This research focuses on the extent to which the Rhodes University Academic Skills Programme (ASP), now known as the Academic Development Programme, is able to act as an agent of progressive change within Rhodes University. In so doing it concentrates on the potential of the strategy of integrated academic development for dealing with the academic needs of university students within the context of South Africa as a society in transition. The candidate considers the inability of structuralist educational theory to account for the potential of human agency at the site of formal education. It is shown that structuralist theories provide deterministic and pessimistic accounts of the role of institutions of formal education. In support of this contention this study explores the history of ASP at Rhodes University, demonstrating that significant change in student academic development has already taken place. ASP has contributed to change within the said University through challenging traditional notions of academic development. This thesis suggests that the non-structuralist critical theory of Jurgen Habermas provides a more holistic account of ASP than do structuralist theories of formal education. Through the incorporation of Habermas's theory of communicative action a process of critical integration is explored, showing that a strategy of integrated academic development has the potential to involve all those who have an interest in university education through a process of rational discourse. This potential is strengthened by the fact that many students and staff have expressed an awareness of the need for an integrated academic development strategy. This thesis subsequently explores the possibility of there being a process of democratic and rational discourse which could lead to a progressive integration programme in the Rhodes University Department of Sociology and Industrial Sociology. This thesis stresses the contested nature of the integration process within departments. It is indicated that Habermas's critical theory is able to account for the changes which have taken place in the past and which are presently under way. It is argued that it not possible to predict future outcomes, but that if ASP pursues a process of rational discourse, it will indeed be able to stimulate a critical integrative approach to academic development in the Rhodes University Department of Sociology and Industrial Sociology.

Diversity should be included in an organisational culture and be aligned with the corporate strategy. South African institutions face diversity and multiculturalism challenges which affect their operation and strategies. Managers in South Africa regard organisational culture as a very useful tool to manage their diverse workforce. Against this background, the primary objective of this study was to investigate and analyse how workforce diversity and organisational culture impact on strategy implementation at a higher education institution, namely Walter Sisulu University (WSU). The study identified dimensions of diversity and organisational culture and strategy implementation from theoretical models supporting the study. A hypothetical model portraying these factors was constructed, displaying each factor and their relationship with strategy implementation. Furthermore, the relationship between strategy implementation and strategic outcomes was indicated. Given the nature of the problem statement and the research objectives presented in this study, the positivistic research paradigm was adopted. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to executive and senior management, senior academic and senior support staff at WSU. In total, 266 usable questionnaires were returned. The data obtained from these questionnaires were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used as the key statistical analysis tool. As the hypothetical model did not load onto SEM in total, it was re-specified into four sub-models. Each sub-model was subjected to SEM to test the hypothetical model and to indicate the significance of the relationships hypothesised between the various independent, mediating and dependent variables. Eight statistically significant relationships were identified in the study. The factors identified as having a statistically significant relationship with organisational culture included the following: degree of flexibility, degree of teamwork, task directiveness, degree of formalisation, leadership styles and decision making. In addition, a statistically significant relationship was found between organisational culture and strategy implementation. Furthermore the findings indicated a statistically significant relationship between strategy implementation and strategic outcomes in a higher education institution. There was no statistically significant relationship found between diversity and strategy implementation. This finding is contrary to empirical evidence by various other researchers. The study makes a contribution to multicultural higher education institutions by highlighting the crucial role of organisational culture in effective strategy implementation. It was clear from the results of the study that the nurturing of human capital is critical if higher education institutions wish to successfully aligning culture with strategy implementation. This study provided constructive and very practical guidelines to higher education institutions to ensure effective alignment of culture with strategy implementation and so enhance local and global competitiveness and long term sustainability. University councils throughout South Africa can apply the findings of this study in their respective institutions to support effective strategy execution.

