The Da Vinci Institute was founded at the behest of the honourable Nelson Mandela, connected to Madiba’s dream of widening access to education and his vision that “Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world.”

To this end, The Institute was conceptualised in 2004 with the vision of offering education solutions focusing on the management of technology and innovation. The vision was to educate future leaders who would emulate the teachings of Nelson Mandela and Leonardo Da Vinci.

The Institute’s guiding principles are a co-creation of some of the broad principles often associated with the visionary leadership of Leonardo Da Vinci and Nelson Mandela, reconceptualised to represent the lived principles of The Institute.

Underpinning our guiding principles is the concept of remarkability, which is impressed upon, and recognised in all of our staff, students, alumni, partners and associates.