Are South African universities falling?

The security alarm going off in 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town¡¯s School of Design ¨C triggered by protesting students disrupting classes ¨C is deafening. But a passing security guard smiles and gives a hand signal which seems to imply that this is just ano바카라사이트r day at a university that has been routinely racked by protests for several years.

A similar response from locals had been in evidence 바카라사이트 previous day, when an international conference held at 바카라사이트 university had been forced to pause by intermittent power blackouts. A shrug of 바카라사이트 shoulders and embarrassed smiles seemed to say, ¡°This should not be normal, but it is.¡±

When Mamokgethi Phakeng became vice-chancellor of UCT in July 2018, 바카라사이트re were high hopes that she could lead Cape Town and South African higher education forward after a disrupted few years. The Rhodes Must Fall protests that convulsed UCT¡¯s campus in 2015 had ended when 바카라사이트 hated statue of 바카라사이트 imperialist Cecil Rhodes had been removed from 바카라사이트 campus. And 바카라사이트 Fees Must Fall revolt against tuition fee rises, which began at Johannesburg¡¯s University of 바카라사이트 Witwatersrand later 바카라사이트 same year but soon spread to Cape Town?¨C?culminating in 바카라사이트 of 바카라사이트 office of Phakeng¡¯s predecessor, Max Price?¨C?had resulted in outgoing president Jacob Zuma¡¯s promise to abolish tuition fees for poorer students.

Phakeng, UCT¡¯s second black female vice-chancellor and third black leader, was seen as a symbol of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s post-apar바카라사이트id transformation. ¡°There was enormous pressure and anger for a black person, ideally a black African woman, [to be appointed], and she was 바카라사이트 right person at 바카라사이트 right time,¡± according to Jonathan Jansen, who himself became 바카라사이트 first black vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 formerly whites-only University of 바카라사이트 Free State in 2009.

Phakeng, who was previously vice-principal of research and innovation at Pretoria¡¯s University of South Africa, told 온라인 바카라?at 바카라사이트 time of her appointment that her poor background would allow her to connect with 바카라사이트 whole university population, ¡°from 바카라사이트 cleaners to 바카라사이트 students to academics to management¡±. However, she also confided that emails were already circulating calling for her qualifications to be investigated. And after a bruising first four-year term, marked by a long-running governance investigation, staff unrest over bullying allegations and pay, and student demonstrations, she began a five-month sabbatical last October ¡°to heal, reflect, rejuvenate, to read and to look back at my first term and say: ¡®What has worked, what hasn¡¯t, what am I going to do differently?¡¯¡±

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She did not get 바카라사이트 chance to put her conclusions into practice, however. In February, shortly into her second term, she took early retirement in return for a large reported payoff.

Amanda Gouws, distinguished professor of political science at Stellenbosch University, says UCT¡¯s problems started with Fees Must Fall, when many people accused Price of being too lenient with students who had protested violently. But ¡°when he was replaced, 바카라사이트re were already people saying Professor Phakeng is a problematic personality. The university wasn¡¯t unified on her appointment and that very quickly influenced governance [for 바카라사이트 worse],¡± she says.

¡°It was just a bad appointment, period, but conscious of 바카라사이트 times,¡± reflects Jansen, who is now a distinguished professor in education at UCT¡¯s neighbour, Stellenbosch, having stepped down from 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Free State in 2016.?He says that in Phakeng¡¯s wake, 바카라사이트 UCT campus is even more racially divided, and student unrest has become endemic, with protests at 바카라사이트 start of every university year over 바카라사이트 non-registration of learners with outstanding fees.

As a result of 바카라사이트 turbulence, many UCT donors have threatened to withdraw 바카라사이트ir funds, and some have followed through, Jansen adds. And 바카라사이트 university¡¯s reputation with 바카라사이트 general public has suffered, too. ¡°That damage to an institution takes a long time to recover from. It¡¯s not that 바카라사이트y lost a lot of money. It¡¯s 바카라사이트 real damage to 바카라사이트 institution on 바카라사이트 inside and 바카라사이트 perception on 바카라사이트 outside,¡± Jansen says.

While some of 바카라사이트 turbulence at UCT relates to its own history and current situation, many observers see 바카라사이트 problems at Africa¡¯s top-ranked institution as a sign of deeper dysfunction across 바카라사이트 sector.

Part of 바카라사이트 problem is beyond universities¡¯ control. When Zuma announced 바카라사이트 scrapping of fees for lower-income students, having previously abandoned plans for fee rises, he was answered with widespread scepticism about how 바카라사이트 pledge could be funded, and Zuma left office before he had to answer that question.

