Rand Afrikaans University

The Rand Afrikaans University was a prominent South African institution of higher education and research that served the greater Johannesburg area and surroundings from 1967 to 2004. It has since merged with the Technikon Witwatersrand and Vista University to form the University of Johannesburg.OriginsOn 5 November 1968, 468 delegates at a conference unanimously accepted a motion to establish an Afrikaans University. An act of Parliament was promulgated on 4 August 1965 to establish such a university in Johannesburg. Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) was founded as an Afrikaans language university in 1967 with just over 700 registered students. The first campus was situated in a brewery in Braamfontein. The RAU was officially opened on 24 February 1968. The first chancellor of the University was Dr Nicolaas Diederichs (then Minister of Finance of South Africa) and the first rector was Prof Gerrit Viljoen.The first women's residence was named "Amper Daar" (Almost there) and the first hostel for men "Afslaan" (Tee off), after the golf course on which it was built.Over time the university evolved to a dual medium institution, offering nearly all degree courses in both Afrikaans and English.FacultiesThe faculties of the RAU were as follows:Faculty of Commerce and EconomicsFaculty of LawFaculty of ScienceFaculty of EngineeringFaculty of ArtsFaculty of Health SciencesFaculty of Education and Nursing