St Augustine College of South Africa(1)

ST AUGUSTINE COLLEGE OF SOUTH AFRICA

53 Ley Road, Victory Park, 2195 Johannesburg Tel: (+27) (0) 11 380-9084

P O Box 44782 Linden 2104, South Africa Fax: (+27) (0) 11 380-9284

Website: www.staugustine.ac.za E-mail: [email protected]

St Augustine College of South Africa is a private Catholic University founded

in 1999. At the time that its foundation was mooted, South Africa was on the brink of its first ever

truly democratic elections. Anticipating vast economic, political and social changes, a group of

Catholic academics, clergy and business people recognized the opportunity that a Catholic

University would have to make a significant moral and academic contribution to the development

of the country. Their intentions included the following:

� To redress the grave injustices of the past by restoring

the dignity of the human person as the basic requirement of

all human development

� To create a center of research and higher education aimed at promoting intellectual and

ethical leadership in a variety of fields

� To provide an alternative to the dominant secular-liberal model of the university and to

promote pluralism in higher education by establishing and stimulating cross-cultural

dialogue

� To make the resources of the Catholic intellectual tradition available to the broader South

African population

� To provide academic support and research facilities for the development of African culture,

especially in respect of its history, heritage, values and spirituality

� To inculcate principles of political, economic and social justice as the foundation of peace

and security

� To promote the re-establishment and consolidation of family and community links as the

basis of a flourishing society

� To address the serious moral issues arising from crime and corruption (particularly in politics

and in the workplace)

� To build a conscious responsibility for preserving the integrity of the natural environment

� To make the tertiary educational services offered by the College

accessible to all while giving priority to the poor and those from other

disadvantaged groups and so increase their employment potential

Registered with the Department of Education as a private higher education institution

under the Higher Education Act. 1997. Certificate No. 2000/HE08/002





As the first such institution in the country the College offers a range of certificates,

undergraduate degrees in Commerce (Politics, Philosophy and Economics), Theology, Humanities

and Education, a Postgraduate Diploma, a BEd (Honours), five degrees of Master of Philosophy,

and two Doctorates (in Philosophy and Theology). The aim of research and education at St Augustine College is a Catholic

humanism that involves the integral development of person, society, culture and

humanity as a whole. We also wish to articulate a proper understanding of the

transformative significance of different religions and to show how authentic

spirituality can contribute to the renewal of the wider society. The College prides itself on its diverse faculties since it contributes to a robust intellectual

identity and a sensitivity to difference as key to learning, debate, and personal growth. A number of

internationally prominent academics comprise the faculty in keeping with our reputation for

research that is critically engaged with South African society, with its particular cultural diversity.

We situate ourselves in a complex and ambiguous global context, keenly aware of the impact of

economic globalization, as we address the problems of

marginalization and development in Africa as a whole along with

the challenges of culture, renewal and intercultural dialogue,

poverty, unemployment, crime democratization, human rights

and interfaith dialogue within South Africa. The name 'St Augustine' was chosen in order to indicate the African identity

of the College. St Augustine of Hippo, one of the greatest Christian scholars of Africa, always sought

to apply his theological insights to challenges to the society of his time. His concern with the common

good remains ours. The aim of the College is to contribute to the good of society and culture by

forming leaders who are equipped with the skills of life-long learning and who will be prepared for

citizenship, service, and leadership in a global society. It is firmly committed to the moral renewal of

society and to the consolidation of values such as non-violence, gender equality, economic and social

justice, cultural sensitivity and care for the natural environment. Stress is laid on the practical skills

needed for assuming meaningful roles in the renewal of local communities.

Registered with the Department of Education as a private higher education institution

under the Higher Education Act. 1997. Certificate No. 2000/HE08/002





St Augustine College sets a high priority on the

academic content of its courses in order to make them

comparable to the best in the world. It also strives to widen the

horizons of its students by inviting lecturers from eminent

institutions such as the University of Tübingen (Germany), the

Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium), Duke University (USA), Notre Dame University (USA),

Boston College (USA), the Catholic Institute of West Africa (Nigeria), the Radboud University

Nijmegen (The Netherlands), the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) and others, to participate in

its lecturing and other programmes. Some of our researchers have

been awarded scholarships, and their research has taken them to

North America, Europe, and Continental Africa.

The College library has approximately 35,000 books, including

1665 volumes of the special collection, called the Grimley Library, which is the oldest theological

library in South Africa, ranging in publication dates from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

The College is situated in Victory Park, a tranquil suburb of Johannesburg. Its spacious

campus is located in a lovely park-like garden.

More information about St Augustine College is to be found on the website:

www.staugustine.ac.za.

Documents

St Augustine College of South Africa(1)