Johannesburg – Rudi Boshoff never went to university.
In the 1990s, he could not afford fees.
He taught himself cellphone repair from home, bought his first property at 19, and built a business portfolio spanning telecommunications and property by his 30s.
The degrees he never earned became footnotes, not limitations – until fatherhood sent him back to school and showed him what online learning was missing.
At 2 a.m., Boshoff sat with a newborn in one arm and a textbook in the other.
“It was meant to fill the quiet hours,” Boshoff says.
“I fell in love with education – the ideas, the rigour, the problem-solving. But I quickly realised that a screen alone wasn’t enough.
“I needed a real-life human supervisor to help me actually graduate.”
The Prospective Engagement Crisis
Online tertiary education providers have expanded reach, flexibility, and affordability, but trends show persistent challenges.
Some international programmes are reported to have completion rates as low as 5–15%, demonstrating the gap between enrollment and successfully navigating higher education.
With many enrolled but disengaged, some in the sector fear a looming engagement crisis that digital education platforms have to contend with.
Globally, 264 million people need post-secondary education.
Here in South Africa, rising matric pass rates are increasing demand for tertiary places, yet campus capacity remains limited.
Many face additional barriers: cost, geography, mobility, caregiving responsibilities, busy lives, self-doubt, or neurodiversity that make traditional learning environments challenging.
“Higher education is hard,” Boshoff notes.
“The parent studying at 2 a.m., the professional managing deadlines, the student questioning if they belong, the learner with adhd needing different pacing – they are not unusual cases.
“They are the majority.”
In 2023, Boshoff founded Bridgewater Academic Institute (BAI), offering human-centred online study that complements independent learning with access to dedicated academic supervisors.
BAI provides internationally accredited undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications with supervisors who offer mentorship, accountability, and flexible timetables.
Students can enroll throughout the year, bypassing rigid semester systems.
The model keeps the benefits of remote learning – flexibility, global access, cost efficiency, and continuity—while ensuring learners receive the support they need to succeed.
BAI is growing. In 2025, when the lead investor and founder of a long-established online education provider retired and the institution closed, students were encouraged to continue their studies with BAI, validating the demand for human-centred academic support.
Evidence Supports the Approach
Boshoff’s experience aligns with emerging sector trends.
UNICEF’s Digital Education Strategy 2025–2030 stresses that human-centred online learning, combining technology with personal guidance, improves outcomes.
The Henley Global Mobility Report 2025 highlights restrictions on international student intake, confirming the value of borderless, human-centred tertiary education.
“Technology, AI, and automation have transformed online study, and investing in them is worthwhile,” says Boshoff.
“But technology alone is not enough; it is most effective when paired with a human-centred approach to education online.
“Students do best when they have both flexible courses and someone to help them stay on track.”
Tips for matriculants or prospective online tertiary education learners
Boshoff offers these practical tips because navigating tertiary study can be tough, especially online.
His experience shows that planning and guidance make a real difference:
- Choose an accredited provider that matches your goals: Consider recognition and whether the teaching style suits how you learn.
- Understand the full financial picture upfront: Be clear about the tuition, technology needs, support offered to students, and hidden costs in rand to avoid surprises.
- Clarify timetables and assessment formats: Some institutions run intensive blocks, others spread modules across the year; know what suits your life.
- Use digital tools strategically: Engage fully with lectures, forums, notes, and recordings to strengthen learning.
- Create a “study routine” in your life: If possible, find a dedicated space, time, or routine that signals focus to yourself and your household, so even short study sessions count.
About Bridgewater Academic Institute
Bridgewater Academic Institute (BAI), launched in 2023, is an online provider of globally accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Its model combines independent learning with access to experienced human supervision, giving students the guidance they need to succeed.
BAI emphasises quality, affordability, and flexibility, allowing learners to study at their own pace while balancing work, family, and other commitments.
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