One year after DePaul University forged a unique education collaboration with the University of Free State (UFS) to create new programs for students in the formerly whites-only South African university, DePaul is poised to become an innovator in shaping the future of higher education in South Africa.

      "People who have long held positions of responsibility in areas such as business and government that traditionally require higher education are now able to earn bachelor's and advanced degrees," said David Justice, vice president for Lifelong Learning at DePaul and one of the engineers of the project. "In fact, three members of South Africa's provincial legislature are enrolled in the bachelor's degree program, and the provincial minister for education is pursuing his MBA at UFS."

     South African academic, government and business officials have praised the partnership as a new era in education.

     "Everyone was enormously grateful, and current students in particular feel that the educational programs are life changing ones," said Justice. "One of DePaul's goals is to become a more international institution of learning and these programs are the most concrete expression of this effort on the continent of Africa."

     DePaul's School for New Learning (SNL) and Kellstadt Graduate School of Business signed collaborative agreements with UFS in late 1998. The goal of the partnership was for DePaul to help UFS improve academic quality and expand educational access in a nation emerging from the racial separatism of apartheid.

     DePaul worked with UFS to develop a management leadership degree modeled after an SNL program, and a master's of business administration degree similar to one offered at Kellstadt.

     The programs are a major departure from what was offered under apartheid, which denied blacks access to colleges and universities. Now, with a budding economy, the nation has a tremendous need for an educated adult workforce and entrepreneurial leadership to help guide its business and commercial enterprises.

     The DePaul-modeled programs also represent a new style of education at UFS. For instance, classes under the old system consisted only of professors lecturing to vast numbers of students, with final exams as the sole determinant of grades, according to Justice. Now, UFS classes are smaller and professors interact directly with students, who learn to work in teams in order to solve problems and complete projects. Grades are based on numerous criteria.

     DePaul's alliance with UFS has the potential for expansion to other universities throughout sub-Saharan Africa where DePaul is currently one of the best-known American universities.

     In the future, DePaul hopes to enrich and mold the educational experience of students at DePaul in Chicago and UFS through such initiatives as joint faculty research and professor exchanges. Faculty members from the two institutions have already gained knowledge and experience by visiting each other's classrooms.

Editor's note: David Justice, vice-president of Lifelong Learning at DePaul, can be reached at 312/362-6055.