THRIVE ISSUE 6 DECEMBER 2025 6 In the context of UJ’s 20th anniversary, we reflect on some of STH’s milesones, and the journey so far. UJ@20the STH Journey 1969 - 2005: Humble Beginnings On 17 February 1969, 22 students were enrolled for the National Diploma in Hotel Management at the Witwatersrand College for Advanced Education, located in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. In 1972 the Wits Hotel School as it became known, relocated to Smit Street in the Johannesburg CBD, formaly entering the field of higher education by offering a three-year diploma in Hotel Management. 2005 - 2012: South Africa Transforms With the transformation of the South African socio and political landscape, the need for tourism and hospitality workforce trained to international standards became more evident. The restructuring of the higher education landscape in the country led to the establishment of the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Born out of the integration of Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR) and portions of Vista University, UJ was founded on the principles of inclusivity and transformation. The former TWR department of tourism and hotel school were merged into one entity that became the School of Tourism and Hospitality (STH). On 30 August 2005, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, alongside Sol Kerzner, open the custombuilt Kerzner building. The building was designed to ensure optimization of a productive learning environment where practical and business skills could be developed. In October of the same year, the STH’s corporate governance structure was established with Dr. Bill Gallagher serving as the first Board Chairman of the STH Board, and Mr. Andre Mynhardt appointed as the first Executive Director. With Board support, STH management set in motion a program to build and sustain close collaboration with the private sector, and to secure additional funding commitments from both business and the university to advance the foundation for the school’s future growth.
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