This study explores the management of equity in medical schools in South Africa using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Notions and models of equity are discussed and student and staff profiles in medical schools are contrasted with national and international profiles. in-depth unstructured interviews are conducted with select senior and executive management members at national, institutional and faculty of medicine levels to identify the challenges and best practices associatd with promoting equity in medical schools in five broad areas, namely, staff, students, curriculum, research, and policies and practices. The study shows significant contextual differences between medical schools and their universities resulting in divergent trends in the student and staff profiles. Historically Black medical schools continue to provide access to aproximately 68% of African MBChB students. Postgraduate students remain predominantly White men and although more female than male students are enrolled for MBChB, the few females entering postgraduate training are segregated in particular areas of specialisation. Redressing the historically determined prevailing inequities in medical schools, in terms of race, gender and class, is inextricably linked to different management ideologies, management policies and practices, economic factors and discipline specific power dynamics. To manage equity inmmedical schools more efficiently, it is recommended that a single, separate budget be allocated to medical schools for staff appointments and student training. The management of academic health complexes should be under the jurisdiction of a national, joint Department of Education/Department of Health structure. Such a structure should, at a national level clarify, co-ordinate and monitor equity in medical schools and ensure that policies and practices in medical faculties are aligned to national strategic transformation frameworks and equity goals of higher education and health. Monitoring could include analyses of student applications, admissions, failure, drop-out and graduation rates of students. The establishment of a comprehensive database of South African medical doctors by race, gender, area of specialisation and location of practice is needed to track trends and shifts. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Educational Management)

The purpose of this research is to explore students’ on-line interactivity in an Open Distance Learning institution with other students, educators, study materials and Unisa as the sampled prototypical research subject. A mixed-method of research encompassing both explorative and descriptive aspects was used. Data was collected through myUnisa discussion forum, focus group interviews and an on-line questionnaire from second and third year Health Services Management students at the University of South Africa (Unisa). Although the findings indicated that 84.9% of students owned computers, and 100% owned cellular phones, only 3.8% participated in the discussion forum. On-line discussion forum are critical in Open Distance Learning (ODL) because it allows people who cannot physically attend the educational institution to interact with each other. Almost 40% of these sampled students agreed that the discussion forum allowed them to study with their peers. However, only 53 of the 1,379 students registered for both second and third year studies during the first semester participated in the discussion forum. This indicates that very few students benefit from on-line interaction. Most of the students who are enrolled in Health Services Management course are from 21 to above 50 years of age. This age factor can have an impact on computer literacy. Some of them indicated that they struggled with the utilisation of technology. The majority of these students do not utilise the prescribed on-line interactive tools effectively. Students’ need support cognitively, academically, administratively, institutionally and affectively. The findings suggest that although students are aware of the benefits of using online technologies, they do not have the support from the institution to enable them to better their skills in using these technologies. The other challenge that they have raised is that educators also interact minimally on-line. Therefore, they do not receive the necessary feedback they require. The university systems are sometimes offline, which becomes worse during registration and submission of assignments. The recommendations emanating from the study warrants various interventions of multiple stakeholders to resolve the students’ challenges. / Health Studies / D.Litt, et Phil. (Health Studies)

This study explores the management of equity in medical schools in South Africa using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Notions and models of equity are discussed and student and staff profiles in medical schools are contrasted with national and international profiles. in-depth unstructured interviews are conducted with select senior and executive management members at national, institutional and faculty of medicine levels to identify the challenges and best practices associatd with promoting equity in medical schools in five broad areas, namely, staff, students, curriculum, research, and policies and practices. The study shows significant contextual differences between medical schools and their universities resulting in divergent trends in the student and staff profiles. Historically Black medical schools continue to provide access to aproximately 68% of African MBChB students. Postgraduate students remain predominantly White men and although more female than male students are enrolled for MBChB, the few females entering postgraduate training are segregated in particular areas of specialisation. Redressing the historically determined prevailing inequities in medical schools, in terms of race, gender and class, is inextricably linked to different management ideologies, management policies and practices, economic factors and discipline specific power dynamics. To manage equity inmmedical schools more efficiently, it is recommended that a single, separate budget be allocated to medical schools for staff appointments and student training. The management of academic health complexes should be under the jurisdiction of a national, joint Department of Education/Department of Health structure. Such a structure should, at a national level clarify, co-ordinate and monitor equity in medical schools and ensure that policies and practices in medical faculties are aligned to national strategic transformation frameworks and equity goals of higher education and health. Monitoring could include analyses of student applications, admissions, failure, drop-out and graduation rates of students. The establishment of a comprehensive database of South African medical doctors by race, gender, area of specialisation and location of practice is needed to track trends and shifts. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Educational Management)

The purpose of this research is to explore students’ on-line interactivity in an Open Distance Learning institution with other students, educators, study materials and Unisa as the sampled prototypical research subject. A mixed-method of research encompassing both explorative and descriptive aspects was used. Data was collected through myUnisa discussion forum, focus group interviews and an on-line questionnaire from second and third year Health Services Management students at the University of South Africa (Unisa). Although the findings indicated that 84.9% of students owned computers, and 100% owned cellular phones, only 3.8% participated in the discussion forum. On-line discussion forum are critical in Open Distance Learning (ODL) because it allows people who cannot physically attend the educational institution to interact with each other. Almost 40% of these sampled students agreed that the discussion forum allowed them to study with their peers. However, only 53 of the 1,379 students registered for both second and third year studies during the first semester participated in the discussion forum. This indicates that very few students benefit from on-line interaction. Most of the students who are enrolled in Health Services Management course are from 21 to above 50 years of age. This age factor can have an impact on computer literacy. Some of them indicated that they struggled with the utilisation of technology. The majority of these students do not utilise the prescribed on-line interactive tools effectively. Students’ need support cognitively, academically, administratively, institutionally and affectively. The findings suggest that although students are aware of the benefits of using online technologies, they do not have the support from the institution to enable them to better their skills in using these technologies. The other challenge that they have raised is that educators also interact minimally on-line. Therefore, they do not receive the necessary feedback they require. The university systems are sometimes offline, which becomes worse during registration and submission of assignments. The recommendations emanating from the study warrants various interventions of multiple stakeholders to resolve the students’ challenges. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)