The old Summerstrand Hotel, a Port Elizabeth landmark, is being converted into a 500-bed residence for students at Nelson Mandela University (NMU). The residence, which is due to open in March 2021 aims to provide safe and affordable accommodation that is close to campus – particularly for those on financial aid.
“NMU has 29 000 students, but only 3 299 beds in university-owned residences. This means they can only accommodate 12% of students on-campus. To meet the demand for housing, the university has adopted a private student accommodation policy,” says John Schooling, Director of student accommodation group STAG African. “Unfortunately, most existing accredited private accommodation is located far away from the main campus, which contributes to increased transport costs and travel time.”
Read more at: https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/local/pe-express/summerstrand-hotel-now-residence-for-students-20210301