St Augustine College of South Africa, SACSA

BRIEF HISTORY
The idea of founding a Catholic University for South Africa was born in 1993 when a group of Catholic academics, clergy, and businessmen started exploring it.

In 1994 an extensive investigation was carried out to test the viability of such a project. This was done through a symposium attended by 33 academics and clergy, and by a nation-wide feasibility study which revealed that there was an overwhelming support for a Catholic university but that the project was too big to be undertaken in its entirety. It would have to be tackled in stages.
In 1996 a trust called the Catholic University of South Africa, consisting of prominent business leaders and academics was set up under the chairmanship of Bishop Reginald Orsmond, Bishop of Johannesburg.

Throughout the preliminary stages the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) was kept informed. Informal contacts with catholic and secular universities in the United States and Europe were explored and have brought about a growing international interest, especially from the Universities of Notre Dame (USA) and Leuven (Belgium), and from the University of Koblenz-Landau (Germany). Leading academics from these institutions now serve on the Board of Trustees.

At the beginning of 1997 two trustees undertook an extensive study tour to some 25 Catholic institutions and universities in Europe and the United States of America to explore the possible affiliation and academic support. The tour was initiated, organised and funded by an overseas donor. The proposal to establish a Catholic University in South Africa was favourably received. Pledges of support, co-operation and staff exchange have been received from several Universities such as: Notre dame, Georgetown, Boston, Boston College, Leuven, Nijmegen, and Koblenz-Landau.

COURSES OFFERED AT THE St AUGUSTINE COLLEGE OF SOUTH AFRICA