PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION: GREAT OPTIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

Great news for prospective students who want to study towards a globally recognised, quality qualification at a private higher education institution instead of a public university: JSE-listed ADvTECH, SA's largest private education provider, announced that its acquisition of Monash South Africa (MSA) has become unconditional following the fulfilment of all conditions precedent, including approval by the Competition Tribunal.

MSA is now being incorporated into ADvTECH's higher education division, The Independent Institute of Education, and will be branded IIE MSA.

"We are delighted to be able to add MSA, which offers a world-class education environment, with a strong track record for student employability, outstanding pass rates and qualification completion times, to our existing portfolio of highly respected brands which includes Varsity College, Vega and Rosebank College," says Roy Douglas, ADvTECH Group CEO.

The IIE MSA campus, located on Johannesburg's West Rand, is one of the largest private higher education precincts in the country. With a capacity for 6 500 students, it boasts extensive education facilities which include laboratories, sports facilities and four student residences.

In addition to a state-of-the-art campus, IIE MSA also adds a comprehensive suite of premium programmes, an extensive executive education and training portfolio and highly sought-after programmes such as engineering and public health to the IIE offering.

Together with the recent High Court judgment in favour of The Independent Institute of Education, confirming that registered and accredited qualifications from the private institution are on par with those of public universities, represents a substantial development for the private higher education sector in South Africa, and The IIE in particular.

"We are buoyed by these recent developments, which mean that we are increasingly able to make a greater contribution to higher and tertiary education in the country, in line with the way private universities are able to do internationally," says Douglas.

"This is good news for prospective students throughout the country, whose options continue to grow, with the ability to receive a globally recognised quality qualification from a respected institution outside of the public university sector becoming a reality for more young people."