The University of Pretoria celebrated its centenary in 2008, looking back over 100 years in the service of knowledge.             

To accommodate the increasing number of students, a new lecture complex, the Centenary Building, was officially opened in 2009.  The complex comprises of six lecture halls with 300 seats each.

During this period, significant historic and social changes took place. Professor Cheryl de la Rey became the first black woman Vice-Chancellor and Principal, and UP took significant strides in laying the foundation for being known locally and globally as a leading research-intensive university. Its medium- long-term strategic vision, UP 2025, was also articulated during this time. This time also saw a shutdown of universities across the country as student protests broke out calling on government to provide free, quality tertiary education. This was a tumultuous period for all universities and the protests culminated in a mass march to the Union Buildings.

GALLERY: Looking to the future: 2008 – 2017

Historic Context

• 2008      President Thabo Mbeki resigns
• 2008      Countrywide xenophobic attacks
• 2009      President Jacob Zuma elected
• 2009      First Mandela Day celebrated (91st birthday)
• 2010      FIFA World Cup held in SA
• 2012      Marikana Massacre
• 2013      5 December former president Nelson Mandela passes away
• 2014      Celebration of twenty years of democracy
• 2015      Resurgence of xenophobic violence
• 2015      #FeesMustFall

Characteristics of the era

• Change in demographics of student numbers
• Language teaching policy changes to English only
• Founding of international conference and cultural centres
• University teaching online as a result of student protests (2015/16)

New developments and facilities

• 2008      UP celebrates its centenary – looking back over 100 years in the service of knowledge
• 2008      The Pretoria Academic Hospital is renamed the Steve Biko Academic Hospital
• 2008      The Absa Tuks Stadium is officially inaugurated in 2008, boasting world-class facilities, including a tartan track
• 2008      UP's business school, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, replaces the Graduate School of Management.
• 2008      A new student residence, Tuks Village, situated on the Hillcrest Campus (LC de Villiers Sports Grounds), is opened 
• 2009      A new lecture complex, the Centenary Building, which comprises of six lecture halls with 300 seats each, is officially opened
• 2009      Professor Cheryl de la Rey becomes the first female principal of the University of Pretoria
• 2011      The Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control is established
• 2011      Engineering Building 3 and parkade are opened
• 2012      The Plant Sciences Complex is opened
• 2012      Thuto Building, a new lecture complex, is opened
• 2012      Reopening of the Aula, marking the completion of the structural work involved in the enlargement of the foyer.
• 2012      The Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering enters partnership with Agilent Technologies to develop one of the largest electrical engineering training laboratories in the world. 
• 2013      Industry Study Centre opened
• 2015      First-in-Africa Virtual Reality Centre for mine design opens
• 2012      The Centre for Human Rights is the first recipient of the Africa Commission for Human and Peoples Rights prize to a non-government organisation for its contribution towards the safeguarding of human rights
• 2012      Tuks athletes win three medals at the 2012 Olympic Games
• 2013      Ranked among the top 500 universities in the world and one of the big five in South Africa
• 2013      Funding from Department of Higher Education and Training makes it possible for construction to start on various projects at the faculties of health sciences and veterinary science to enable an increased student intake
• 2014      SARChl Chair in Sustainable Malaria Control launched
• 2015      UP awarded four new SARChl academic chairs
• 2016      Tuks athletes win three medals at the 2016 Olympic Games. Team South Africa included 40 representatives from UP
• 2016      Well-known philanthropist and entrepeneur Bill Gates delivers the 14th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture
• 2017      Three University of Pretoria scientists are honoured at the Women in Science Awards (WISA 2017) hosted by the Minister of Science and Technology
• 2017      The University of Pretoria Camerata wins the international Grand Prix of Nations at the 3rd European Choir Games

- Author: UP Archives