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The University of Venda, situated in Thohoyandou in the scenic Vhembe district of the Limpopo Province of South Africa, was established in 1982. The university has ever experienced tremendous growth and change. From its early years, staff members were drawn from various backgrounds in South Africa, but by 1994 staff members were increasingly recruited from other African countries and overseas. The campus of staff from diverse backgrounds created a unique atmosphere and a fertile environment for new ideas and a capacity for change. During this time, the institution remained a traditional university that offered a full range of courses straddling the humanities, social sciences, natural and applied sciences. With the advent of democracy in 1994 and new leadership at the helm, Univen embarked on accelerated transformation. From 1995 the university shifted its focus to science and technology, resulting in introducing new programs with an increase in student enrollment in the natural and applied sciences. In 2002, the Department of Education mandated the institution to transform into a comprehensive university that offers career-focused programs. Before its new mandate, Univen had already taken a step to establish some career-focused programs emphasizing science and technology. During each transformation stage, the university aligned its vision and mission to the community's needs at local, regional, national, continental, and international levels. This transformation process created significant changes in administrative governance and the size and shape of the curriculum. It also attracted better-qualified staff and resulted in an improved student profile. The university has established itself as a national asset through its niche on the problem-oriented, project-based curriculum to nurture underprepared students into nationally competitive graduates. Therefore, the university has become an essential player in the South African higher education landscape, contributing significantly to the country and region's human resources and development needs. The University of Venda aspires to be at the tertiary education center for rural and regional development in Southern Africa. The University of Venda, anchored on the pillars of excellence in teaching, learning, research, and community engagement, produces graduates imbued with knowledge, skills, and qualifications which are locally relevant and globally competitive. View full university