The University of South Africa (Unisa) is the largest university on the African continent and attracts a third of all higher education students in South Africa. The university has a student headcount of over 300 000 students, including African and international students in 130 countries worldwide, making it one of the world's mega universities. Unisa is a dedicated open distance education institution. Open distance learning (ODL) entails a student-centred approach that gives students flexibility and choice over what, when, where and how they learn, and provides them with extensive student support. As a comprehensive university Unisa offers both vocational and academic programmes, many of which have received international accreditation. The University of South Africa is an internationally recognized university with an extensive geographical footprint, giving their students recognition and employability in many countries the world over.