IACI offers UNISA degrees, Distance Learning University, School, College of Distance Education

"I don't think so", says Dr. Michael Esselen, President of IACI, "truthfully, with the economy as it is today, it doesn't look like there's going to be a reform for student loans".

There are tens of million of students in USA who are in loan debt, and it's just getting worse.

The number of students who take out loans is growing. Almost 70% of graduates have taken student loans out. The question is, how much money do students owe when they graduate? Research shows that the minimum loan debt is $30,000, where the highest debt loan could rack up to about
$90,000 or more. In addition, colleges and universities increase their tuition fees on a yearly basis.

This is bad news.

If you are a USA resident, UNISA has a solution for you. Imagine paying about $2,000 per year for a two year program for a Masters or Doctoral degree. This can become your reality. For more information about UNISA and its fees, please visit our website and see how we can help you overcome the burden of student loan debt. (March 1st, 2013).

Licensee for the University of South Africa (UNISA) in USA and CANADA
- July 28, 1999

On Wednesday July 28, 1999 - UNISA (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA) Senate agreed to appoint international licensee to represent the school outside of South-Africa. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between IACI and UNISA, whereby authorizing IACI to act as the University's Licensee in Canada. This agreement was signed for IACI by Dr. Michael Esselen, the Corporation's President.

In addition, March 2003 marked the month and year of a new agreement signed, whereby authorizing IACI to act as the University's Licensee in the USA.

International Academic Correspondence Incorporated (IACI) is providing non-academic support and administrative services, including test centres, for persons residing in North and South America who are considering or already registered in distance education courses and programs offered by UNISA.

All programmes are UNISA distance learning programmes. Any Certificates, Diplomas, Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees are conferred in South Africa, awarded by UNISA, and not by IACI.

Unisa Receives Accreditation from American Distance Education & Training Council

On January 12, 2002 the University of South Africa was accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) in the United States. The accreditation means that a prestigious international Accrediting Commission has concluded that Unisa is a quality distance education institution that sets attainable educational outcomes for its academic programs, provides materials and services to enable students to reach those objectives, and has the capacity to continue to provide these services in future (Unisa, Media Release - February 13, 2002).

Unisa's qualifications are comparable to those of other institutions in the States and elsewhere in the world that have been accredited by DETC. Unisa may use the DETC seal on its material which should enable the institution to attract more students. The accreditation is valid for a five-year period after which the institution is re-evaluated. DETC is aware of the current merger plans and will be kept up to date.

Mr. Michael Lambert, the CEO of DETC, and Dr. Joseph Gurubatham, who chaired the examining committee, will be presenting the accreditation at a function at Unisa in early February. DETC was founded as the National Home Study Council in 1926 and became an independent Accrediting Commission in 1955, acknowledged by the US Office of Education as the 'nationally recognized accrediting agency' for distance education institutions. It is periodically reviewed by the US Department of Education to ensure that it meets the criteria for federal recognition.

The Accrediting Commission was reviewed in 2001 and its official approval extended for a further five-year period. DETC is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, a non-governmental body that recognizes and coordinates the activities of higher education accrediting agencies throughout the US. DETC accreditation is based on a rigorous peer review of the institution and of all programs and materials based on twelve pre-determined standards developed over a number of years.

During 2001, Unisa appointed a team of three people to drive the accreditation process: Mr. Jan Munnik, Director of the Collaboration Unit, Mrs. Dallas Leibbrandt, head of Despatch, and senior academic Professor Wendy Kilfoil. With the cooperation of the faculties and administrative and professional departments, a self-evaluation report was drawn up. Materials were sent out to external evaluators at other universities for off-site evaluation. Students were polled for their views of the university's programs and services. In August, an onsite examination team consisting of four US academic and business experts, two South African academic evaluators and an observer from the South African Higher Education Quality Committee, inspected the Cape Town and Pretoria campuses, interviewing hundreds of staff and students in the process.

Issued by: Doreen Gough, Head, Media Affairs Corporate Communication & Marketing, UNISA

"There is nothing more difficult to execute nor more dubious of success, nor more dangerous to administer than to introduce a new system of things: for he who introduces it has all those who profit from the old system as his enemies and he has only lukewarm allies in all those who might profit from the new system."
- Machiavelli: The Prince, Book VI

I assumed office as Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of South Africa (UNISA) on Tuesday 27 November 2001. It is an honor and a privilege to be elected by the Council of the UNISA to lead the institution during this most critical phase of its history.

My earlier assumption of office was at the invitation of the Chairperson of Council and endorsed by the meeting of Council on the 28 November. In order to be able to do so, I had to take leave of absence from the South African Human Rights Commission with the support of the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Hon Dr Penuell Maduna, MP and with the authority of the President. I wish to thank them both most sincerely for their kind consideration. My colleagues in the SAHRC have been most supportive and I am grateful to them for their understanding.

