Private education group AdvTech says it is preparing to elevate Emeris, its new higher education brand, to full university status as soon as the government opens an application process.
The move could fundamentally reshape competition in the tertiary sector.
Emeris, which consolidates Varsity College, Vega and MSA under one banner, will debut its flagship R420m Sandton mega campus in 2026 with capacity for 9,000 students, the group recently announced.
But AdvTech CEO Geoff Whyte told Business Day the long-term ambition goes beyond brand consolidation. “We will pursue university status for both Emeris and Rosebank as soon as the government puts an application process in place,” he said.
The drive for university status marks AdvTech’s boldest step yet into territory traditionally dominated by the public sector, with Whyte openly claiming Emeris already outperforms public institutions on key outcomes.
“We expect the brand consolidation under Emeris to strengthen our position in the SA university market, where we grew enrolments by 14% this year.
“AdvTech is highly cash generative with a strong balance sheet, so we are well-positioned to pursue attractive growth opportunities both locally and into African markets.
“Our on-time degree completion and graduate employment rates already lead the market against both private and public competitors,” he said.
We expect the brand consolidation under Emeris to strengthen our position in the SA university market, where we grew enrolments by 14% this year.
— Geoff Whyte
AdvTech CEO
The Sandton mega campus is part of a wider expansion plan. Whyte said further large-scale developments are “certainly on the cards” with AdvTech steadily co-locating its former Varsity College and Vega campuses across the country, including in Pretoria.
With Emeris, AdvTech is not only consolidating its higher education operations but positioning itself for a future where private institutions compete directly with public universities both in size and status.
The group remained open to entering new markets but would prioritise stability. “We would like a degree of market stability, regulatory stability, strong economic growth and English as the major language of instruction,” Whyte said.
The consolidation was designed to deliver “diverse, high-quality educational pathways, tailored to meet market demands” while also strengthening collaboration between faculties.
“By consolidating these institutions under one brand, AdvTech offers students an enhanced educational experience, fosters collaboration and drives innovation,” he said.
Recently, the group opened its first international university, the Rosebank International University College in Ghana, as part of plans to expand its Rosebank brand across Kenya, Botswana, Ethiopia and Ghana.
The group has been investing heavily in its school portfolio, recently announcing expansions to Crawford International School in Nairobi and Gaborone International School in Botswana, alongside the R172m acquisition of Regis Runda Academy in Kenya.
AdvTech, which also owns Oxbridge Academy and Capsicum Culinary Studio, reported a 15% rise in headline earnings per share to 112.7c in the six months to end-June, supported by 13% higher student enrolments. Interim revenue climbed 10% to R4.68bn and the dividend was raised 18% to 45c.
“Emeris strongly positions AdvTech to meet the expanding and evolving student and industry needs of SA. It reflects AdvTech’s commitment to delivering a strong, differentiated brand portfolio with clear growth strategies,” the group said.
Update: September 21 2025
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