Wits Plus (Pty) Ltd Celebrates Milestone First Year: From Restructure to Strategic Reinvention

Established in 2024, Wits Plus was launched as part of a strategic restructuring by the University to consolidate all short courses under one autonomous, professionalised entity. With a strong vision to be a lifelong learning partner for individuals and organisations across South Africa, Wits Plus (Pty) Ltd set out to modernise access to professional development through innovation, relevance, and accessibility.

This moment not only commemorates foundational success but signals a new chapter of intentional growth and long-term innovation.

CEO’s highlight

Wits Plus (Pty) Ltd is a significant strategic investment in skills development by the University.  It is designed to be flexible, agile and responsive to the needs of business, government and civil society, says Natalie Zimmelman, Chief Executive Officer at Wits Plus (Pty) Ltd.

Charting the Road Ahead

Wits Plus (Pty) Ltd offers a forward-thinking portfolio designed to meet the evolving needs of individuals, institutions, and industry. As we solidify our position in the short learning landscape, we continue to:

• Disrupt traditional learning models by delivering modular, flexible, and digital-first short courses that are accessible, scalable, and aligned with modern learning behaviours.
• Leverage academic partnerships that draw on the depth and breadth of Wits University’s research and expertise, ensuring that our offerings are grounded in leading thought and academic integrity.
• Offer a dynamic and responsive set of short courses, designed to meet current skills demands and future workforce challenges across sectors.
• Provide streamlined access to bespoke learning solutions, making it easy for corporate clients and partners to collaborate with us in building tailored, impactful programmes.
• Invest in integrated learning technologies, including advanced analytics, learning management systems, and mobile-friendly platforms that enhance the learner experience and improve outcomes.
• Champion inclusive education, ensuring that affordability, accessibility, and meaningful transformation remain at the core of how and why we deliver education.

At Wits Plus, we don’t just plan for the future — we are delivering it, today.

“The journey from concept to operational maturity in under 18 months has been extraordinary,” says Yasira Cajee, Digital and Marketing Director at Wits Plus (Pty) Ltd. “We are proud of what we’ve built, and even more excited for what’s ahead. Wits Plus is not simply offering short courses; we are reshaping the way lifelong learning is delivered and experienced in South Africa.”

Building a Legacy of Lifelong Learning

At the heart of Wits Plus (Pty) Ltd lies a powerful mission: to champion lifelong learning as a fundamental right and necessity in an ever-changing world. In today’s rapidly evolving economic and technological landscape, learning can no longer be confined to a specific life stage or traditional degree pathway. Lifelong learning is the continuous, self-motivated pursuit of knowledge (for personal or professional development) that empowers individuals to remain relevant, agile, and fulfilled throughout their careers.

For Wits Plus, lifelong learning is not simply an offering; it is a philosophy and a commitment. It is about equipping professionals, entrepreneurs, public sector leaders, and emerging talent with the skills and insights required to navigate change, solve complex challenges, and drive innovation in their respective sectors. It recognises that meaningful learning happens across ages, industries, and life stages — and that skills development must be accessible, adaptable, and aligned to real-world outcomes.

Through its extensive portfolio of short learning programmes, Wits Plus is building a legacy that supports:

• Skills renewal and career adaptability in a knowledge economy.
• Inclusive access to high-quality learning beyond traditional degrees.
• Support for economic resilience and national development goals.
• A culture of curiosity, inquiry, and reinvention among South Africans.

“Lifelong learning is the bridge between where we are and where we want to be, as individuals, organisations, and a country,” adds Cajee. “At Wits Plus, we are honoured to steward this journey and to serve as a trusted partner in shaping futures, one course at a time.”

As Wits Plus enters its next chapter, it continues to lead with purpose, fostering a learning culture that endures far beyond the classroom and building a foundation that supports growth, empowerment, and transformation for generations to come.

Driving Growth Through Business Development

Wits Plus (Pty) Ltd has ensured that it has a team available to be a solutions-oriented partner for corporate, government and civil society clients. We are accessible to you and have the capabilities to engage across the University, from one central point, and work with you to create tailored solutions

Through its Bespoke Solutions offering, Wits Plus now provides tailored training interventions, skills development strategies, and sector-specific learning programmes that respond directly to the challenges faced by South African organisations. Whether it’s in leadership, compliance, finance, or digital transformation, Wits Plus can navigate the full range of expertise across the University to co-design impactful, relevant short courses that deliver measurable value to employers, individuals and employees alike.

This strategic pivot toward a client-centric approach is already fostering deeper relationships with industry, government, and professional bodies — and is key to building sustainable partnerships that drive workforce development at scale.

Visit Wits Plus /corporate-solutions to explore collaborative opportunities.

“Through strategic product and business development, Wits Plus is forging powerful partnerships that deliver tailored, high-impact, high-quality learning solutions, driving workforce excellence and organisational success now and in the future. says Dr Nico Baird, Product and Business Development Director at Wits Plus (Pty) Ltd.” DM