Stop hoping
learners find you.
Start reaching them.
Open Days Africa connects universities, TVET colleges, private colleges, and training providers directly with Grade 10–12 learners across all nine provinces — through the channels they actually use.
WhatsApp · Open Day Events · Virtual Sessions · QR Tracking · Analytics
50,000+
Learners targeted by launch
300+
Institutions onboarding
9 / 9
Provinces covered
Website Directory
Search & deep discovery
WhatsApp Marketplace
Conversational discovery
Virtual Open Day
Live sessions & analytics
Open Day Events
Physical & QR check-in
Website Directory
Search & deep discovery
WhatsApp Marketplace
Conversational discovery
Virtual Open Day
Live sessions & analytics
Open Day Events
Physical & QR check-in
Trusted by institutions across South Africa
Student recruitment in
South Africa is broken.
Traditional methods are expensive, unmeasurable, and geographically limited — costing institutions both money and students.
Traditional open days cost a fortune
A single traditional open day costs between R45,000 and R120,000 per event — yet it only reaches a limited geographic audience, typically restricted to one city.
Conversion rates below 3%
Traditional marketing efforts convert at less than 3% due to fragmented communication channels and lack of structured follow-up systems.
No measurable data
Institutions struggle with a lack of measurable data — making it difficult to track where student interest originates, which campaigns are effective, and how learners progress.
6–8 weeks of planning per event
Each open day requires six to eight weeks of planning, placing a significant operational burden on staff while still producing inconsistent results.
The result: institutions with strong outreach fill their programmes. Those without it compete for the same small pool of learners who happened to find them. Open Days Africa changes that equation — at a fraction of the cost.
A national system for
student acquisition.
Open Days Africa is not a directory. It is a structured recruitment infrastructure — built specifically for the South African higher education market.
When you list on Open Days Africa, you are not just adding a profile. You are plugging into a live network of Grade 10–12 learners who are actively researching their options, saving events, and making decisions right now.
Measurable recruitment
Every QR scan, event registration, and WhatsApp connection is tracked. You see exactly what is working.
Centralised visibility
One listing reaches learners across all nine provinces — on WhatsApp, the web directory, and virtual events.
Structured engagement
Learners do not just browse — they save events, register, ask questions, and connect directly with your admissions team.
14,382
98%
vs 22% for email
more applications
“We reached learners in Limpopo and the Northern Cape for the first time. Virtual open days changed everything for us.”
Admissions Director
University of Technology
WhatsApp open rate
“Our email campaigns were getting 18% open rates. WhatsApp changed the game — learners actually read our messages.”
Marketing Manager
Private College
recruitment cost reduction
“One subscription replaced our print budget, school visit costs, and standalone event platform. The ROI was immediate.”
Registrar
TVET College
Three core communication channels.
Every learner. Every province. One dashboard.
Learners discover open days via any channel. All paths lead to your institution dashboard — one login, one inbox, one analytics view.
Website Directory
How this channel recruits students
Your institution listed in South Africa's most comprehensive open day directory. Learners search by faculty, province, date, and institution type — and find you instantly.
Learners search by faculty, province & date — your listing appears at the top
QR-linked prospectus downloads tracked per learner — no email required
Campus tour recordings on your profile — learners who missed it still convert
Every listing has a direct WhatsApp CTA — one tap to start a conversation
Where your subscription goes
Directory listing, QR code generation, prospectus hosting, profile analytics, WhatsApp CTA integration
Student recruitment funnel
Every step tracked in your dashboard.
The unified result
All channels → One Dashboard
One Inbox · One Analytics View
Website Directory
WhatsApp Marketplace
Virtual Open Day
Your Dashboard
One Inbox
One Analytics View
Lead Scoring
One Broadcast
One platform.
Three recruitment engines.
Open Days Africa is built around three distinct systems — each designed for a specific type of institution and recruitment challenge. Together, they form a unified digital infrastructure for student acquisition across South Africa.
