PROFILE STADIO HIGHER EDUCATION as a carefully designed process that applies lessons from the Industrial Revolution: specialisation, collaboration and efficiency.
“ Instead of asking one lecturer to do everything from programme design to lecturing and assessment, we’ ve built specialist teams for each part of the process – with strong coordination across them. This allows us to deliver programmes more efficiently while safeguarding quality,” he explains.
This focus on efficiency also underpins STADIO’ s pricing strategy.“ We deliberately want to serve the broad market, not price for the elite. Keeping our programmes affordable is only possible if we deliver them efficiently – but that’ s the only way to open access to all South Africans.” throughout their working lives.“ We need to think horizontally – reaching more South Africans – and vertically, expanding our role in the lives of each student,” he says.“ That means being there five, 10 or 15 years later, when people need reskilling or leadership preparation. Sometimes it won’ t be a degree, but a shorter programme or specialist skill. Our relationship with students must be lifelong.”
In the age of GenAI, that might well be STADIO’ s trump card.
Enthusiasm for education
Known for his accessible leadership style, Du Plessis plans to be visible on campuses and in regular contact with staff and students. Above all, he hopes that students and staff experience him as a true enthusiast for higher education.
Success measured beyond studies
Central to Du Plessis’ s vision is the alignment of academic programmes with the job market. He believes the institution’ s success should be measured not by the number of graduates, but by how many of those graduates find work.“ We want our students to gain access, to succeed in their studies, and then to get a good job. That changes the trajectory of whole families,” he says.
To achieve this, STADIO is strengthening ties with industry and committing to measure graduate employability directly – something largely absent in South Africa’ s higher education.“ We won’ t just ask if students are employed; we’ ll ask if they’ re employed in the fields we’ ve prepared them for. That feedback must shape our programmes.”
Growth and recognition
Over the next five years, Du Plessis expects the institution to achieve a“ step change” in size and impact. The institution is targeting 80 000 students by the end of the decade, supported by a blend of distance and contact learning. Investments in campuses – including a new comprehensive campus in Durbanville – will improve student experience for both contact and distance learners.
He also has his eye on STADIO’ s next big milestone: recognition as a fully-fledged university.“ That is ultimately a regulatory decision, but our responsibility is to deliver the quality, efficiency and student success that will make that recognition possible.”
Broadening and deepening access through lifelong learning
Du Plessis believes the role of a modern university is not just to prepare students for their first career, but to support them
“ As leaders in the academic environment, we must do more than just impart knowledge – we must inspire. We have the rare opportunity to change the lives of students and their families. That’ s something worth getting excited about,” he says. ■
About STADIO
STADIO Higher Education is managed by STADIO Holdings Group, a JSE-listed company established with a vision to empower the nation by widening access to higher education. STADIO Group is one of the largest higher education providers in the country, providing quality tertiary qualifications to approximately 46 000 students through more than 90 accredited programmes.
With a clear focus on student-centricity and the everchanging world of work, STADIO’ s programmes are aligned with industry requirements to prepare its students for successful careers.
STADIO offers qualifications ranging from higher certificates to master’ s degrees and doctorates across seven disciplines. Students can choose between flexible distance and online learning options, or enjoy an immersive on-campus experience at one of nine campuses around the country. These campuses include the brand-new STADIO Durbanville comprehensive campus in the Western Cape. Launching in mid-2025, the campus has a planned capacity of between 4 000 and 5 000 students and will offer a range of schools spanning education, IT, law, media and design, commerce, architecture and engineering.
For more information, visit www. stadio. ac. za.
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