Helderberg College of Higher Education is a private higher education institution situated in Somerset West, South Africa, about thirty minutes from Cape Town. It was established in 1893, and was the first Seventh-day Adventist College established outside of North America under the name "Union College." It moved to its present location in 1928, making it the oldest Adventist college on the continent of Africa. It is owned and operated by the Southern Africa Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, with headquarters in Bloemfontein, South Africa. It is a part of the Seventh-day Adventist education system, the world's second largest Christian school system. The college also hosts a local research centre of the Ellen G. White Estate. Helderberg College amended their name to reflect it as a Higher Education institution. The amendment Helderberg College of Higher Education was approved and became effective 9 November 2017. The College also adopted the HCHE abbreviation, and now uses the HCHE.AC.ZA domain as its official domain name. Historical Overview The history of Seventh-day Adventist education in South Africa began in 1893 with the establishment of Claremont Union College, Cape Town. The College changed locations in 1919 and again in 1928 in an attempt to follow more closely the philosophy that has motivated this institution. After the first move, the College became known as Spion Kop College, and in 1928 the last move established Helderberg College, on the slopes of Helderberg Mountain, just outside Somerset West, South Africa. Claremont Union College (1893-1917) The first Seventh-day Adventist College outside North America, Claremont Union College opened its doors on 1 February 1893. It was situated on of land within walking distance of Kenilworth station. The impressive buildings and comprehensive curriculum are testimony to the vision of those early educators. The original stately double-storey college building has since been proclaimed a national monument and is today the focal building in a modern shopping complex. Union College offered primary, secondary and tertiary education. College subjects included Greek and Latin, Trigonometry and Geometry, Chemistry and Physics, Logic and Moral Science. Besides the classical academic education, emphasis was placed on character development, a vocational programme, laws of health, physical training and culture. The College was open to all races and no distinction was made with regard to religious affiliation. In fact, half the students were not Seventh-day Adventists. Over the 25 years of its existence, two distinct education points of view have waxed