Open Day System
Enables digital event listings, registrations, attendance tracking, QR code engagement, and admissions analytics. Replaces traditional manual open day processes with a measurable, data-driven approach that improves efficiency and reduces recruitment costs.
Open Day System
Higher Education · For universities, TVET colleges & private institutions
All three systems are unified. Institutions can access multiple systems under one account — managing open days, skills intake, and school engagement from a single dashboard.
View PlansThree systems.
One connected platform.
Open Days Africa is built around the full student recruitment journey — from first awareness to confirmed enrolment. Each system feeds the next.
Open Days Africa works directly with high schools across South Africa to distribute QR posters, share the platform with Life Orientation teachers, and ensure learners in every province know where to find open day information. When a learner scans a poster or follows a school link, they land on your listing.
- QR posters distributed to partner schools nationwide
- Life Orientation teachers share the platform with Grade 10–12 classes
- Learners register and build a personalised open day profile
- Your institution appears in their feed based on their interests and location
Tools that produce
actual outcomes.
Every feature on the platform is designed around a specific recruitment outcome — not just a checkbox on a feature list.
QR Codes That Track Engagement
Each listing includes unique, trackable QR codes linking to your prospectus, application form, NSFAS information, and virtual event sign-up. Every scan is logged — you see which school, which province, and which event generated the most interest.
WhatsApp Reach
South African learners use WhatsApp more than any other platform. Your institution is listed in the WhatsApp marketplace, and you can broadcast directly to opted-in learners. Open rates sit at 98% — compared to 22% for email.
Analytics That Mean Something
Before your event starts, you see a live named attendee list — school, province, grade, and faculty interest. After the event, you get a full attendance report. No more guessing whether your marketing worked.
Virtual Events, National Reach
Host fully branded virtual open days with live Q&A, raise-hand features, and session recordings. Learners in Limpopo, the Northern Cape, and rural areas can attend without travel costs. Up to 500 registrations per session, with WhatsApp broadcast included.
Unified Chat Inbox
All enquiries in one place
Broadcast Messaging
POPIA-compliant bulk sends
Parent Reach
Buddy Link connects parents too
Career Expo Listings
Flat-rate expo advertising
The reach is national.
Launching July 2026.
Open Days Africa is actively onboarding institutions ahead of the national launch. Every learner targeted is a prospective student your institution can reach from day one.
50,000+
Learners targeted by launch
Grade 10–12 across SA by July 2026
300+
Institutions onboarding
Universities, TVET, private colleges
9/9
Provinces covered
Full national coverage
98%
WhatsApp open rate
vs 22% for email
Targeted learner distribution by province
All 9 provincesBuilt for every type
of SA institution.
The platform is designed to work for institutions of all sizes and types — from large public universities to specialist training providers. The tools are the same; the outcomes are tailored to your context.
Universities
Public & private
Whether you are a large public university managing multiple faculties or a private institution with a focused programme offering, Open Days Africa gives you a structured way to reach Grade 12 learners before they commit to another institution.
TVET Colleges
Public & private
TVET colleges are often underrepresented in learner awareness despite offering some of the most practical and employment-ready qualifications in the country. The platform gives TVET institutions equal visibility alongside universities — and the tools to make a compelling case.
Private Colleges
Accredited providers
Private colleges compete in a crowded market where brand recognition is everything. A listing on Open Days Africa puts your institution in front of learners who are actively comparing options — with the analytics to show you which messages and events are converting.
Training Providers
SETA-accredited & short courses
Short-course providers, SETA-accredited training organisations, and skills development companies often struggle to reach young learners who do not know these pathways exist. The platform bridges that gap — connecting your programmes with learners who are open to alternatives beyond traditional degrees.
Reaching every learner
in every school.
A key component of the platform is its national school engagement strategy — targeting all 9,000 high schools across South Africa, including government, independent, and private schools.
By 2027, the objective is full national coverage — ensuring every Grade 10–12 learner in South Africa is exposed to Open Days Africa as part of their career decision-making journey. This creates a direct, scalable pipeline from schools to institutions.