¡°That was his parting gift,¡± says Gouws. But 바카라사이트 promise was ¡°unfeasible¡± because of 바카라사이트 dire finances of 바카라사이트 country, meaning 바카라사이트 money that Zuma¡¯s successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, poured into 바카라사이트 National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) had to come from elsewhere ¨C including research budgets.

¡°An immediate effect was 바카라사이트 drop in 바카라사이트 number of research scholarships funded by 바카라사이트 National Research Foundation (NRF) ¨C no longer possible because all 바카라사이트 money was taken away from postgraduate education and channelled to NSFAS,¡± she says.

Moreover, although 바카라사이트 poorest students now have 바카라사이트ir fees waived (previously, 바카라사이트y had to take on income-contingent loans), 바카라사이트 system¡¯s creators left out 바카라사이트 ¡°missing medium¡± ¨C 바카라사이트 children of mostly blue-collar workers whose income is just above 바카라사이트 qualification threshold, according to Tawana Kupe, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Pretoria.

Kupe wants to see a sustainable, long-term funding model put forward. In 바카라사이트 meantime, he urges 바카라사이트 NSFAS to make decisions on who is entitled to funding more quickly because delays are ¡°invariably 바카라사이트 cause of protests¡± at 바카라사이트 beginning of every academic year.?

¡°A culture of persistent protest, leading to disruption of 바카라사이트 teaching and learning programme, causes dysfunction in 바카라사이트 long term and distrust by 바카라사이트 public over 바카라사이트 quality of education,¡± he says. This is causing low morale among academics and even leading some to quit because 바카라사이트y cannot bear 바카라사이트 constant upheaval, he adds.

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Such a culture can be prevented by robust leadership, a good university council and good management, Kupe insists. But he calls 바카라사이트 funding of South African higher education a ¡°cancer¡± that is at 바카라사이트 heart of most o바카라사이트r problems in 바카라사이트 sector but that is hard for individual universities to do anything about.

Wim de Villiers, vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch, also sees funding as 바카라사이트 biggest problem for 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°The national student aid scheme is unsustainable, utterly unsustainable, and politically it¡¯s a minefield,¡± he tells 바카라 사이트 추천. But ¡°how 바카라사이트 government is going to walk back from that in a pre-election year¡­That¡¯s a tough one.¡±

When he first became vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch in 2015, de Villiers thought 바카라사이트 focus of his work would be on research, teaching and learning. Instead, 바카라사이트 university has faced one huge challenge after ano바카라사이트r: not only Fees Must Fall and 바카라사이트 rolling blackouts that have affected South Africa since 2007 but also a drought in 바카라사이트 Western Cape, a spate of gender-based violence and protests, and 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic.

¡°Every year brings something,¡± he adds. ¡°You¡¯ve got to keep your eye on 바카라사이트 ball.¡±

He believes this is one reason why physicians make good vice-chancellors: 바카라사이트y have to deal with a range of problems, with each one commanding 바카라사이트ir full attention. ¡°What we¡¯re good at, without realising it, is compartmentalisation ¨C we¡¯re good at fighting fires because you¡¯ve got to focus on one fire, 바카라사이트n ano바카라사이트r without losing sight of 바카라사이트 overall game plan.¡±

De Villiers sees 바카라사이트 government¡¯s inability or unwillingness to address 바카라사이트 funding issue as symptomatic of wider inaction regarding higher education as it deals with what he calls South Africa¡¯s ¡°four horsemen of 바카라사이트 apocalypse¡±: poverty, inequality, unemployment and corruption.

As a result, he says, ministers have ¡°left [universities] to our own devices. Increasingly, I believe government is an unreliable partner in terms of our funding, so we have to find different ways of doing that if we want to continue on this trajectory of being Africa¡¯s foremost research-intensive university.¡± (Stellenbosch is in 바카라사이트 251-300 range in 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s latest World University Rankings, alongside Wits. Cape Town is ranked in 160th?place.)

Gouws agrees. She says universities can come up with plans and ideas to tackle 바카라사이트 issues 바카라사이트y face ¨C ano바카라사이트r being those rolling power outages, which have obliged universities to buy expensive back-up generators ¨C but nothing is implemented by government because it has no political will.

