Private higher education provider Stadio Holdings is experiencing such high demand that it is moving forward with the construction of its Durbanville campus following a 57% spike in student numbers at its Bellville campus this year.

The JSE-listed Stadio announced the new contact learning campus in Durbanville during its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday (19 June).

This campus will complement their existing locations in Bellville, Musgrave, Randburg, Hatfield, and Waterfall.

The board approved a phased construction approach for the new campus, with phase one commencing in 2024 at a cost of R220 million. The construction will be financed 50% through cash reserves and 50% through long-term debt.

The new Durbanville campus is set to open in 2026 with an initial intake of 1,000 students. It may also support distance-education students needing access to computer labs or other facilities after hours.

Stadio, which has about 90% of its students enrolled online, has seen a significant rise in demand for both distance and in-person tertiary education. In 2023, the number of distance-learning students grew by 11% to 40,689, while contact-learning students increased by 2% to 5,819.

Key points about the Durbanville campus:

Stadio said it is on track to achieve 56,000 students by 2026, with a long-term goal of over 100,000 students.

The group aims for 80% of its students to be in distance learning and 20% in contact learning, requiring minimal capital investment for sustainable growth.

The Stadio Higher Education’s Graduate Employability Survey indicated that 84% of graduates were employed or continuing their studies within two months of graduation, increasing to 90% within nine months.

As one of South Africa’s top 10 largest higher education providers, Stadio is positioning itself to meet the growing demand for higher education, playing a critical role in addressing the educational needs of the nation.