In 1996 the University Education Committee and the University Technikon Education Collaboration Committee merged and were tasked to pursue the establishment of a University in the Province by the former MEC for Education, Mr D D Mabuza. The National Institute for Higher Education, established in 2006, under the leadership of the late Prof C C Mokadi coordinated the provision of Higher Education in the province. An important milestone was the decision taken at the African National Congress’s National General Council meeting held in eThekwini in 2010 which resolved to establish two new universities. This decision was instrumental in facilitating for the establishment of a university in the Mpumalanga Province. In 2010, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr B E Nzimande, appointed two task teams to investigate the feasibility of establishing new universities in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape. The Mpumalanga task team which submitted a favourable report in September 2011, recommending the establishment of a new University in Mpumalanga was led by Prof T Z Mthembu. In July 2013, the State President, Mr Jacob Zuma, announced the name of the new university as the University of Mpumalanga as well as the names of the members of the Interim Council to oversee its formal establishment. The University of Mpumalanga, a comprehensive university, was formally and legally promulgated through the publication of Government Notice on 22 August 2013 and launched on 31 October 2013. The Interim Council appointed the Strategic Management Team which managed the day-to-day operations of the university.
Governance and administration
The Higher Education Act established that the university is to be governed by Council.
The Chancellor of the university is the ceremonial head of the University who, in the name of the university, confers all degrees.
The Vice-Chancellor are merged, with the Vice-Chancellor responsible for the day-to-day running of the university.
The Senate is responsible for regulating all teaching, research and academic functions of the university.
Additionally, the Students' Representative Council, represents the interests of the university's students which also selects representatives to Senate and Council.
Campuses
The university is divided into two academic campuses - Mbombela and Teacher Education Siyabuswa campuses.
Academics
Research
The university focuses on foundation phase teaching.
Faculties
The university offers the following programme:
Bachelor of Developmental Studies;
Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching;
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture;
Bachelor of Agriculture in Agricultural Extension and Rural Resource Management;
