It is both an honor and a profound privilege to welcome you to an institution that not only educates the nation but inspires the continent; a force that is shaping the educational destiny of societies across the entire globe: the College of Education at the University of South Africa. This college is not just an academic entity; it is a national treasure, a continental beacon, and a powerful engine of transformation.

The Unisa College of Education stands proudly as the largest college of education in South Africa, training more than 50% of teachers and stretching to other parts of the African continent. This is not just a measure of its size, but a testament to its reach, its ambition, and its enduring impact. Truly, it is a transformative force in the making of a just, equitable, and thriving society. With tens of thousands of students enrolled, it stretches across urban centers, rural villages, and digital landscapes empowering aspiring educators from every corner of Africa with knowledge, purpose, and passion.

For academics, this college represents a hub of rigorous research, pedagogy, and intellectual leadership. It is a space where knowledge is not only produced but contextualized, where theories are not imported wholesale, but reshaped in ways that reflect African realities and aspirations. It is here that we critically interrogate colonial legacies and develop education systems that are culturally relevant, socially just, and future-facing.

This College is the heartbeat of education in South Africa and beyond. It plays a critical role in shaping the future of our classrooms, our communities, and our countries. Every lesson taught within its programs reverberates through generations because to educate a teacher is to educate hundreds, even thousands, of learners across a lifetime.

Your studies here are not simply about earning a qualification; they are about acquiring the skills to uplift, to liberate, and to lead in classrooms that shape lives. That ripple effect is profound, and it starts right here.

At Unisa, we believe education is not merely a tool, it is the very foundation of progress. The College of Education has taken up the mantle of transforming the national education system by producing well-rounded, critically minded, ethical and socially responsible educators. Whether through early childhood development, inclusive education, curriculum innovation, or digital pedagogy, the College continues to lead in reimagining what African education can look like relevant, accessible, decolonized, and transformative.

The achievements speak for themselves. The College has successfully responded to the growing demand for qualified teachers by scaling high-quality distance education models that are inclusive and flexible. It has developed groundbreaking research on indigenous knowledge systems, literacy development, and inclusive education.

Through partnerships with national departments, NGOs and international institutions, it has influenced policy, shaped curriculum standards, and mentored the next generation of education leaders .The transformation of society begins with the transformation of education. The College of Education at UNISA is a strategic partner in that mission.

The College of Education at UNISA does not simply train teachers. It shapes leaders, visionaries, and changemakers. It equips individuals with the ability to challenge injustice, to innovate in the classroom, and to inspire generations to come. Unisa’s College of Education has embedded inclusive education into its curriculum and spearheaded research on multilingual learning, decolonial pedagogy, and digital access. It collaborates across ministries, NGOs, and global institutions, not as a follower, but as a leader in shaping educational futures.

The College of Education is shaping thinkers, builders, and catalysts for change. If Africa is to rise and fully claim it’s future, then we must invest, believe, and lead, then education must be our revolution.

We warmly welcome you to be part of the change in the education sector.

Prof. Mpine Makoe
Executive Dean, College of Education