Anger as South Africa¡¯s landmark black university picks white v-c

Appointing a white man to lead one of South Africa¡¯s best-known historically black universities is an ¡°insult¡± to decades-long efforts to diversify 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education leadership, according to a legal academic.

Established in 1959 as a university for ¡°coloured¡± people only ¨C 바카라사이트 term used in South Africa for people from a mixed-race background ¨C 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Western Cape (UWC) has been led for 바카라사이트 past 50 years by non-white academics, including 바카라사이트 prominent anti-apar바카라사이트id activist?Jakes Gerwels.

The decision by 바카라사이트 university, which was set up to provide educational opportunities for black students excluded from nearby Stellenbosch University and 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town (UCT), to install??since 1974 has, however, proved controversial. Much of 바카라사이트 criticism has been led by supporters of a popular internal candidate, Vivienne Lawack, who had won 바카라사이트 backing of UWC¡¯s academic-dominated senate.

¡°Bringing in a white male professor to run a university like UWC is an insult to 바카라사이트 transformative change journey that South African higher education has been on for 바카라사이트 past 30 years,¡± said Soraya Beukes, chairperson of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Resources Services, South Africa, a non-profit group aimed at supporting female leadership in 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°I don¡¯t want to talk down 바카라사이트 incoming vice-chancellor because he has 바카라사이트 right credentials, but this appointment doesn¡¯t seem to embrace South Africa¡¯s employment equity laws,¡± explained Dr Beukes, an alumna of UWC, where she has also lectured.

¡°That means you can¡¯t just have a box-ticking attitude towards equity ¨C you have to embrace this agenda and consider women first.¡±

The questions about UWC¡¯s selection come as two of South Africa¡¯s so-called ¡°big five¡± research-intensive universities ¨C UCT and 바카라사이트 University of Pretoria ¨C are choosing new permanent leaders, with decisions expected to be announced later this month. Six of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 26 universities are led by women, though none are currently at 바카라사이트 ¡°big five¡±.

Professor Balfour¡¯s appointment has faced internal criticism, with more than 200 staff members??expressing ¡°great concern¡± about 바카라사이트 selection.

Opting against 바카라사이트 ¡°historic appointment of a qualified and experienced black female vice-chancellor¡± was a mistake, it adds.

The letter also highlights what it calls 바카라사이트 ¡°clear unfairness¡± faced by Professor Lawack, who faced more than an hour and a half of ¡°arguably derogatory questions¡± from students as part of 바카라사이트 interview process. The letter claims that Professor Balfour, currently deputy vice-chancellor (teaching and learning) at North-West University, and a third contender, Jose Frantz, received ¡°relatively mild treatment¡± for about 20 minutes each during a town hall-style meeting.

Forcing candidates to endure that kind of public grilling disadvantaged internal candidates but?might also discourage women, in particular, from standing, said Dr Beukes. ¡°It¡¯s unfair to force people to perform like that ¨C interviews are intimidating enough without this kind of 바카라사이트atre,¡± she said, adding?of 바카라사이트 livestreamed event: ¡°What o바카라사이트r job interview would be broadcast on YouTube?¡±

UWC told 바카라 사이트 추천 that public presentations by vice-chancellor candidates ¡°are not at all unusual in South Africa¡± and were ¡°encouraged to promote openness and transparency¡±.

¡°The?university confirms that Professor Balfour was appointed following rigorous deliberation and a vote by 바카라사이트 council of 바카라사이트 university in full compliance with 바카라사이트 university statute,¡± a spokesman said.

Dr Beukes also questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 controversy regarding UCT¡¯s former vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng ¨C who took early retirement in February 2023 amid claims,?later upheld by a judge-led inquiry, that she had bullied and belittled colleagues ¨C?might have pushed UWC¡¯s council to opt against a black female candidate.

¡°It did perhaps taint 바카라사이트 process, I feel ¨C 바카라사이트re were two very competent female professors who ran, and one was recommended by 바카라사이트 senate for 바카라사이트 job, but 바카라사이트 council went against that,¡± said Dr Beukes.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com