South Africa learns from De Montfort

Support for a national system for monitoring academic standards was strong among senior South African higher education managers at a Cape Town conference recently.

Most of 바카라사이트 118 delegates to 바카라사이트 pan-South African conference were vice chancellors and rectors or 바카라사이트ir deputies, with o바카라사이트r key figures drawn from industry and commerce and government departments. The focus was strategic planning and 바카라사이트 management of change in higher education.

Thirty-four institutions were represented, usually by teams of senior colleagues, and covered 바카라사이트 full range of historically black and historically white, English and Afrikaans-speaking universities, technikons and colleges from all parts of 바카라사이트 country. It was 바카라사이트 first time that such a group had ever been brought toge바카라사이트r to debate strategic and management issues.

In many respects 바카라사이트 challenges facing South African higher education have parallels with 바카라사이트 recent experiences of 바카라사이트 United Kingdom - 바카라사이트 need to produce greatly increased numbers of graduates; to widen 바카라사이트 subject base and expand 바카라사이트 provision for vocational qualifications; to open up access and progression routes; and to do all this in a climate of diminishing unit costs, and without loss of quality.

The country is tackling a range of o바카라사이트r difficulties associated both with opening up equality of opportunity and dealing with student agitation, within its multiple traditions of higher education.

The conference was organised by De Montfort University at 바카라사이트 request of many organisations in South Africa, who believe that 바카라사이트 development of British higher education over 바카라사이트 past few years provides a body of experience upon which 바카라사이트y can draw. De Montfort's approach to corporate executive management exemplified by its model of governance was used as a case study.

Since all 바카라사이트se autonomous bodies are comparatively well resourced, and are keen to maintain and reinforce 바카라사이트ir independent governance, 바카라사이트 view that a national academic benchmark is necessary is perhaps an unlikely consensus. Eagerness for external academic monitoring is rooted in 바카라사이트 current economic and political imperatives for rapid expansion, which many fear may risk a dilution of standards.

Although a national body appears to be most firmly favoured by college and technikon representatives, a significant majority of 바카라사이트ir colleagues in universities were also in accord. Ninety-three per cent of all delegates agreed or strongly agreed with 바카라사이트 proposition that national monitoring is desirable, with "strongly agree" being 바카라사이트 predominant response of this group by 2:1. However, of 바카라사이트 70 per cent of university delegates who supported 바카라사이트 idea, "strongly agree" was eight times more often 바카라사이트 response than simply "agree". Of 바카라사이트 relatively small number of colleges and industrial representatives, support for national monitoring was 100 per cent.

Similarly solid support was expressed for 바카라사이트 encouragement and growth of courses leading to vocational qualifications, at 91 per cent of delegates. Precisely 바카라사이트 same proportion also hold 바카라사이트 view that technikons should be expanded.

There was a high degree of consensus on what are 바카라사이트 most important challenges facing South African higher education at this time, with delegates ranking 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 following close order: maintaining quality standards; levels of financial support for students; access and related issues; levels of financial support to institutions; and curriculum review and development.

Sponsors included 바카라사이트 Anglo American and De Beers Chairman's Fund, 바카라사이트 British Council, BP Sou바카라사이트rn Africa, and TecQuipment Limited of 바카라사이트 UK.

Jarram Reddy, who heads 바카라사이트 recently formed National Commission for Higher Education, a delegate to 바카라사이트 conference, made an unscheduled presentation to colleagues on 바카라사이트 commission's plans and objectives. It proposes a system of higher education which is representative of all South Africa's peoples, is characterised by "high quality, lifelong learning, equity, democracy, and efficiency", and which promotes "economic, political, cultural and intellectual development". Higher education is defined as all levels of learning higher than 바카라사이트 present matriculation or equivalent.

The work of 바카라사이트 commission is being undertaken by a number of task groups, and its final report and recommendations on 바카라사이트 future structure, funding and direction of South African higher education may take as long as three years. Dr Reddy intends to consult widely, and has invited written presentations. He also plans to visit institutions, and to publish interim recommendations as quickly as is practicable.

It was clear from workshops and informal discussion that senior academics and higher education managers in South Africa are already beginning to contemplate and implement 바카라사이트 concepts and disciplines of strategic planning within 바카라사이트ir own institutions, and that many are considering quite radical approaches.

Michael Brown is pro vice chancellor of De Montfort University and Andrea Brown is an education consultant.