Globally, higher education and R&D are increasingly becoming some of the most important factors for the development of society and the viability of continued growth of the economic system. The strategic alignment of the CSIR and University of Pretoria within the SERA Alliance has enabled the harnessing of a wide spectrum of capabilities and infrastructure towards building South Africa's innovation capacity.
The University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is the leading research university in South Africa and one of the largest in the country. In 1996, UP became the University with the highest research output in South Africa and has since maintained that status. The University is ranked as one of the top 500 universities in the world and is only one of four universities in South Africa to have achieved this distinction.
In 2008, student numbers totalled 57 409 comprising of 38 934 contact and 18 475 distance students. The University has six campuses and a number of other operational sites such as the Pretoria Academic Hospital. The University of Pretoria offers its more than 1 800 academic programmes. The academic programmes of the University are offered in nine faculties and a business school. The faculties comprise a total of 140 departments and 85 centres, institutes and bureaus.
UP is at the forefront of tertiary education in the country and collaborates with world-class partners to ensure continued excellence in learning and teaching - it celebrated its centenary in 2008.
The CSIR
The CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multi-disciplinary research, technological innovation as well as industrial and scientific development to improve the quality of life of the country's people.
The CSIR is committed to supporting innovation in South Africa to improve national competitiveness in the global economy. Science and technology services and solutions are provided in support of various stakeholders, and opportunities are identified where new technologies can be further developed and exploited in the private and public sectors for commercial and social benefit.
The CSIR's shareholder is the South African Parliament, held in proxy by the Minister of Science and Technology.
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