Further to the examples posted about seminaries offering distance education I have received word about a seminary in South Africa that has a major distance education initiative.
The Registrar of Postgraduate Studies, Leschenne Rebuli, writes:
“We have been receiving your Theologians Without Borders newsletters recently…”
“The South African Theological Seminary (SATS) is a private higher education distance learning seminary accredited and registered with the South African Council on Higher Education. We have recently (February) launched our eCampus and online study programme. The 2008 Prospectus is at this link for your perusal.”
Leschenne says: “SATS endeavours to promote quality higher distance education that is accessible and enjoyable to students around the world. We currently have over 3500 students in the undergraduate programme, over 300 in our Masters programme and 14 in our Doctoral programme. If you have any queries I would love to be of further assistance.”
This is a big operation that, while based in South Africa, is committed to offering theological education beyond its national and continental borders.
Dr. Geoff Pound
Image: Scenes from the SATS web site.
Further Comment from SATS:
Just thought we would touch base again and let you know that in South Africa, as I’m sure in other countries, we have the Dramatic Arts and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO). Membership with DALRO, as an educational institution, provides us the opportunity to copy up to 10% of any published book to collate Readers for each of our subjects. This Reader is provided free of charge to our student as and when they pay for their study module. This has helped our students tremendously with access to appropriate theological resources. We have a number of websites also available to our students with access to theological journals and other resources. This of course aids distance learning considerably. Our full-time librarian is also able to scan a section or chapter of a required book and upload it onto our secure student site for a student to download – anywhere in the world. Information at our fingertips.
All the best,
Leschenne Rebuli