[OnionBagel]

I recently found that University of South Africa (UNISA) has been providing distance education for many years; they currently provide online distance education as the technology allows them to do. Since University of South Africa (UNISA) is not a US-based institution, it is relatively unknown in North America, but considering that they have been providing distance education for many years, they might have great online distance education program as well. OOEN actually publishes pretty through information about the institution here; http://www.ooen.net/portal/colleges-and-universities/profile/2974.

[benevolentDictator]

This is not directly related to UNISA's distance learing programs, but I'd like to mention it still because the initiative is rather unique and says something about how UNISA approaches education.

The University of South Africa (Unisa) is recruiting exiled Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his wife to take up academic posts at the institution. Jean-Bertrand Aristide has not signed an agreement, but apparently, the university is keep to have him.

[redsand]

What do you think the implications of having the offer to the ex-Haitian leader are for the state of S. Africa's Uni? Positve/negative? I have heard there is much unrest in that area.

[benevolentDictator]

I actually think it's pretty positive, though it is controversial. I'd like to hear what he says in his lectures.

[redsand]

Well that is good. I am wondering about the lectures as well... so much propoganda in the US - hard to find out true things concerning some leaders of diff countries

[benevolentDictator]

That's actually a good point; students (well, anyone) rarely have chance to directly hear from foreign leaders. That itself presents certain value.

[clonebaby]

How's University of South Africa (UNISA) rated? Is this like Harvard in US and Oxford in UK ???

[redsand]

That is also a good question, and I have no idea. I wonder if any new members might be from there? That'd be a great coincidence.

[benevolentDictator]

Here's some information about the University of South Africa:

The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 130,000 enrolled, it qualifies it as one of the World's mega universities.

Founded in 1873 as the University of the Cape of Good Hope, the University of South Africa (or Unisa as it is commonly known) spent most of its early history as an examing agency for Oxford and Cambridge universities and as an incubator from which most other universities in South Africa are descended. In 1946 it was given a new role as a distance education university and today it offers certificate, diploma and degree courses up to doctoral level in six faculties: Humanities and Social Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Law, Science, Education and Theology.

In January 2004 Unisa merged with Technikon RSA and the distance education component of Vista University (VUDEC). The combined institution is still known as the University of South Africa (Unisa).

This was originally published on Wikipedia and the document is licensed under GNU Free Document License. If you'd like to find out more about the university, you might be interested in visiting this page in Wikipedia.

[redsand]

Thanks mate... I love wikipedia - just was too lazy to actually research it on my own. You're a good soul.. hehe

[benevolentDictator]

[benevolentDictator]

Institute for Criminological Sciences at the University of South Africa (Unisa) is mentioned in some news article, so I want to mention it to you all.

[Azaba]

Please pardon my late reply to this topic but I am a new member. I believe that the University of South Africa is amongst the premier distance education universities available to English speaking students. They offer multi-level degree programs in a wide range of subject areas. While it may not suit all needs, it should not be dismissed offhand.

[benevolentDictator]

BTW, welcome to the forum, Azaba!

[Azaba]

Please forgive me but it was not my intention to recommend any specific program. I only wanted to inform the other members, who did not seem familiar with this university, that it is a large, well known, school that specializes in distance education. They offer a variety of programs that might be suitable for some purposes. Other people, let's say those whose primary interest is in obtaining a credential that could lead to a form of licensure in the US, might need to go through an additional procedure if they plan on using a non-US degree as the foundation for that license. These requirements are so individualized that it would be difficult to make specific recommendations without knowing the details of the circumstances. Aside from all that, I prefer not to give advice as it is rarely heeded and frequently resented.