Since my appointment was announced, I have received numerous messages of congratulations and support from staff at UNISA. I have been most touched by the welcome I have received at UNISA since assuming office. During this time, I have met all the stakeholders at the institution: executive management, deans, institutional forum, trade unions, and students. From all these quarters I sense a sincere desire to put UNISA on course and for a committed and principles leadership as well as an effective management. I am aware that there are legitimate concerns about the public profile, reputation and image of the institution. The word is that the institution needs stability, a mission and vision as well as a strategy to forge ahead into the future. Likewise the meeting of Council on the 28th was unanimous in its resolve that the Principal and Vice Chancellor should take charge of the institution, execute the policies of Council and set in place the mandate reflected in our Constitution and higher education framework policies. I am humbly conscious of the responsibility I bear and I intend to discharge it as faithfully as I can.

The fundamental responsibility of any leader and manager is to build a management team that can enhance the common or shared vision. Such a team must show unity of purpose, collegiality, mutual respect and mutual accountability. I have inherited a team at UNISA that has not always been working well together. I am assured by all the members of my team that we shall proceed on the basis of team work and with vision in order to assure all the members of the university and to deliver on the expectations they rightly have on us. We can assure all our colleagues equality of treatment, dignity, fairness and justice in all our dealings with one another.

The second responsibility is to develop an institutional culture. There can be no gainsaying the fact that UNISA is and has been for a long time a very divided institution. Our task is to bring greater unity, common perspectives about the institution, its vision and mission and common strategies for the execution thereof. Such a culture must be built on dialogue and sometimes vigorous debate, tolerance and affirmation of diverse views, cultures and opinions and yet mutual respect.

UNISA has an obligation to project itself as more forcefully as more confident, modern, dynamic and exciting an institution. It is important to develop healthy relations with the Ministry of Education. Council has charged me with the task of promoting better dialogue and understanding with the Ministry. As an institution we shall be reflecting in our academic programs the values reflected in our Constitution and the endeavors to position South Africa in African affairs. We shall have to give confidence about this modern and get ahead institution to students and prospective students, to the alumni, donors and benefactors. We must continue to market this institution to get its fair share of corporate sponsorship and endowments, the lifeline of any self-respecting institution of higher education. As a modern institution, we must continue to review our instruments, look to new learning methods, perfect our pedagogy through electronic systems, radio and television. There is invaluable expertise at UNISA and resources that can fashion a dynamic learning environment.

Finally, UNISA will be making a contribution to the vision that the government has elaborated in open and distance higher education. It will be the leader in extending access to learning especially by the most needy of our communities. It will contribute generously to the national vision for South Africa to become a learning society. The proposed merger with TSA and VUDEC provides exciting opportunities and challenges which we are ready to face and to contribute to a dynamic, modern, comprehensive system of open and distance education in our country.

None of this would have been even imaginable without the army of dedicated academics and staff who have served UNISA faithfully over a long time. We build on a great history and on solid foundations. But change holds no terrors for a confident and successful institution. We are confident about the future of UNISA under new leadership. We are resolved to fashion a transformation agenda through consultation and participation. We are building a different UNISA that can meet the challenges of the new South Africa.

I look forward to working very closely with the Council of the University of South Africa and with any interim structure the Minister will put in place for the new institution. I wish to pay tribute to the Council of the University especially its Chairperson, Adv McCaps Motimele for his dedication, vision and singular purpose in laying the foundations for transformation at UNISA. I have been most impressed by the maturity of the student leadership of the university and I have noted the academic and research output of the academic staff. All this needs consolidation and focus. There is a dedicated administrative and management team at UNISA. I feel honored to be part of that team.

Women are taking the lead in numbers at Unisa - both as students and as staff members. This one of the exciting developments in the transformation of the University of South Africa.

Fifty six percent of students - are women and they form just over half the staff - 51% members. For the first time in the University's 125 year history a woman has been elected as chairperson of Council. However, women have yet to become more representative in management at Unisa - all deans and the majority of heads of department are men.

The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences has the most degree registrations - 45 019 which is an indication of the needs of today's students who require practical degrees that will equip them to compete in the fields of economics and management. The Faculty of Science is one of the largest in the country with just over 6 000 students. The Faculty of Arts remains large with 42 528 degree registrations, Law Faculty has 9 416, Education has 5 805 and Theology and Religious Studies, 1 089. The rest of the registrations are for non-degree purposes.

Unisa's 1997 pass rate for undergraduate students who sat for examinations is 71.4% and for postgraduates, 78.2%. The University awarded 10 568 degrees during 56 graduation ceremonies this year. Over the past 30 years the University has awarded 117 479 degrees and 26 022 diplomas. Unisa's qualifications are recognized in most overseas countries.

Fees are cheap at Unisa - this year a first year course cost R760, a second year course R820 and a third year course R1 200.

Unisa has taken steps to both trim its sails and offer students more access to higher learning. Of its 1 994 courses, approximately 150 are in the process of being phased out. Access courses in English, Mathematics and Science and in the Faculties of Economic and Management Sciences and Law have been introduced, which, if successfully completed will allow students who do not have university entrance school leaving certificates to gain entrance to degree programs.

Semester courses have been introduced in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences and it is planned to extend this to other faculties. A variety of certificate courses in all faculties offer students means to qualify themselves in subjects such as business management, street law. The University has also introduced intermediate qualifications after students have successfully completed courses at certain levels, such as the Diploma in Data metrics.