Studying online at Wits has become even easier and more accessible, thanks to a new initiative at public libraries in Johannesburg. Together with technical partner TENET and the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), Wits has announced the rollout of the eduroam free Wi-Fi service at 36 CoJ libraries.
The service is accessible to staff and students of all participating South African public universities. It allows seamless and secure Wi-Fi access through the eduroam app.
Studying online at Wits has always offered flexibility and convenience, and the eduroam service makes things even better by providing 36 quiet venues across the city from which to study. This will be particularly useful for students living in busy or noisy homes where they may have struggled to concentrate. It also provides a more serene location away from the hustle and bustle of coffee shops and restaurant Wi-Fi networks while saving on data costs.
"By bringing eduroam to libraries, we are making a tangible difference in access to educational resources, especially for those without reliable internet at home. Wits ICT is committed to driving innovation that enhances higher education and supports the academic community," said Dr Stanley Mpofu, the chief information officer at Wits and chair of Higher Education Information Technology South Africa.
To download the geteduroam app, you can go to the Google Play store page or the Apple App Store page.
Watch the video below to learn how to connect through the eduroam app using your university email and password.
The service has been rolled out to the following public libraries:
- Blackheath (Heathway Centre, Beyers Naude Drive, Blackheath, 011 678 6926)
- Boskruin (Kelly Avenue, Boskruin, 011 792 7424)
- Bryanston (Cnr. New and Payne Street, Bryanston, 011 706 3518 or 463 6325)
- Coronationville (159 Dordrecht Street, Coronationville, 011 673 2906)
- Eldorado Park Ext 5 (Community Centre, 4044 Link Crescent, Eldorado Park Ext 5, 011 342 1144)
- Emmarentia (Cnr. Barry Hertzog Ave & Greenhill Road, Emmarentia, 011 646 5821)
- Emndeni (587 Sondela Street, Cnr. Zamukulungisa Street, Emndeni North, 011 934 0686)
- Florida (Cnr. Church Street & 3rd Avenue, Florida, 011 858 3200)
- Glenanda (Cnr. Vorster Ave & Surmon Ave, Glenanda, 011 682 1614)
- Ivory Park North (Stand Number 8712, Freedom Drive, Ivory Park Ext 3, 011 224 0481)
- Ivory Park (Lord Khanyile Precinct, 4326 Freedom Drive, Ivory Park, 011 261 5122)
- Killarney (Killarney Shopping Centre, Riviera Road, Killarney 011 646 3088)
- Lehae (Cnr Iris Street & Primrose Drive, Lehae, 073 358 7670)
- Lenasia Ext 1 (Civic Centre, Cnr Rose Eve & Eland Street, Lenasia Ext 1, 011 852 2606)
- Library Gardens (Sage Centre, Fraser Street, Johannesburg)
- Linden (Cnr. 4th Ave & 6th Street, Linden, 011 888 5685)
- Mayfair (11 Central Ave, Mayfair, 011 837 4005)
- Newlands (Cnr 12th Street & Van Zijl Street, Newlands, 011 673 1806)
- Noordgesig (Main Square, Cnr.North Road & Central Road, Noordgesig, 011 935 1051)
- Norscot Manor (Norscot Manor Recreation Centre, Penguin Drive, Norscot Manor, 011 705 3323)
- Parkhurst (Verity Park, Cnr 5th Ave & 13th Street, Parkhurst, 011 788 4510)
- Phiri (448 Mabalane Street, Cnr Gumede Street, Phiri/Mapetla, 011 984 4221)
- Pimville (11624 Modjadji Street, Pimville, 011 933 3961)
- Randburg (Cnr. Bram Fischer Drive & Selkirk Drive, Randburg, 011 789 7569)
- Rhodes Park (Cnr. Kitchener Ave & Montague Road, Kensington, 011 615 4510)
- River Park (Sheridan Road, River Park, 010 237 1057)
- Rivonia (Cnr. Rivonia Boulevard & 10th Ave, Rivonia, 011 803 5422/1227)
- Roodepoort (Cnr. Berlandina Street & Hodgson Street, Roodepoort, 011 763 1031)
- Rosebank (8 Keyes Avenue, Rosebank, 011 442 8988)
- Rosettenville (Shop L10, Centro Continental, Mabel Street, Rosettenville, 011 435 3960)
- Sandringham (Dan Pienaar Park, Athlone Ave, Sandringham, 011 640 5676)
- Sandton (Nelson Mandela Square, West Street, Sandton, 011 282 5911/5917)
- Westbury (Cnr. Roberts Ave & Du Plessis Street, Westbury, 011 477 5762)
- Wilropark (Wilro Park Shopping Centre, Mimosa Street, Wilro Park, 011 764 1603)
- Witpoortjie (22 Payne Street, Witpoortjie, 011 762 1417)