The Uplands Outreach Programme was established in 1994 by Uplands Preparatory School in order to partner with schools serving previously disadvantaged communities and to help overcome the disparity in educational standards. In 2001, a 65 ha property was acquired, adjoining the Uplands Campus near White River in Mpumalanga Province. It is known as The Uplands Institute for Outreach and Environmental Education (TUI). The offices of the Outreach Programme are housed at TUI.

Operating in conjunction with Uplands Prep School and Uplands College, who make available their facilities and expertise, it is a non-profit organisation which depends on support from large corporations and the private sector for its survival. It has Section 18A tax status which renders all donations tax deductible.

The Institute property is a Natural Heritage Site and is host to the critically endangered Aloe simii. A combined Prep/College research project is currently under way to provide much-needed data on this aloe, which will be submitted to the National Botanical Institute.

Vision
The Uplands Institute aims to be recognised as a prime example of public-private partnership in outreach intervention in Southern Africa and as a leading centre for environmental programmes

Mission
Our mission is to be instrumental in the transformation into effective educational institutions of previously disadvantaged schools in our region. In addition, we involve our partner schools and both Uplands schools in environmental education programmes, with a view to achieving a high level of appreciation for the need for the sustainable use of natural resources.