Big things have happened! We are now One AIE.

Midrand, South Africa – The Academic Institute of Excellence (AIE) is proud to unveil its new unified brand identity: One AIE.

This milestone marks a powerful story of growth and transformation—bringing together a remarkable group of institutions, each with its own legacy, expertise, and unique educational offerings.

We are honoured to welcome into the AIE family:

• Greenside Design Center, a multi-award-winning, internationally acclaimed design college established in 1985;

• Emendy Multimedia Institute, a legendary name in the sound, music, and gaming industry;

• Concept Interactive, a specialist in niche web and multimedia design;

• Learn3D, experts in multimedia and entertainment software.

Now proudly unified under one name—The Academic Institute of Excellence—this collective forms a place where diversity is celebrated, creativity is nurtured, and everyone feels they belong.

Alongside this rebrand, AIE is launching a bold range of future-ready qualifications—developed over seven years of rigorous academic design across a broad spectrum of disciplines. From engineering, architecture, design, music, and IT, to business, arts, draughting, artisanship, and beauty—our programs reflect not just the world our students are entering, but the one they are helping shape.

Together, these changes position AIE as a leader in private tertiary education.

New Schools. New Qualifications. New Opportunities.

The OneAIE transformation includes the launch and expansion of several specialist schools:

• School of Artisans & Technical Trades
  Addressing the national shortage of skilled artisans, this school offers nine accredited trade programs and aims to train thousands annually through the new Midrand and Gauteng campuses—with further expansion planned during 2026.

• School of Engineering
  Boasting the largest suite of ECSA-endorsed qualifications offered by any private institution, the new School of Engineering is preparing to launch, in addition to their existing range, over seven new programs in fields such as Mechatronics, Renewable Energy, and Industrial Engineering in the coming months. 

• School of Architecture
  Home to South Africa's first private Bachelor of Architecture, and featuring dedicated campuses in Greenside, Johannesburg, and Cape Town—this new school is shaping the architectural professionals of tomorrow.

• School of Arts & Design (Greenside Design Center)
  Newly created, with almost 20 approved qualifications, this is South Africa's largest and most unique private arts and design offering. Building on the legacy of Greenside Design Center—South Africa's second-oldest private higher education provider and internationally acclaimed—it combines heritage with cutting-edge programs. Our qualifications continue to be internationally verified?and benchmarked?by other international institutions from around the globe.

• School of Sound (Emendy Multimedia Institute)
  Formed through the merger with Emendy Multimedia Institute, this school brings a new dimension to music, audio engineering, and multimedia education. Emendy alumni include some of the country's biggest music industry legends.

• School of Business
  Recently launching a Bachelor of Commerce with six specialization streams—Marketing, Accounting, Project Management, Business Management, Economics, and Human Resources—this school also offers in-demand qualifications in areas such as Digital Marketing, Real Estate, and Bookkeeping.

• School of Information Technology
  A technology-forward school with programs in Software Engineering, AI, Data Science, Drone Technology, Robotics, and more. A new degree and several advanced qualifications are currently in development.

• School of Beauty
  Focused on the fast-growing wellness and aesthetics industry, the School of Beauty offers practical, industry-aligned programs in skincare, nail technology, massage therapy, and beauty therapy. 

One Brand. Expanded Impact.

Under OneAIE, the institution now offers a significantly expanded portfolio. At a glance:

• Nearly 100 qualifications across the CHE and QCTO frameworks

• A mix of accredited, legacy, and new programs in active development

• Five campuses supporting diverse academic disciplines, with major expansion projects underway—including a new flagship Gauteng campus (location to be revealed soon)

We are not just many parts. We are OneAIE. We are the Academic Institute of Excellence.

Applications for the 2026 intake are now open. Visit www.aie.ac to learn more.

Media Contact:
Head of Communications
Academic Institute of Excellence (OneAIE)
info@aie.ac
www.aie.ac