Business
Akademia Opens New Paarl Campus: A Landmark for Afrikaans Higher Education
A New Chapter for Afrikaans Higher Education
On 15 October 2025, the Western Cape witnessed a milestone in South African education. The private Afrikaans university Akademia officially launched its new Paarl campus, opening the doors to full-time students from 2026.
Located at 1 Bredastraat, Esterville, the modern campus is Akademia’s first major expansion into the Western Cape and signals a bold step in preserving and promoting Afrikaans-language tertiary education.
For Managing Director Marthinus Visser, the launch is about more than bricks and lecture halls. “This campus does not belong only to Akademia,” he said during the opening ceremony. “It belongs to everyone who believes in the value of mother-tongue education.”
From Online Lessons to Modern Lecture Halls
Akademia’s journey began in 2012, founded by the Solidarity Movement as a small institution focused on Afrikaans part-time distance learning. For years, it provided online and contact classes through its Centurion study centre.
In 2021, the university opened a full-time campus in Die Hoewes, Centurion, with residence facilities for students. That development marked Akademia’s shift from a virtual classroom model to a fully-fledged tertiary institution.
Now, with the Paarl campus complete, Akademia has extended its physical footprint to the Western Cape, a region deeply rooted in Afrikaans heritage and culture.
What Students Can Expect in 2026
The Paarl campus is designed with both learning and community in mind. It features:
-
Lecture halls and collaboration spaces for group work and research
-
A fully equipped library
-
The Sowel-As coffee shop for students to unwind
-
Die Winkel, selling Akademia-branded merchandise
-
Secure access control and ample parking
When the first intake arrives in 2026, around 340 full-time students will join the campus. Akademia expects this number to exceed 2,000 by 2032.
The 2026 academic year will start with 52 staff members, including 25 academic lecturers and 27 departmental employees, with projections to grow to nearly 88 full-time staff by 2028.
Degrees Rooted in Language and Logic
All courses at Akademia are taught in Afrikaans, reinforcing the university’s vision of mother-tongue education at a tertiary level.
For the Paarl campus launch, students can choose from degrees across five faculties:
Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences
-
BCom in Economics and Law
-
BCom in Financial and Management Accounting
-
BCom in Business Management
Faculty of Humanities
-
BA in Communication and Journalism
-
BSocSci in Politics, Philosophy and Economics
Faculty of Natural Sciences
-
BSc in Computer Science
Faculty of Education
-
BEd in Foundation Phase Education
-
BEd in Intermediate Phase Education
Faculty of Law
-
LLB
These programmes join Akademia’s growing national portfolio, which already includes degrees in business, law, education, and technology. The introduction of the BSc in Computer Science in 2023 signalled the institution’s shift toward modern, tech-oriented learning in Afrikaans.
Building Towards the Future
The Paarl launch is part of a larger long-term vision. Akademia plans to open an even larger R3 billion campus in Pretoria by 2028, establishing itself as one of the leading private Afrikaans universities in South Africa.
For many in the community, Akademia represents more than an educational option; it’s a statement of cultural identity. By offering high-quality degrees in Afrikaans, the university provides students with the opportunity to study in their first language while preparing for global careers.
As the sun set over the Paarl mountains during the launch, one thing was clear: Akademia’s mission is not nostalgia; it’s growth. A modern university for a modern Afrikaans-speaking generation.
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikT
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
Source: Business Tech
Featured Image: Netwerk24
