STADIO Higher Education has unveiled its brand-new Durbanville campus, marking a major milestone in the city’s growing academic scene.
The first intake of students is expected to begin their studies in February 2026.
Built to accommodate between 4 000 and 5 000 contact-learning students, the state-of-the-art facility will offer higher certificates and undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. Spread across seven schools, including Education, IT, Law, Media and Design, Commerce, Architecture and Engineering, the new campus is set to become one of the largest private tertiary education hubs in the northern corridor of Cape Town, as reported by Business Tech.
Designed by BPAS Architects, the campus features 29 modern classrooms, laboratories and a multi-purpose hall capable of seating 1 000 students. A dedicated ‘Centre for Academic Success’ houses a library, study rooms and student support services, ensuring learners have access to both academic and personal resources.
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In line with STADIO’s forward-thinking approach, the new campus integrates sustainability through waterwise landscaping, rainwater harvesting systems and pedestrian-friendly walkways. Students will also enjoy sporting amenities, including netball courts, multi-use artificial surfaces and facilities for competitive rugby.
An innovative IT lab promises an interactive, technology-rich learning space, while two engineering labs are fitted with 3D printing, mechatronic and renewable-energy systems. These facilities will underpin new Higher Certificates in Mechatronics and Renewable Energy set to launch in 2026, with expanded offerings planned for 2027.
STADIO CEO Dr Stan du Plessis said the institution aims to play a vital role in shaping South Africa’s educational and economic future. ‘We can experiment with new academic models, work closely with industry, and introduce flexibility that traditional universities often can’t,’ he said.
He emphasised that STADIO’s goal is to complement rather than compete with public universities. ‘We’re not competing against public universities; we’re complementing them, expanding national capacity and providing choice.’
The Durbanville campus will serve as both a physical hub for contact learning and a base for STADIO’s hybrid and distance-learning model. ‘Durbanville strengthens our contact-learning capacity, but it also anchors a hybrid network that reaches students everywhere,’ said Du Plessis.
He added that South Africa’s challenge isn’t investment, but outcomes. ‘South Africa spends more on post-school education as a share of the national income than many wealthy countries. Yet our graduate output and employability rates remain stubbornly poor. The challenge isn’t funding; it’s how efficiently and effectively we use the resources we already have.’
According to Du Plessis, STADIO’s focus is on smart, efficient education design, not cost-cutting. ‘We deliberately don’t price for the elite end of the market. To serve the nation, we must keep the access price competitive, which requires smart systems behind the scenes.’
He believes the Durbanville campus is a step in that direction. ‘The Durbanville campus demonstrates what it means to invest wisely, to create world-class infrastructure that will serve thousands of students for decades.’
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Picture: STADIO Higher Education / Facebook
