May 2003

Dear Student and Parent

PROPOSED MERGER OF UPE, PE TECHNIKON AND VISTA-PE[ 南非故事 Cooltang.com ]

Thank you for the interest you have shown in UPE, which is fast becoming one of South Africa’s premier higher education institutions, as is borne out by our recent academic achievements and various awards received last year.

We know that the decision of the Minister of Education to merge UPE, PE Technikon, and the Port Elizabeth campus of Vista University may have caused some uncertainty and hope that this letter will help to provide some answers for you.[ 南非故事 Cooltang.com ]

We at UPE have welcomed the merger because we believe the new institution will bring together the best of university and technikon education, and will have significant advantages for our students. These include offering a wider variety of courses, student facilities, and social and sporting activities; as well as improved cost-efficiency.

UPE is scheduled to incorporate the Port Elizabeth campus of Vista University on 1 January 2004, followed by the merger with the PE Technikon on 1 January 2005. We will still be “UPE” for the duration of 2004, and will become a new institution from 1 January 2005, with a new name linked to the Nelson Mandela Metropole where we are situated.[ 南非故事 Cooltang.com ]

While we work with our partners at Vista and PE Technikon to implement the merger, the academic programme and business of UPE are carrying on as usual. We wish to assure you that students can still enrol at UPE and will continue to receive high quality tuition and support. We are committed to ensuring that the merger process takes place with as little disruption to our students as possible.

Should you choose to enrol at UPE in 2004, you will register for a UPE programme and, if you successfully complete your studies, will graduate with a university degree in the name of the new institution, endorsed by the University of Port Elizabeth. UPE and the new institution are legally obliged to ensure that students are able to complete the programmes for which they enrolled. [ 南非故事 Cooltang.com ]

A UPE degree will continue to hold the same high status as it currently does, and we are strong advocates of the retention of quality standards in the new comprehensive institution currently in creation.

Should you have any further questions, you are welcome to contact our marketing manager Paul Geswindt on 041 504 2162 or e-mail paul.geswindt@upe.ac.za

I wish you all the best with your application and hope to welcome you to the UPE family in 2004![ 南非故事 Cooltang.com ]

Yours sincerely

DR ROLF STUMPF
VICE-CHANCELLOR & CEO