdorp to Potchefstroom.
In order to qualify for government subsidies, the Literary Department was separated from the Theological School in 1919 and the Potchefstroom University College for Christian Higher Education (Het Potchefstroom Universiteitskollege voor Christelike Hooger Onderwijs in Afrikaans, and usually abbreviated as PUK) came into being. It was decided that the PUK would be a higher education institute separate and independent from the GKSA, although the PUK would continue to train GKSA ministers.
In 1921, the Potchefstroom University College (without the "for Christian Higher Education" suffix), was incorporated into the University of South Africa
University of South Africa
The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 300 000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.-History:...
; the PUK only got the "for Christian Higher Education" part of its name back in 1933.
The Potchefstroom University College for Christian Higher Education was officially recognised as an independent university and was renamed the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education in 1951.
In 1993, Private Law status was established. In 1998, the statutes of the PUK were amended in order to enable her to better fulfill her role as part of the co-ordinated higher education system in South Africa according to her original mandate as an institution of Christian higher education.
The Vaal Triangle Campus of the University was established in Vanderbijlpark in 1966 in order to provide that area with tertiary education.
By 1996, the first online courses were offered. Students were offered interactive courses, the systematic application of multimedia. To facilitate the learning process, over 25 study centres were established country-wide.
On 1 January 2000, the Potchefstroom Onderwyskollege was incorporated with the Potchefstroom University's Potchefstroom campus.
In 2004 the Potchefstroom University became one of the three campuses of the new North-West University, the others being in Mafikeng and Vaal (situated in Vanderbijlpark). The fourth campus, Mankwe, was closed by end of 2004.
Famous alumni
- Frederik Willem de KlerkFrederik Willem de KlerkFrederik Willem de Klerk , often known as F. W. de Klerk, is the former seventh and last State President of apartheid-era South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994...
State President of South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(1989–1994); Vice President of South Africa, with Nelson MandelaNelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
as President (1994–1996). - Marike de KlerkMarike de KlerkMarike de Klerk was the First Lady of South Africa, as the wife of President Frederik Willem de Klerk, from 1989 to 1994, as well as a politician of the governing National Party in her own right.Mr FW de Klerk and Marike de Klerk divorced in 1998...
Former first lady of South Africa and leader of the National Party's women's wing. She studied commerce at the university. - Erica EloffErica Eloff-Erica Eloff:Erica Eloff is a South African soprano specializing in opera, lieder and oratorio, currently residing in England. She made her professional debut in the UK during the summer of 2008 at Garsington Opera as Fiordiligi in Mozart's Così fan tutte...
, singer. - Rina Hugo http://www.rinahugo.co.za, well known singer received her B.Mus degree in 1970. She was a member of the "Alabama Studentegeselskap". She performed in nearly all genres as soloist: OperaOperaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, Oratorium, OperettaOperettaOperetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
, Musical theatreMusical theatreMusical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
and popular Afrikaans music. - Kobie van RensburgKobie van RensburgKobie van Rensburg is a South African tenor and opera director.- Life :Van Rensburg studied singing with Werner Nel at the Northwest University of South Africa, but also law and international politics at Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education..He made his debut in 1991 at the age...
http://www.kobievanrensburg.de is an international operaOperaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
who currently operates from GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He was a member of the Potchefstroom University Choir (1987–1994). - Martin Watt a well-known South African composer.
- Pieter MulderPieter MulderDr Pieter Mulder is a South African politician and the leader of the Freedom Front Plus. He has been the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the cabinet of President Jacob Zuma since May 2009....
a South African politician and leader of the Freedom Front Plus. - Johan HeynsJohan HeynsJohan Adam Heyns , was an influential Afrikaner Calvinist theologian and moderator of the general synod of the Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk . He was assassinated at his home in Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria...
an influential AfrikanerAfrikanerAfrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
theologian and moderator of the general synod of the Nederduits Gereformeerde KerkNederduits Gereformeerde KerkThe Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk is a Reformed Christian denomination in South Africa. It also has a presence in neighboring countries, such as Namibia, Swaziland, and parts of Botswana and Zimbabwe...
(NGK). He played a major role in dismantling support for Apartheid in the NGK. - Niekie van den Berg is one of the country's most famous radio personalities.
- Henno Mentz is a former Springbok rugby player.
- Godfrey Khotso MokoenaGodfrey Khotso MokoenaGodfrey Khotso Mokoena is a South African athlete who specializes in the long jump and triple jump.-Early Life and Family:...
, silver medal winner in long jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. - Justine RobbesonJustine RobbesonJustine Gail Robbeson is a South African athlete who specialises in the javelin throw. She previously competed in the heptathlon, achieving a personal best of 5868 in 2004...
a South African athlete who specialises in the javelin throwJavelin throwThe javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
.