9,000+
High schools targeted
Government, independent & private
Grade 9–12
Learner focus
Early career exploration
2027
Full national coverage
All 9 provinces
3 channels
Engagement methods
QR · WhatsApp · Digital
QR Code Access Systems
Learners scan a QR code at school to instantly explore courses, open days, and intake programmes — no app download required.
WhatsApp Engagement
Career awareness campaigns delivered directly to learners via WhatsApp — the channel they already use every day.
Career Awareness Campaigns
Structured campaigns that introduce learners to institutions and training opportunities across all provinces.
Life Orientation Integration
Resources for LO teachers — printable posters, shareable links, and digital tools for career guidance lessons.
National Coverage Roadmap
300+ institutions onboarding. 50,000+ learners targeted by launch. All 9 provinces covered.
QR code access systems deployed to high schools. WhatsApp engagement campaigns launched across all provinces.
Structured engagement with government, independent, and private schools. Career awareness campaigns in all 9 provinces.
Every Grade 10–12 learner in South Africa exposed to Open Days Africa as part of their career decision-making journey.
Be part of the national network.
Institutions that list now are positioned at the front of the pipeline as national coverage expands.
Results that speak
for themselves.
Early partner institutions across all 9 provinces — from universities to TVET colleges.
We had 340 learners register for our open day before the event even started. The pre-event analytics alone were worth the subscription.
Admissions Manager
Private College, Gauteng
The WhatsApp broadcast feature is something we didn't know we needed. Our open day attendance doubled compared to last year.
Marketing Director
TVET College, Western Cape
Setting up our virtual open day took less than a day. We reached learners in Limpopo and the Northern Cape who would never have attended in person.
Outreach Coordinator
University of Technology, KZN
The QR codes are genuinely clever. Every scan tells us which school the learner came from, what they're interested in, and whether they've applied.
Recruitment Officer
Nursing School, Eastern Cape
300+
Institutions onboarding
50,000+
Learners targeted by launch
98%
WhatsApp open rate
9/9
Provinces covered
What changes when
you are on the platform.
Realistic outcomes based on how the platform works — not inflated projections.
10%–30% more applications
Institutions partnering with Open Days Africa can expect a 10% to 30% increase in student applications on average — particularly from provinces outside their immediate geography.
Virtual events remove the travel barrier. Learners from Limpopo, the Northern Cape, and rural areas can attend and apply without leaving home.
Up to 70% lower recruitment costs
Institutions may experience up to a 70% reduction in recruitment costs compared to traditional methods. One platform replaces print, radio, school visits, and standalone event platforms.
Traditional open days cost R45,000–R120,000 per event. A full-year subscription on Open Days Africa costs a fraction of a single traditional event.
Full admissions funnel visibility
Institutions gain full visibility into learner engagement — allowing for better decision-making and improved admissions conversion rates. Track every touchpoint from first click to application.
Pre-event analytics, QR scan data, WhatsApp engagement rates, and post-event attendance reports — all in one dashboard.
Higher open day attendance
Virtual open days and WhatsApp reminders drive significantly higher attendance rates — reaching learners across all 9 provinces who could never attend a physical event.
WhatsApp reminders at 14 days, 7 days, 24 hours, and 1 hour before each event. Post-event follow-up broadcasts to all registered learners.
A note on expectations
Open Days Africa gives you the infrastructure and the audience. The results depend on how you use it — the quality of your events, the responsiveness of your admissions team, and the consistency of your engagement. Institutions that treat the platform as an active recruitment tool see better outcomes than those that list and wait.
Straightforward pricing.
No hidden fees.
7 tiers for every institution type — from small bootcamps to provincial education departments. All prices include VAT.
Platform goes live July 2026 · Early Bird ends 31 May 2026
Discovery Listing
/year
Entry-level onboarding for small colleges, bootcamps, and training providers.