Text in Afrikaans / Various technological developments have taken place in the last century, but most of them had very little or a minimal influence on higher education. It has often been speculated that technology would increase the pass mark and retention of students, but to date that has not happened. Where has technology failed? Or is it not technology that has failed, but, rather, the educational model? These questions will be addressed in this study. Riegelman, Povat, Ott and Piemme (1985:279) state that knowledge doubles every three to five years and that lecturers can no longer be mere disseminators of knowledge. Therefore, the present-day student should be guided to find knowledge him- or herself within a broad framework. This means that the educational model of higher education institutions needs to be renewed. The traditional lecturer-centered teaching approach should give way to a more student-centered learning approach. However, the problem is that there are not yet guidelines [or a model] for the use of, for example, the Internet in such a new educational approach. In this study, the focus is on the creation of a didactically justifiable model [guidelines] for the use of the Internet in a multi-mode educational approach, since the Technikon currently does not have such a model. This model and these guidelines should enable the lecturer, as the teaching-learning manager, to plan, develop, implement and evaluate a multi-mode teaching-learning programme. However, before any didactic model is, or guidelines are, developed, it is essential to determine the starting point from which the design should be done. In order to arrive at a well-founded starting point, a comprehensive literature study of local and international publications was undertaken, personal interviews were conducted and specialists locally and abroad were visited. In this manner, an illuninating overview was obtained of that which has already been done to deal with the set problem, as described in the previous paragraph. The research for the development of the model [didactic guidelines] was preceded by a three-year institutional study, in the course of which trends, needs and perceptions were debated at an institutional forum chaired by the researcher, namely, the TLTR [Teaching, Learning and Technology Roundtable]. The report on this study is divided into six chapters and represent the problems identified by the TLTR, which form the foundation [core] on which the model and guidelines are based. The questions are as follows: Who are we and how do we currently execute our core task? [How do we teach?] Who are our clients and what are their needs? [How do they learn and how do they wish to be served?] How could we use technology to facilitate our task and teach our students effectively without sacrificing quality? [What teaching-learning opportunities are there?] The theoretical study that provides the answers to the above questions is embodied in a model [guidelines] for the use of the Internet within a multi-mode educational approach. This model is then evaluated by 106 lecturers and 437 students to: Determine the lecturer's attitude to the proposed model, determine the lecturer's perception of the differences between on-line and contact instruction management, and determine whether there are any differences in the learning experience(s) of students who receive instruction by means of an Internet-supported programme and students who receive contact instruction. Lastly, attention is given to a number of related findings and recommendations that flow forth from the study. These aspects also lead to recommendations on future research in this field. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Using social realist theory and particularly the morphogenetic/morphostatic methodology advocated by Margaret Archer, this study offers a critical examination of the emergence of a formal academic staff development programme at a small South African university (SSAU). Archer’s morphogenetic approach enabled an investigation of the interface between culture, structure and agency (at macro, mezo and micro levels) in order to theorize about the material, ideational and agential conditions that obtained and which in turn enabled the emergence of the Postgraduate Diploma of Higher Education (PGDHE) at the SSAU. The study therefore advances concrete propositions about the cultural, structural and agential conditions for transformation which existed at a particular time in the history of higher education (and the subfield of educational development) which enabled the introduction of the PGDHE. Analysis of the data suggests that what occurred at SSAU was a disruption of the morphostatic synchrony between structure and culture brought about by new discourses and structures emanating from the broader international and national higher education context. In particular, it seems that attempts at reconciling the constraining contradictions between the discourses and structures related to quality assurance on the one hand and educational development on the other resulted in a conjunction between transformation at the levels of both the cultural system and social structure. This conjunction, along with the actions of key Institutional agents and the morphogenesis of the staff of the Educational Development Unit, created sufficiently enabling conditions in the Institution for the introduction of the PGDHE. The research adds to knowledge through insights into the contribution that the ideas, beliefs, values, ideologies and theories about higher education broadly and about educational development specifically make to enabling or constraining conditions for the professionalization of academic staff in higher education institutions. It uncovers how relevant structures at the international, national and institutional levels can shape the practice of educational development and specifically staff development. It has generated insights into how the relevant people and the positions they hold can impact on staff development practices. In summary, the research could contribute towards emancipatory knowledge which could be used by SSAU and educational development practitioners elsewhere to inform future planning and decision making in relation to educational development and more specifically staff development practices in their contexts.

