CIDA City Campus was an accredited university, founded in 2000, located in Lyndhurst, Johannesburg.[1] It offers three year degrees in Bachelor of Business Administration.[2]

CIDA City Campus
Location
Map
Johannesburg
,
Gauteng

South Africa
Coordinates26°07′30″S 28°06′11″E / 26.125°S 28.103°E / -26.125; 28.103
Information
TypeAccredited University
Established2000
Closed2014
WebsiteCIDA City Campus

Description edit

The university was an accredited Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree school[3] It was called South Africa's "first low-cost tertiary education institution."[3] Students who qualify for the business degree program received a full scholarship including books, accommodations, transportation and tuition.[4] According to the university, more than 1,500 students graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.[5] CIDA City Campus serviced 800 disadvantaged students and 80% of its graduates were reported to have found full-time employment upon graduation.[6]

History edit

The CIDA City Campus was founded in 2000[2][7] with 250 students.[8] The Branson School of Entrepreneurship (BSE) was created as a partnership between CIDA City Campus founder Taddy Blecher and Richard Branson and the BSE became part of the CIDA City Campus' curriculum.[9] in Johannesburg, South Africa[10][11] In 2007, after the teaching of the Transcendental Meditation technique to students concerned some of CIDA's donors,[12] co-founder Taddy Blecher left the university to start another free educational body called the Maharishi Institute.

CIDA City Campus launched an educational program called, Mastery Academy of Construction, and began receiving financial support from the construction company Murray & Roberts, Barloworld and its Letsema Sizwe Trust in 2007.[13]

The university suspended its first year program in 2009 to allow for a restructuring that would create a certificate for those that did not qualify for the BBA program.[3] In June the university signed an agreement with Bournemouth University of Britain to create a school for tourism and hospitality. Using its CIDA Empowerment Fund, the university purchased a 25% ownership in Cambridge University Press.[14] In December 2012 CIDA City Campus became financially distressed and was put under the control of a business rescue firm.[7] In December, 2014, it was closed and deregistered.[15]

References edit

  1. ^ Unknown author (March 30, 2012). "New Facilities for CIDA ICT Academy". IT Online. Retrieved 2013-06-05. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ a b "CIDA City Campus". The Diamond Empowerment Fund. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Blaine, Sue (23 November 2009) Cida suspends foundation programme BDlive, accessed 30 Dec 2012
  4. ^ Unknown author CIDA Archived 2013-08-31 at the Wayback Machine Educating Africa, accessed June 5, 2013
  5. ^ CIDA City Campus Website http://www.cida.co.za/images/stories/cidainformationpack.pdf[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Omnicor Survey [1][permanent dead link] 2009
  7. ^ a b Jones, Gillian (May 9, 2013). "Lesson In Business Admin". Financial Mail. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
  8. ^ Unknown author (June 7, 2005). "Taddy Blecher believes in dreams". Joburg: Official website of the City of Johannesburg. Archived from the original on 2014-07-03. Retrieved July 5, 2013. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ Staff writer (October 27, 2005). "Richard Branson opens entrepreneur school in Joburg". The Good News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  10. ^ Branson, Richard (November 22, 2010). "Richard Branson on the Myth of the Lone-Wolf Entrepreneur". Entrepreneur. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  11. ^ Ruddick, Graham (July 25, 2009). "Sir Richard Branson teaches African entrepreneurs Dragons' Den-style". The Telegraph. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  12. ^ Jones, Gillian (May 16, 2013). "Unlocking Potential". Financial Mail. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
  13. ^ Blaine, Sue (12 November 2007) Groups tackle skills shortage, BDlive, accessed 30 December 2012
  14. ^ Blaine, Sue (17 June 2009) Cida deals mean chances for poor students BDlive, accessed 30 Dec 2012
  15. ^ Nkosi, Bongani (December 11, 2014). "Students out in the cold as Cida forced to close". Mail&Guardian. Retrieved 2024-01-20.

External links edit