- Institution listing & profile page
- Up to 2 open day event listings
- Enquiry form & WhatsApp contact button
- Basic analytics dashboard
- Directory placement (all 9 provinces)
- Social media inclusion
- Basic SEO visibility
- POPIA-compliant lead capture
Growth Partner
/year
First true SaaS tier. Lead dashboard, QR campaigns, WhatsApp routing.
- Everything in Discovery Listing
- Featured institution badge
- Lead dashboard & enquiry tracking
- QR code campaigns (8 codes per event)
- WhatsApp routing to admissions
- Prospectus tracking
- Event booking system
- Up to 5 hosted events annually
- Automated reminders
- Institution analytics
Institution Pro
/year
Advanced analytics, WhatsApp broadcasts, CRM integrations, dedicated account manager.
- Everything in Growth Partner
- Advanced analytics & learner heatmaps
- Province engagement tracking
- Faculty demand analytics
- WhatsApp broadcast credits
- Lead exports & CRM integrations
- Branded landing pages
- Virtual open day hosting
- Funnel tracking
- Premium homepage exposure
- Dedicated account manager
- Priority support
OpenDays Enterprise
/year
Full national recruitment infrastructure for universities and large education groups.
- Everything in Institution Pro
- Enterprise analytics & nationwide campaigns
- API & CRM integrations
- Call centre integrations
- WhatsApp automation engine
- Multi-campus dashboards
- Province heatmaps
- SLA support
- Dedicated Customer Success Manager
TVET Connect
/year
Purpose-built for TVET colleges — rural recruitment, NSFAS-focused, mobile-first.
- Rural recruitment campaigns
- Artisan & trade programme listings
- NSFAS-focused recruitment messaging
- Mobile-first learner journeys
- Province targeting (LP, MP, NW, EC)
- WhatsApp broadcast to rural learners
- SETA-aligned intake campaigns
- Bursary & funding information hub
| Plan | Price Range | Billing | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery Listing | R4,999 – R9,999 | annually | Small colleges, bootcamps, training providers |
| Growth Partner | R18,000 – R35,000 | annually | Medium colleges, growing institutions |
| Institution Pro | R60,000 – R120,000 | annually | Multi-campus groups, established colleges |
| OpenDays Enterprise | R180,000 – R650,000+ | annually | Universities, large education groups |
| TVET Connect | R45,000 – R120,000 | annually | TVET colleges, rural recruitment |
| National Skills Partner | R250,000 – R2M+ | annually | SETAs, national skills campaigns |
| Provincial Access | R500,000 – R5M | annually | Provincial education departments |
All plans support physical, virtual, and hybrid events. Prices include VAT. All prices are per branch / per campus.
Payment via EFT or PayShap
Bank: Absa · Account Name: Open Days Africa
Account No: 9191056155
Use your institution name as reference. Activated within 24 hours.
POPIA Compliant Platform
All learner data is handled in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). No legal risk to your institution.
Live within
24–48 hours.
The onboarding process is structured, fast, and supported. Most institutions are fully live and receiving learner engagement within two business days of signing up.
Institution Registration & Profile Setup
Create your institution account and build your profile — institution name, type, programmes offered, contact details, and branding. Your profile becomes your permanent, searchable listing on the platform.
System Configuration
Set up your open day or intake campaign — event dates, registration settings, WhatsApp broadcast preferences, QR code generation, and analytics dashboard configuration. Our onboarding team guides you through every step.
Platform Activation
Your institution goes live on the platform — visible in the national directory, WhatsApp marketplace, and learner feeds. Learners across all 9 provinces can now discover, save, and register for your events.
Live Engagement & Real-Time Tracking
Begin receiving learner engagement through the national network. All data is tracked in real time — QR scans, event registrations, WhatsApp opens, and admissions funnel progression — providing actionable insights into student behaviour and conversion performance.
Dedicated Onboarding Support
A dedicated account manager guides you through setup and is available for questions throughout your first 30 days.
24–48 Hour Go-Live
From registration to live listing in under two business days. No lengthy procurement or technical integration required.
Ongoing Optimisation
Monthly performance reports and campaign support help you continuously improve your recruitment outcomes.