This article seeks to understand what South African universities are doing by making use of language as a tool or as an enabling voice towards Africanisation and transformation with particular reference to Rhodes University, which serves as a case study. Although many universities now have language policies in place and are part of an enabling policy environment, when it comes to using language as part of transformation and asserting an African voice, there are still policy implementation challenges. It is argued in this article that implementation of policy, including university language policies, is now a key indicator for two levels of transformation; namely the more superficially visible or visual representation transformation, as well as deeper curriculum transformation through appropriate language usage. It is the latter form of transformation that largely eludes the contemporary South African university, whether these are historically black universities (HBUs) or historically white universities (HWUs). With the exception of a few best practices that are highlighted in this article, it is argued that transformation of the curriculum remains a long-term process, in the same way that language policy implementation is an ongoing process and requires commitment at all levels of university managerial and academic culture. The African voice in higher education remains an elusive one; though it is gaining ground, as evidenced by the recent removal of the Cecil John Rhodes Statue at the University of Cape Town. Furthermore, there is evidence of selected ongoing curriculum and pedagogic transformation, as presented in this article.

The work of intercultural communication theorists such as Ting-Toomey (1999) and Gudykunst (2003) has informed curriculum design and teaching methodology of the courses developed for teaching isiXhosa for vocational purposes to second language (L2) learners. This seems to be an appropriate theoretical paradigm within multilingual South Africa, where intercultural communication is becoming a daily reality for a growing portion of the population. We make use of this theory to introduce and develop experiential understanding of multilingualism at Rhodes University in various departments and, more generally, on campus.

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Verskeie tegnologiese ontwikkelings het die afgelope eeu plaasgevind, maar die meeste daarvan het weinig of 'n minimale invloed op hoer onderwys gehad. Daar is baie gespekuleer dat die tegnologie die slaagsyfer en die retensie van studente sal verhoog, maar tot nou toe was dit nie die geval nie. Waar het die tegnologie gefaal, of het die tegnologie nie gefaal nie, maar die onderwysmodel? Hierdie is van die vrae waarop in hierdie studie gefokus word. Riegelman, Povat, Ott en Piemme (1985:279) stel dit dat kennis elke 3 - 5 jaar verdubbel en dat die tyd verby is dat dosente slegs uitdelers van kennis kan wees. Die hedendaagse student behoort daarom begelei te word om self kennis binne 'n bree raamwerk te vind, en dit kom daarop neer dat die onderwysmodel van hoeronderwysinstellings om vernuwing vra. Die tradisionele dosentgesentreerde onderrigbenadering moet plek maak vir 'n meer studentgesentreerde leerbenadering. Die probleem is egter dat daar tans nog geen riglyne [of model] bestaan vir die gebruik van byvoorbeeld die internet binne so 'n nuwe onderwysbenadering nie. Hierdie studie is daarop gefokus om 'n didakties-verantwoordbare model [riglyne], vir die gebruik van die internet binne 'n multimodus-onderwysbenadering daar te stel, aangesien daar tans nie so 'n model by die Technikon is nie. Hierdie model en riglyne behoort die dosent as onderrig-leerbestuurder in staat te stel om 'n multimodus onderrig-leerprogram te beplan, te ontwikkel, te implementeer en te evalueer. Voordat enige didaktiese model of riglyne egter ontwikkel kan word, is dit noodsaaklik dat vasgestel word vanuit watter vertrekpunt die ontwerp gedoen moet word. Ten einde tot 'n gefundeerde vertrekpunt te kom, is 'n omvangryke literatuurstudie van plaaslike en oorsese publikasies en persoonlike onderhoude en besoeke aan kundiges plaaslik en internasionaal onderneem. Sodoende is 'n insiggewende oorsig verkry van wat reeds gedoen is om die probleem, wat in die vorige paragraaf beskryf is, te hanteer. Die navorsing vir die ontwikkeling van die model [didaktiese riglyne] is deur 'n driejaarlange institusionele ondersoek voorafgegaan, waartydens tendense, behoeftes en persepsies op 'n institusionele forum onder voorsitterskap van die navorser, naamlik die TLTR [Teachning, Learning and Technology Roundtable] gedebatteer is. Die verslag van hierdie ondersoek word in ses hoofstukke verdeel en verteenwoordig die probleme wat deur die TLTR ge"identifiseer is en wat die fondament [kern] vorm waarop die model en riglyne gebaseer is. Die vrae is soos volg: • Wie is die Technikon Pretoria en hoe word daar tans aan die Technikon onderrig? • Wie is die Technikon se klient(e) en wat is hulle behoeftes? [Hoe leer hulle en hoe wil hulle bedien word?] • Hoe kan die akademici van die Technikon, die tegnologie gebruik om hulle taak te vergemaklik en die studente effektief te onderrig sonder om kwaliteit in te boet? [Watter onderrig-leergeleenthede bestaan?] Hierdie model is deur 106 dosente en 437 studente geevalueer om: • die houding van die dosent teenoor die voorgestelde model te bepaal; • die dosent se persepsie van die verskille tussen aanlyn- en kontakonderwysbestuur vas te stel; en • te bepaal of daar enige verskille in die leerervaring(s) van studente bestaan wat onderrig deur middel van 'n internetondersteunde program ontvang, en