Title: South Africa and its second student revolution in the transformation of university education: the case of a rural-based university

Authors: Mavhungu Abel Mafukata

Addresses: Community Education and Research, Vhutali Management and Leadership Institute, Limpopo Province, P.O. Box 331, Louis Trichardt, South Africa

Abstract: This paper investigates university transformation trends in South Africa following the countrywide #FeesMustFall and #RhodesMustFall student protests. Studies on university transformation in South Africa have largely concentrated in urban-based former White universities while ignoring issues of the smaller rural and peri-urban universities. This paper investigates transformation trends at a conveniently selected rural-based university. Data were collected from various media sources and the university website. The results revealed that the university's rectorate was dominated by foreign nationals and White males. Also, the majority of deans of school were males (75%) or females (25%) while heads of department were in the majority foreign nationals (87.5%) than nationals (12.5%) who were males (93.8%) or females (6.2%). The best, and NRF-rated academicians and researchers were in the majority foreign nationals than nationals. Transformation at this university should reflect the socio-demography of the country. The university should prioritise appointment of nationals - particularly women into academia.

Keywords: gender; higher education; juche; university management; university transformation; South Africa; student revolution; rural universities; foreign nationals.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHES.2016.080785

International Journal of Higher Education and Sustainability, 2016 Vol.1 No.2, pp.147 - 166

Received: 30 Mar 2016
Accepted: 04 May 2016
Published online: 07 Dec 2016 *

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