User talk:Chris Kanyane
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The University of Limpopo began its existence as the University College of the North. Since the Medical University of South Africa was incorporated into the University in 2004 to become University of Limpopo it is now called University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus). In 1959 the University College of the North was established on a portion of the farm “Turfloop”. The farm Turfloop lies in a very picturesqure part at the eastern edge of the Polokwane plateau. The undulating grasslands interspersed with granite koppies that jut out dramatically add a moonscape touch to the scenery. To the east the foothills of the central Drakensberg and to the south the Wolkberg mountain range part of the Strydpoort range, combine to frame and emphasize the natural scenic beauty. The central spine of the University nestles snugly between two granite koppies. Rectangular, single storeyed buildings in juxtaposition, running from south to north and linked with a paved walkway cutting through the center of the campus, constitute the central spine and form a focal point of academic activity. The central spine also forms the western boundary of the academic zone and marks the beginning of the student social and residential zone to the west. To the south of the academic zone lies the staff residential zone. The University grew under the trusteeship of the University of South Africa with three faculties, In 1969 the institution gained full university status and commenced operating as the University of the North in 1970 with five faculties: Economics & Administration, Arts, Education, Maths & Natural Sciences and Theology.
Originally, the University was created by the then Apartheid government to become an inferior bush university that will give reasons for refusing admission for black people into the ivy white universities in the city centres.
But from its inception the university was catapulated above these racial stereotypes. From its very beginning it become a trappings of honour for the rest of southern African region. Ironically the seeds of growth and successful development of the university were laid by a small core band of white Afrikaaners. As the second rector of the University Professor Boshoff remarked in 1968: “I very soon discovered an amazing paradox. Many people, including some academics who had been critical of the establishment of the University, and who were responsible for coining the phrase “college of witchcraft in the bush” were showing signs of coming around to recognize and to accept the University as a University
The first rector of the university Professor Evert Potgieter , besides being a white Afrikaaner, builded the university single handely planned the university and equipped it with modern facitiliteis and beautiful structures which are still the hallmarks of University of Limpopo. With little funds provided by the apartheid government he kept the fires and ensured that the university does not become the bush university it was intended. In fact at this time one can not even imagine life in South Africa without arousing that inkling of the huge contribution University of the North made in South Africa at large and even beyond the neighbouring countries. When Nelson Mandela was released from prison he became the university's chancellor.The University’s academic structure • The Turfloop Campus consists of three Faculties and 11 Schools. Faculty of Humanities • School of Social Sciences • School of Languages and Communication studies • School of Education Faculty of Management Sciences and Law • School of Economics and Management • School of Law • Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership Faculty of Sciences, Health and Agriculture • School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences • School of Health Sciences • School of Physical and Mineral Sciences • School of Molecular and Life Sciences • School of Computational and Mathematical Sciences.
[edit] Family Literacy
This article has too much passive voice and really needs to cite some references, esp. regarding statistics quoted in the article.TheRingess 07:58, 21 December 2005 (UTC)