studente wat 'n kontakprogram ontvang. Laastens is aandag aan 'n aantal verbandhoudende bevindings en aanbevelings wat uit die studie voortvloei, geskenk. Hierdie aspekte het aanleiding tot aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing binne die veld gegee. / Various technological developments have taken place in the last century, but most of them had very little or a minimal influence on higher education. It has often been speculated that technology would increase the pass mark and retention of students, but to date that has not happened. Where has technology failed? Or is it not technology that has failed, but, rather, the educational model? These questions will be addressed in this study. Riegelman, Povat, Ott and Piemme (1985:279) state that knowledge doubles every three to five years and that lecturers can no longer be mere disseminators of knowledge. Therefore, the present-day student should be guided to find knowledge him- or herself within a broad framework. This means that the educational model of higher education institutions needs to be renewed. The traditional lecturer-centred teaching approach should give way to a more student centred learning approach. However, the problem is that there are not yet guidelines [or a model] for the use of, for example, the Internet in such a new educational approach. In this study, the focus is on the creation of a didactically justifiable model [guidelines] for the use of the Internet in a multi-mode educational approach, since the Technikon currently does not have such a model. This model and these guidelines should enable the lecturer, as the teaching-learning manager, to plan, develop, implement and evaluate a multi-mode teaching-learning programme. However, before any didactic model is, or guidelines are, developed, it is essential to determine the starting point from which the design should be done. In order to arrive at a well-founded starting point, a comprehensive literature study of local and international publications was undertaken, personal interviews were conducted and specialists locally and abroad were visited. In this manner, an illuminating overview was obtained of that which has already been done to deal with the set problem, as described in the previous paragraph. The research for the development of the model (didactic guidelines) was preceded by a three-year institutional study, in the course of which trends, needs and perceptions were debated at an institutional forum chaired by the researcher, namely, the TLTR [Teaching, Learning and Technology Roundtable). The report on this study is divided into six chapters and represent the problems identified by the TLTR, which form the foundation [core] on which the model and guidelines are based. The questions are as follows: • Who are we and how do we currently execute our core task? [How do we teach?] • Who are our clients and what are their needs? [How do they learn and how do they wish to be served?] • How could we use technology to facilitate our task and teach our students effectively without sacrificing quality? [What teaching-learning opportunities are there?] The theoretical study that provides the answers to the above questions is embodied in a model [guidelines] for the use of the Internet within a multi-mode educational approach. This model is then evaluated by 106 lecturers and 437 students to: • Determine the lecturer's attitude to the proposed model, • determine the lecturer's perception of the differences between on-line and contact instruction management, and • determine whether there are any differences in the learning experience(s) of students who receive instruction by means of an Internet-supported programme and students who receive contact instruction. Lastly, attention is given to a number of related findings and recommendations that flow forth from the study. These aspects also lead to recommendations on future research in this field. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Current socio-cultural and technological changes world-wide and their epistemological consequences in educational discourse form the study's backdrop. It is hypothesised that changes in our surroundings, globally and locally are inevitable. To make sense of evolving realities, our conceptual schemes should change. The latter problematic was investigated as part of analytic-philosophical research within the qualitative paradigm. This comprises an extensive literature study, disciplined subjectivity and consistent argumentation. A small scale document analysis of selected study material was conducted to ascertain the prevalent epistemology in the local context, the Faculty of Education, Unisa. Major findings emerged: In the field of Education, particularly in an Afrikaner research tradition, an essentialist and foundationalis! epistemology has prevailed. The latter assumptions of knowledge are typical of the Enlightenment paradigm and a Newtonian worldview. Furthermore these views were exacerbated by the academic isolation of the apartheid years and the limitations posed by distance education. Lecturers are often impoverished by their unfamiliarity with their students' life worlds, and a lack of exposure to the Other or 'difference'. A close link" between epistemology and the ability and willingness to participate in transformation processes exists. A transformed educational discourse is essential and should be reflected in a living educational theory, whereby assumptions of knowledge should exhibit integrity and wholeness. A relational ontology and a participatory worldview replace e substantialist ontology and a correspondence theory of tru!h. Assumptions