Use of Learning Management Systems by South African Universities[1]

Traditional Universities / LMS / Source / comments
University of Cape Town / Sakai / Open / Originally used WebCT, but migrated from it progressively for principled reasons; built its “Vula” platform on Sakai. Member of SA Sakai assoc.
University of FortHare / WebCT / Commercial / Has indicated an interest in moving to open source platform, possibly KEWL or Moodle based.
University of the Free State / WebCT / Commercial / Has expressed intention and is preparing to move to open source; member of SA Sakai association.
University of KwaZulu-Natal / OLS / Home grown
Open / Open source product, developed in house.
University of Limpopo / WebCT / Commercial / Developed the”Batlhami Online” programme on WebCT base.
North-WestUniversity / Varsit℮ / Home-grown
Commercial / Has expressed intention to move to Sakai platforms in future. Part of SA Sakai association.
University of Pretoria / WebCT / Commercial / Strong public commitment to WebCT
RhodesUniversity / Moodle / Open / Used WebCT briefly, now migrated onto Moodle-based platform, largely for reasons of affordability.
University of Stellenbosch / WebCT / Commercial / Strong public commitment to partnership with WebCT
University of the Western Cape / KEWL NG / Home-grown (with partners)
Open / Core development institution for KEWL; strong advocate of open source software.
University of the Witwatersrand / WebCT / Commercial
Comprehensive Universities
University of Johannesburg / WebCT / Commercial / Strong public commitment to partnership with WebCT
NelsonMandelaMetropolitanUniversity / None / Limited in house LMS used at old PE Technikon (now merged into NMMU), now discontinued. At the moment institution currently using videoconferencing across 7 sites to deliver limited no. of courses (e.g. MBA) – no further use of ICTs at this stage[2]. Extensive planning taking place.
University of South Africa / Sakai / Open / Previously used home grown software and WebCT. Migrated entire institution to Sakai platform from 2006; member of SA Sakai association.
University of Venda / WebCT / Commercial
WalterSisuluUniversity for Technology and Science / WebCT / Commercial / Have received verbal reports of use of LMS; no other evidence from institution; Eiffel SA indicates the institution uses WebCT.
University of Zululand / ? / ? / Information not available.
Universities of Technology
CapePeninsulaUniversity of Technology / WebCT / Commercial
CentralUniversity of Technology / WebCT / Commercial
DurbanUniversity of Technology / WebCT / Commercial
TshwaneUniversity of Technology / WebCT / Commercial
VaalUniversity of Technology / Moodle / Open / Has developed “VUTOnline” on Moodle base; minimal use in teaching and learning at this stage

[1]Note: following merger of WebCT & Blackboard in Feb 2006, both these LMSs are classified above as WebCT.

[2] Personal communications, Paul Harper, Centre for Teaching, Learning and Media, and Marinda Taljaard, Computer Science & Information Systems, both of NMMUniversity, 7 May 2007.