A day in the life at the University of Pretoria. 09 March 2001.

On this "Day in the life of the University of Pretoria" the National Plan for Higher Education was gazetted.

Prof Esmé du Plessis, the then Chairperson of the  UP Council (2003–2008) explained in Ad Destinatium V how this piece of legislation (Notice No 230) impacted on Tukkies:

The policy proposals put forward in the NPHE were designed to ensure that universities would transform themselves into institutions of higher learning that would fulfil their rightful roles of becoming the intellectual homes for the rich diversity of talented students and academics in the new South Africa, also taking the national imperatives into consideration. Each university council had the responsibility of identifying the specific changes spelt out in the NPHE that were relevant to its particular institution, and of ensuring that these changes were implemented. This created a framework within which the Council of the University of Pretoria had to exercise its governance responsibilities. It placed a further obligation on Council in addition to its usual governance functions. This was to oversee the introduction of appropriate changes within the University… As could be expected, there were some specific challenges, such as the incorporation of the Mamelodi Campus of the former Vista University into the University of Pretoria in a constructive and acceptable manner. The University not only assumed the responsibility for providing excellent education to all students on that campus, but also identified a need and responsibility to contribute to the wellbeing of the Mamelodi community.

The UPA preserves the history of the University of Pretoria. We have an extensive photo collection and earlier copies of the senate, council and faculty minutes. The volumes of the University’s history captured in Ad Destinatium i-v, as featured here, also forms part of our collection. Please contact us on [email protected] to share your memories of Tukkies or access our collection virtually.