of knowledge require ongoing contestation, whilst thinking modes and metaphors of an emerging paradigm can facilitate conceptual transformation in a postmodern, postindustrial world. Complexity theory yields alternative metaphors and modes of thinking conducive to a dynamic surrounding. Mechanistic metaphors should be replaced by an organic and dynamic discourse. A position, wherein humankind is regarded as 'opposite' of the world, is no longer useful. The metaphor of the hologram is appropriate. Emphasis is given to wholeness and ethical responsibility instead of prediction and control which led to the earth's exploitation. Scientific certainty gives way to nonlinearity and unpredictability within boundaries of patterns. Simultaneously this creates hope, because small inputs can eventually make a difference to an interconnected world. / Comparative Education / D. Ed. (Comparative Education)

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Business Administration in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013 / In this research study, emphasis is placed on the progression of women to senior management positions in higher education. The main purpose was to determine whether there were any barriers that women experienced in progressing to senior management positions in higher education. This study specifically focused on a South African university in the Western Cape. Normative criteria, which were derived from the literature survey included relevant books, academic journal articles, legislation, policy directives, conference papers and the Internet in order to extract relevant standards against which current practices could be measured. The themes in the literature search for this study included organisational barriers that women might have experienced in their places of work, gender stereotypes, organisational or institutional cultures, and the importance of career planning. The South African labour legislation was explored in terms of providing a framework for the transformation of the workplace with regard to equity and skills development. The data was submitted for professional statistical analysis, which was predetermined in collaboration with a registered statistician. A questionnaire was designed by using the Likert Scale, and was submitted to the registered statistician for analysis. The results of this study showed that, firstly, in most instances, men and women had different views of the current situation; that the institution had made strides in terms of transformation, but that emphasis should still be placed on gender equity. The research study provides evidence that women might still be facing barriers, whether hidden or not, in order to progress to senior management positions in higher education. The researcher has provided recommendations that could assist the institution in this respect.

Dissertation prepared in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Magister Technologiae (Quality) CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 2008 / The aim of this research is to identify criteria for the evaluation of support systems applicable to public higher education institutions from a limited international and national perspective. The objectives of the research are to identify the criteria available from existing and related fields through a literature review and to validate the evaluation criteria using an empirical study. The existing literature describes the relevant academic processes, but very little has been written on criteria for evaluating support systems. The research for this study attempts to address this deficiency. The criteria from the Coetzee Model were used as a basis for this research and other models in the existing literature were also referred to, including the Baldrige National Quality Program for Education Criteria, ISO 9001:2000, European Foundation Quality Model and the South African Excellence Model. This research also draws on information deemed important by the Higher Education Quality Committee and the South African Qualifications Authority. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were used in the investigation. The research instruments used included questionnaires and interviews. Questionnaires were distributed to all public universities, universities of technology, and one technikon in South Africa. The results of the study revealed that most respondents agreed with the generic criteria against which units should be evaluated; namely “leadership”, “strategic goals and performance indicators”, “resourcing and funding”, “policies and procedures” and “self-evaluation guidelines”. Statistical analysis was done on the criteria. The two main findings of the research showed that the first five generic criteria were valid and reliable and that there was good internal consistency among the items in each of these criteria, which confirms that the results were valid. It is recommended that for future research, the study should be expanded to support units in higher education not included in this study. The suitability of generic criteria and the development of further specific criteria should be determined. Quality-related arrangements for community engagement, where appropriate, should be adequately resourced and monitored for each unit. Once evaluations and surveys have been conducted on support units using the criteria, the process of benchmarking should be used for preventing potential problems and improving results. KEYWORDS Administration, audit, core processes, criteria, customer, evaluation, higher education, key performance indicators, principles, quality, support processes, systems