The new Faculty of Education was established at the University of Fort Hare in 2004.

The Faculty of Education comprises three distinct academic schools, namely the School for Initial Teacher Education (SITE), the School for Postgraduate Studies (SPGS) and the School for In-Service Programmes (SISP) under the leadership of the Executive Dean.   The Faculty is also the home of the Nelson Mandela Institute for Rural Education and Development (NMiRED), formally launched in 2006. 

The Faculty Board, chaired by the Executive Dean, consists of staff members who meet quarterly to consider various matters pertaining to the Faculty and the University at large. All decisions made by the Board of Faculty are taken to Senate for ratification and from there, where appropriate, to the Council, which is the highest decision-making body in the University.

The Executive Dean is appointed by the University Council for a period of five years.  The Dean is the Chief Executive Officer of the Faculty and is responsible for the direction of the Faculty—the leadership and management. The Dean reports to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the Senate and the Council of the University, attends the national Deans’ Forum meetings with the National Department of Education and the Minister of Education and is therefore involved with policy making for teacher education for the country.

The Faculty of Education at Fort Hare, under the Executive Dean’s office (a Faculty Manager and a Personal Assistant), consists of two campuses. They are based in Alice and in East London.

Prof Denise Zinn was recently appointed as Executive Dean of Education and is based at the East London campus.  The Faculty Manager, to a large extent, is responsible for and operates from the Alice Campus in liaison with the Executive Dean.  In addition, the Faculty Office has a Quality Assurance Co-ordinator in the person of Dr Chris van Wyk who is based at the East London Campus.