About us

Background 

The Department of Life and Consumer Sciences of the University of South Africa (Unisa) resulted from the 2004 merger that took place between Unisa, Technicon RSA and VUDEC.  During the merger the Department of Consumer Science, which was previously known as the Department of Home Economics and, thereafter changed to the Department of Community Resource Technology, functioned as a department on its own.  In 2006 the Department of Consumer Science joined forces with the Department of Life Sciences to form the new Department of Life and Consumer Sciences.  You can now find us on the Florida Campus. 

Although this department serves two separate divisions (Life Science and Consumer Science) it has, in a very short period, become a leader in new technology, research and the application of Open Distance Learning principles in both of these divisions.  Our Department considers collaborative relationships with industry, manufacturers and retailers, locally and internationally, a very important aspect of successful tuition and research.  We therefore engage widely and encourage our students to follow this example when studying with us. 

Our programmes are designed to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge that will make you competitive within the work environment of the particular programme you have chosen. In the near future state of the art laboratories at the Florida campus will support research and postgraduate training in various fields of speciality. To achieve this, we will shortly have state of the art laboratories at the Florida campus where you will receive tuition in your practical modules that is applicable to most of the Life Science modules and some of the Consumer Science modules.  We also assist our students with work integrated learning opportunities where they can gain first hand experience of the workplace and the application of their knowledge. 

Objectives of the Department of Life and Consumer Sciences:

• achieve excellence in teaching, research and community engagement by building  relationships  with various companies, institutions and interested parties;
• develop and adapt the Science programmes to be relevant in current economic, social and cultural contexts;
• integrate research and teaching into the Science programme thereby giving the student factual, significant and most recent information with which to build their knowledge base and skills;
• engage in basic, innovative and applied research of inter-, multi- and trans-disciplinary nature to  address  problems and needs;
• give students the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills that will allow them to become part of the economic, management and scientific force in South Africa.