Private higher education group Stadio wants to become alternative to Unisa

• Stadio, which owns private learning institutions such as Milpark Education, wants to be seen as an alternative to Unisa.
• The company wants to see its student numbers rise above 100 000 in future.
• Student enrolment numbers in the first semester of 2022 rose by 11% to over 38 000.

Private higher education investment holding company Stadio says it is aiming for sustainable growth profit of more than 20% in the long term while being considered an alternative to Unisa - the country's largest public distance learning institution.

Stadio's higher education institutions include Milpark Education and AFDA.

According to the company's CEO Chris Vorster, the foundation for the group's growth phase was visible in the first semester's student numbers, which increased by 11% to 38 414, compared to the previous corresponding semester in June 2021.

Distance-learning enrolments jumped 15%, excluding students enrolled in short-learning programmes.

Boosted by the increase in student numbers, Stadio said it would focus on consolidating the business while investigating the possibility of new markets.

The company says it is on track to achieve its target of 56 000 students by 2026, with an annual growth rate of 8% required to achieve this goal. The ultimate goal is to reach over 100 000 student enrolments over time with a minimum of 80% distance-learning students and a maximum of 20% contact-learning students.

"Stadio is well-positioned to achieve these goals with its overall strategy underpinned further by its purpose of widening access to education, taking cognisance of the world of work and student-centredness," said Vorster.

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