Built for compliance.
Trusted by institutions.
Open Days Africa is fully POPIA-compliant, ensuring that all learner data is securely stored and managed within a controlled multi-tenant architecture. Your institution operates in its own secure workspace — with strict data separation and consent-based communication protocols throughout.
POPIA Compliant by Design
Open Days Africa is fully compliant with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). All learner data is collected with explicit consent, securely stored, and managed within a controlled architecture. Institutions receive clean, consent-based leads — not scraped or purchased lists.
- Explicit opt-in consent at every data collection point
- Learners control their own data and communication preferences
- No data sold, shared, or used outside the platform
- Compliant broadcast messaging — only to opted-in learners
Multi-Tenant Architecture
Each institution operates within its own secure, isolated workspace on the platform. Strict data separation ensures that one institution's learner data, analytics, and communications are never accessible to another institution — regardless of plan tier.
- Isolated workspace per institution
- No cross-institution data access
- Role-based access control for institution staff
- Audit logs for all data access and exports
Secure Data Storage
All learner and institution data is securely stored with encryption at rest and in transit. The platform infrastructure is hosted on enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure with regular security audits and uptime monitoring.
- Encryption at rest and in transit
- Enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure
- Regular security audits
- 99.9% uptime SLA
Consent-Based Communication
All WhatsApp broadcasts, email communications, and platform notifications are sent only to learners who have explicitly opted in. Institutions cannot contact learners outside the platform's consent framework — protecting both the learner and the institution.
- WhatsApp broadcast only to opted-in learners
- Unsubscribe available at any time
- Communication logs retained for compliance
- No cold outreach or unsolicited contact
Become a founding partner.
National launch: July 2026.
Open Days Africa is currently onboarding founding partner institutions ahead of its national launch in July 2026. Early partners benefit from priority platform placement, discounted pricing, and enhanced visibility during the initial rollout phase.
These partners play a key role in shaping the national education recruitment ecosystem — and are positioned at the front of the learner pipeline as national school coverage expands toward 2027.
July 2026
National Platform Launch
Founding partner onboarding is open now. Institutions that join before the July 2026 launch are listed as founding partners and receive all early-access benefits. Spots are limited to ensure quality placement for each partner.
Discounted Pricing
50% off your subscription for the first 12 months — locked in at founding partner rates regardless of future price increases.
Priority Platform Placement
Founding partners receive priority placement in the national directory, WhatsApp marketplace, and learner recommendation feeds during the initial rollout phase.
Enhanced Visibility at Launch
Featured in the national launch campaign in July 2026 — including social media, WhatsApp broadcast to all registered learners, and press coverage.
Shape the Platform
Founding partners have direct input into platform features, reporting tools, and the national school engagement strategy. Your feedback shapes the product.
Dedicated Account Manager
A dedicated account manager for the full first year — handling onboarding, campaign setup, and ongoing optimisation of your recruitment strategy.
Early Data Advantage
Access to platform-wide learner interest data before competitors join — giving you a head start on understanding demand patterns across provinces.
The bigger picture.
Open Days Africa represents a shift from traditional, fragmented student recruitment methods to a unified, measurable, and scalable national system. By connecting learners from schools directly to institutions and skills providers, the platform creates a structured pipeline that improves access, efficiency, and conversion outcomes across the entire education ecosystem in South Africa.
Start reaching learners
before your competitors do.
Open Days Africa is onboarding founding partner institutions ahead of the national launch in July 2026. Early partners lock in 50% off for 12 months, get priority placement, and play a key role in shaping the national education recruitment ecosystem. No contracts. Cancel any time.
50% off for 12 months — Early Bird pricing ends 31 May 2026
Priority placement when the platform goes live in July 2026
Dedicated onboarding support — live within 24–48 hours
POPIA-compliant from day one — no legal risk to your institution
Starting prices (Early Bird 50% off)
Request a demo
We will walk you through the platform and answer any questions about how it works for your institution type.