Helderberg College of Higher Education is a private higher education institution situated in Somerset West, South Africa, about thirty minutes from Cape Town. It was established in 1893, and was the first Seventh-day Adventist College established outside of North America under the name "Union College." It moved to its present location in 1928, making it the oldest Adventist college on the continent of Africa. It is owned and operated by the Southern Africa Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, with headquarters in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
It is a part of the Seventh-day Adventist education system, the world's second largest Christian school system.
The college also hosts a local research centre of the Ellen G. White Estate.
Helderberg College amended their name to reflect it as a Higher Education institution. The amendment Helderberg College of Higher Education was approved and became effective 9 November 2017. The College also adopted the HCHE abbreviation, and now uses the HCHE.AC.ZA domain as its official domain name.
Historical Overview
The history of Seventh-day Adventist education in South Africa began in 1893 with the establishment of Claremont Union College, Cape Town. The College changed locations in 1919 and again in 1928 in an attempt to follow more closely the philosophy that has motivated this institution. After the first move, the College became known as Spion Kop College, and in 1928 the last move established Helderberg College, on the slopes of Helderberg Mountain, just outside Somerset West, South Africa.
Claremont Union College (1893-1917) The first Seventh-day Adventist College outside North America, Claremont Union College opened its doors on 1 February 1893. It was situated on of land within walking distance of Kenilworth station. The impressive buildings and comprehensive curriculum are testimony to the vision of those early educators. The original stately double-storey college building has since been proclaimed a national monument and is today the focal building in a modern shopping complex.
Union College offered primary, secondary and tertiary education. College subjects included Greek and Latin, Trigonometry and Geometry, Chemistry and Physics, Logic and Moral Science. Besides the classical academic education, emphasis was placed on character development, a vocational programme, laws of health, physical training and culture. The College was open to all races and no distinction was made with regard to religious affiliation. In fact, half the students were not Seventh-day Adventists.
Over the 25 years of its existence, two distinct education points of view have waxed and waned with regard to curriculum. The ultimate goal was the same and that was to graduate students who were well prepared for life's tasks. The initial view favoured a strong four-year classical education such as was taught at other notable colleges and academies. With the passage of time, the emphasis swung to the offering of a shorter, more practical course. Despite academic polemics and financial problems compounded by the Anglo-Boer War, the College filled a vital role in providing a religious atmosphere with values that rang true for the 50-100 young people who studied there each year. It graduated 31 students, and many of these have been signally influential in both church and society.
South African Training College (1919-1922)
The site for Claremont Union College had been chosen because of the strong conviction that a secluded, rural location was most conducive to true education, but by 1917 sprawling urban growth posed a threat. Consequently, the College was relocated on a mission station from Ladysmith, Natal, and 1918 was spent in erecting buildings, largely from materials salvaged from Union College. Staff and students transferred to the new site and classes began in 1919 with an enrolment of 27. Standards 5-8 were taught, along with a Worker's Course for those preparing for church work. As the College grew, a strong practical emphasis in the curriculum emerged. Two three-year courses, a Training Course and Normal Course, were developed.
When the college was advanced to the status of a junior college, major changes in academic offerings included the introduction of a one-year course in Shorthand, a two-year Normal Course (teacher training programme), and a four-year course resembling the classical course originally offered at Union College. The latter did not get much support and by 1923 all courses were two years in length: the Theological Course, Bible Workers' Course, Teacher Training Course and Commercial Course.