KwaZulu-Natal’s Central Application Office
Durban’s Central Applications Office (CAO) has, for the past 20 years, been processing applications for first-time admissions for what has grown to include all universities, universities of technology, most private and five TVET (Technical, Vocational, Education and Training) colleges in KwaZulu-Natal.
This non-profit organisation, in Mary Thiphe St. (previously Cato Manor Rd.), is the only organisation of its kind in South Africa and only one similar organisation- a Kenyan state-run enterprise- exists in Africa.
CEO George van der Ross says “We do not simply process applications. We make dreams come true. We don’t simply capture applications, we capture dreams.”
To celebrate the 20 year milestone, the CAO is releasing a coffee table book to illustrate their achievements at their Annual General Meeting at 6pm on Saturday 1 September at the Durban ICC.
Previous AGM speakers have included: Professor Jonathan Jansen, then Vice-Chancellor of the University of Free State; Director of the Maharishi Institute Taddy Blecher; Carte Blanche investigative journalist Devi Sankaree Govender.
This year, Universities South Africa’s (USAf) chief executive, Professor Ahmed Bawa, will deliver the keynote address. The AGM programme includes cultural performances and laughs aplenty courtesy of superb comedian Alfred Adriaan (the evening’s compère), top ventriloquist Conrad Koch and his sidekick Chester Missing.
Notes for editors:
Not only does the CAO make applying easy, but applicants also have a chance each year to win one of four bursaries, ranging from R10,000 to R20,000 each year, as well as one bursary which covers the full cost of tuition for three years.
Applications encompass over 730 programmes, grouped under 25 career directions. The CAO lists career directions- assisting in deciding career or subject choices with a self-assessment quiz- and applications can be done online, or in hard copy at their offices or partnering institutions, at the Department of Basic Education district offices, public libraries, schools and career exhibitions in KZN.
And ALL applications require just one form and one fee. That fee covers submissions for up to six institutions, instead of individual payments and submissions to each institution.
The CAO has grown and expanded over the years. The biggest growth has been in online applications, with a staggering 106 729 092 hits on http://www.cao.ac.za/ from March 2017 to February 2018, with 1 013 992 unique visitors. Over two million emails and smses were sent collectively in the 2016/17 cycle and social media interest has also rocketed, with monthly communication at https://www.facebook.com/CentralApplicationsOffice/ numbering around 20 000 Grade 12 learners.
The CAO continues to pay special regard to rural and undeveloped areas- where electronic media is in short supply- distributing a total of 729,319 hard copy application forms this year through various outreach programmes.
Central Applications Office, Gate 11, Mary Thiphe St., Cato Manor
Customer Services: 031 268 4451/ customerservice@cao.ac.za
Website: http://www.cao.ac.za/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentralApplicationsOffice/
Member Institutions
Universities – University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), University of Zululand (UniZulu), Universities of Technology – DUT (Durban University of Technology), Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)
TVET Colleges (Technical and Vocational Education & Training) – Elangeni TVET College, Esayidi TVET College, Majuba TVET College, Thekwini TVET College, Umfolozi TVET College
Private Colleges – Berea Technical College, CTU Training Solutions, Central Technical College, ICESA Education, Institute for Quality Education, Training & Development, IStudent Academy, MANCOSA, PAX College, Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology, Regent Business School, Rosebank College, Springfield FET College, The Business School at Varsity College.
Partners: Higher Education South Africa, National Information Service for Higher Education