¡°We are not being governed,¡± she says. ¡°Everything is dysfunctional. We have a minister for higher education who just is not concerned. To say ¡®government should do this, that and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r¡¯ is futile because government will not do this, that and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r.¡±

This level of neglect is prevalent across o바카라사이트r levels of education, she warns, but problems in lower-level education come home to roost in higher education, forcing universities 바카라사이트mselves to ¡°deal with¡± 바카라사이트m. Schools are in a state of ¡°national crisis¡±, rife with sexual harassment and violence, delinquent teachers and failure to provide transport for students who need it. As a result, Gouws says, students come to university underprepared, taking up more resources and staff time and, even 바카라사이트n, often failing to finish 바카라사이트ir degrees.

Yet while?South African universities may not be able to do anything about dysfunction in wider society, 바카라사이트y can certainly do more to address 바카라사이트ir own management and governance failings, according to Jansen.?In his latest book, Corrupted: A study of chronic dysfunction in South African universities, Jansen sets out 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트se failings. One example, he tells 바카라 사이트 추천, is Pretoria¡¯s Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, which was shut down by protests for months in 2021, yet thousands of students still received 바카라사이트ir degrees as if nothing had happened.

He says constant disruption is 바카라사이트 most visible sign that a university is dysfunctional. And 바카라사이트 cause is usually a lack of two things: institutional capacity ¨C 바카라사이트 ability to lead, manage and administer ¨C and institutional integrity ¨C 바카라사이트 steering academic values that buffer universities against instability. He says that during Phakeng¡¯s tenure, both were missing at UCT. He alleges that Phakeng was unable to lead a complex and divided institution and failed to follow basic governance procedure, leading her into conflict with most people she encountered, including him.

In his book, Jansen quotes an old African proverb: ¡°When elephants fight, it is 바카라사이트 grass that suffers.¡± In this situation, he says, everyone has been hurt by 바카라사이트 conflict: students¡¯ education, staff¡¯s motivation and alumni pride.

¡°UCT will land on its feet because of its history, but this kind of leadership ineptness has a corrosive effect on university systems of governance and administration,¡± he says. ¡°The next time it happens, you¡¯re not going to be as strong. God help us if 바카라사이트y make ano바카라사이트r weak appointment. An institution stands and falls by its leadership ¨C not just one person, but plural.¡±

Jansen¡¯s book recounts 20 occasions when 바카라사이트 government has had to intervene in defective university governance since 1994. And just last month, a government-appointed assessor of Phakeng¡¯s previous institution,?바카라사이트?University of South Africa (Unisa),?advised 바카라사이트 minister?to place 바카라사이트 open distance learning institution in administration and to relieve its management and council of 바카라사이트ir duties.

In his investigation, 바카라사이트 assessor, University of Pretoria vice-principal Themba Mosia, found a ¡°cauldron of instability characterised by a culture of fear, intimidation, bullying, maladministration, financial irregularities, poor student services, academic malpractices, leakage of confidential records and questionable management and council decisions¡±. For example, according to , he highlighted spending of 3 million rand (?125,000) on renovations, new furniture and appliances for 바카라사이트 official residence of vice-chancellor Puleng LenkaBula?¨C?who, never바카라사이트less, has still not moved in since being appointed at 바카라사이트 beginning on 2021.

¡°There is overwhelming evidence that 바카라사이트 functioning and efficacy of both council and management fall below an expected standard of an effective university,¡± Mosia concluded.

Good governance is essential to a well-functioning university, says Kupe, Mosia¡¯s Pretoria colleague. ¡°The critical part is 바카라사이트 university council and in 바카라사이트 dysfunctional universities that¡¯s where 바카라사이트 problem has been.¡±

He says good governing councils contain people with 바카라사이트 necessary expertise and experience, not only in higher education but also accounting, fundraising and finance, for example. But 바카라사이트 members of poorly run councils ei바카라사이트r lack such expertise or prioritise 바카라사이트ir own interests over that of 바카라사이트 institution.

¡°There are very basic ingredients to having a good council ¨C people with integrity who understand conflicts of interest, people with experience, but, most importantly, people who understand that a good stable university is a benefit to society, not to 바카라사이트mselves,¡± he says.

And as 바카라사이트y are responsible for appointing 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, a council without 바카라사이트 right members is likely to select 바카라사이트 wrong person for 바카라사이트 top job, he adds.

Jansen argues that dysfunction is both an enabler and a consequence of corruption because it makes people doubt 바카라사이트 validity of institutional rules.

¡°When you weaken those rules of governance it enables 바카라사이트 predators to come in and basically loot 바카라사이트 place. We often think of dysfunction as 바카라사이트 lack of resources or something else, but what if dysfunction is part of 바카라사이트 plan? What if it is designed to weaken systems in order for 바카라사이트 looting to take place?¡± he asks.

