DURBANVILLE: A massive new higher education campus is taking shape in Durbanville, promising to bring quality tertiary education right to the northern suburbs’ doorstep.
STADIO Higher Education’s new facility officially opens on 20 October, with the first students expected in February 2026. The campus represents a R500-million investment in the area and will eventually accommodate up to 5 000 students.
Local impact, national vision
Dr Stan du Plessis, STADIO’s newly appointed chief executive, says the Durbanville campus embodies everything the group stands for: making quality higher education accessible without breaking the bank.
“We’re not building another elite institution that only the wealthy can afford,” explains Du Plessis, an economist who took the reins earlier this year. “This campus is designed to serve working families and students who need real qualifications that lead to real jobs.”
The timing couldn’t be better for local families. With university fees spiralling and accommodation costs in the city centre becoming unaffordable for many, the new campus offers a practical alternative.
Smart design, real results
Rather than scattering small campuses across the province, STADIO has invested in creating what Du Plessis calls “complete academic ecosystems” in strategic locations.
“Why build five small, limited campuses when you can create one comprehensive facility that offers everything students need?” he asks. “It’s about using resources intelligently.”
The Durbanville campus will house seven different schools, from Education and IT to Law and Engineering, offering qualifications from higher certificates through to postgraduate degrees.
Du Plessis is refreshingly honest about South Africa’s education challenges. “We spend more on post-school education than many wealthier countries, but our graduate employment rates are still terrible. The problem isn’t money – it’s how we use what we have.”
State-of-the-art facilities
STADIO’s approach focuses on three key areas: making sure qualifications match what employers actually need, keeping costs reasonable, and using technology to enhance learning rather than replace good teaching.
“We measure our success by whether our graduates get jobs in their chosen fields,” Du Plessis says. “That’s the only metric that really matters.”
The new campus boasts 29 classrooms and laboratories, a massive hall that seats over 1 000 students, and a Centre for Academic Success with library and study facilities.
A standout feature is the Master Lab for IT students – an interactive, high-tech space built around a sculptural tree designed to encourage collaboration and innovation.
Engineering students will have access to two fully equipped laboratories with 3D printing, mechatronics, and renewable energy systems. The campus will launch Higher Certificates in Mechatronics and Renewable Energy next year, with additional programmes following in 2027.
More than just studying
Recognising that student life extends beyond the classroom, the campus includes proper netball courts, artificial turf courts for five-a-side football, volleyball and basketball, plus a partnership with local Durbell Rugby Club for competitive rugby.
The campus design, by BPAS Architects, incorporates water-wise landscaping and rainwater harvesting – important considerations in the Western Cape’s water-conscious environment.
The Durbanville campus forms part of a broader vision to create a thriving tertiary education hub in Cape Town’s northern corridor. Du Plessis sees this as essential for the region’s economic development.
“Private institutions like STADIO aren’t competing with universities like UCT or Stellenbosch,” he explains. “We’re expanding the country’s education capacity and giving students more choice. Some students thrive in a traditional university environment, others do better in our more flexible, industry-focused approach.”
Flexible learning options
While the new campus focuses on contact learning, STADIO’s online and blended learning options remain central to its strategy. This means students can combine face-to-face classes with online components, making education more accessible for working adults or those with family commitments.
Local residents can get a first-hand look at the new facilities at the STADIO Durbanville Campus Open Day on Friday, 25 October. Visitors can tour the campus, meet academic staff, and learn about available qualifications. Registration and details are available at www.stadio.ac.za
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