University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (/vətˈvɑːtəsrɑːnt/), commonly known as Wits University or Wits, is a multi-campus public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg, South Africa. The university has its roots in the mining industry, as do Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand in general. Founded in 1896 as the South African School of Mines in Kimberley,[2] it is the third oldest South African university in continuous operation.[5]
Former names
South African School of Mines (1896–1904), Transvaal Technical Institute (1904–1906), Transvaal University College (1906–1910), South African School of Mines and Technology (1910–1920), University College, Johannesburg (1920–1922)[1]
1922[2]
Isaac Shongwe
1,112 (Full-time, Permanent)[4]
40,259[4]
25,352[4]
14,025[4]
2,153[4]
Blue
Gold
Wits
Kudos Kudu
The university has an enrolment of 40,259 students as of 2018, of which approximately 20 percent live on campus in the university's 17 residences. 63 percent of the university's total enrolment is for undergraduate study, with 35 percent being postgraduate and the remaining 2 percent being Occasional Students.[4]
Sites[edit]
Provincial heritage sites and heritage objects[edit]
The University of the Witwatersrand houses two provincial heritage sites and two heritage objects. The Great Hall (technically the façade of the Robert Sobukwe Building, formerly known as Central Block, in which the Great Hall is located),[39] and the Dias Cross housed in the William Cullen Library[40] are both provincial heritage sites. They were formerly national monuments, until 1 April 2000 when the National Monuments Council was replaced by a new system which made former national monuments the responsibility of provincial governments following the passage of the National Heritage Resources Act.[41] The heritage objects are Jan Smuts' study, housed in Jan Smuts House,[42] and the Paul Loewenstein Collection of rock art.[43] All of the university's national heritage sites and objects are located on East Campus.
University rankings
301–400 (2023)
=264 (2024)
301–350 (2024)
=244 (2023)
40 (2019)
2 (2021)
11 (2020)
2 (2021)
Academics[edit]
Research[edit]
Wits University is the home to 28 South African Research Chairs and six DST-NRF Centres of Excellence. There are just more than 423 NRF rated researchers, of whom 28 are 'international leading scholars' in their research fields, or so called A-rated researchers.[56] The university also has a wide range of research entities including 10 national Centres of Excellence.[4]
Wits Enterprise[edit]
Wits Enterprise is wholly owned by University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg to commercialise the intellectual property of the university. They are also responsible for short courses, technology transfer and research support.[97]