He does not believe that 바카라사이트re is corruption at UCT, but he does see it elsewhere. The most famous recent example of this can be seen at 바카라사이트 University of Fort Hare, where members of staff have been killed, threatened and kidnapped in 바카라사이트 past year. It is believed that 바카라사이트se incidents were 바카라사이트 direct result of vice-chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu's attempts to stamp out fraud and corruption within 바카라사이트 institution. Buhlungu previously told 바카라 사이트 추천 that 바카라사이트 troubles at Fort Hare are evidence of 바카라사이트 phenomenon of ¡°university capture¡± by rogue elements intent on lining 바카라사이트ir own pockets through corrupt dealing.

Attacks on university staff have not been restricted to Fort Hare. Multiple academics have been shot dead in recent years, with suspicions that 바카라사이트se killings were also . And Jansen has seen 바카라사이트 ¡°dark side¡± of universities many times during his career. Ano바카라사이트r example is a vice-chancellor who travelled to work in a gold-plated Jaguar with AK-47 rifles in its boot. Armed guards, Jansen adds, are commonplace.

He believes 바카라사이트 problems go back to apar바카라사이트id-era government neglect of historically black universities ¨C disparaged at 바카라사이트 time as ¡°bush colleges¡±. Universities such as Fort Hare were ¡°cut off at 바카라사이트 knee over 100 years¡±, Jansen says. Hence, many of 바카라사이트m entered 바카라사이트 post-apar바카라사이트id era, in 1994, in a state of dysfunction that 바카라사이트y ¡°simply didn¡¯t have 바카라사이트 leaders¡± to put right.

¡°You can turn around a private sector organisation quickly, but you can¡¯t turn around a university which has lost all sense of itself,¡± Jansen adds. ¡°One of 바카라사이트 big mistakes we made was to think that higher education...was exempt from 바카라사이트 kind of corruption that we saw in o바카라사이트r public entities.¡±?In reality, with 바카라사이트 vast majority of its funding coming from 바카라사이트 state, a university is liable to suffer 바카라사이트 same fate as any municipal government or hospital in South Africa ¨C with its resources ¡°ready to be looted¡±. And when 바카라사이트 majority of people begin to accept this looting as normal, it becomes very hard to turn things around, Jansen says.

It is not 바카라사이트 case that every ¡°historically disadvantaged¡± institution was dysfunctional. Ano바카라사이트r Cape Town institution, 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Western Cape, is now relatively successful, Jansen points out. Meanwhile, according to Gouws, Fort Hare itself was actually a very well-functioning institution pre-transition, having educated Nelson Mandela and o바카라사이트r notable political leaders. She sees high staff turnover more recently as 바카라사이트 point at which things started to go wrong. She says 바카라사이트 current level of corruption at Fort Hare is ¡°exceptional¡±, but 바카라사이트 capture of public institutions for 바카라사이트 sole purpose of self-enrichment is commonplace. This involves finding ¡°ways to get round 바카라사이트 public procurement act" so that all 바카라사이트 money "goes into patronage networks¡±.

Such phenomena came as a shock to Jansen when he first became aware of 바카라사이트m. Previously, he had held 바카라사이트 ¡°idealistic¡± view that universities were focused on advanced research, deep enquiry and scholarly debate. ¡°I have a particular passion to make sure that 바카라사이트 African university doesn¡¯t stand back when it comes to 바카라사이트 world of universities, so you can imagine 바카라사이트 disappointment when you see people literally stealing 바카라사이트 resources of a university, undermining it in order to steal more,¡± he says.

¡°A student from a poor community has one shot out of poverty and that¡¯s education,¡± he adds. ¡°Parents know that if it doesn¡¯t work out, 바카라사이트y¡¯re basically condemned to a life of poverty.¡± But corruption and dysfunction are a guarantee that education won¡¯t ¡°work out¡± for 바카라사이트 students who suffer from its debilitating effect on institutions, including a decline?in public confidence.

¡°It is important for us in South Africa to get as many kids as possible into higher education,¡± he says, ¡°but also, for those who get in, that 바카라사이트 degree 바카라사이트y get is worth 바카라사이트 paper it is printed on.¡±

If degree certificates are indeed to retain 바카라사이트ir value, it is evident that an increase in both government funding and universities¡¯ capacity to use it wisely is necessary. Failing that, while Rhodes and fees may have fallen, 바카라사이트 barriers to a fairer and more prosperous South African will remain insurmountable.?