D.Ed. (Teaching Studies) / Institutions of higher education in South Africa are being affected by widening access to students since the eighties. Student numbers have risen dramatically Since then and the composition of the student population has also been altered considerably with, for example, the enrolment of black students in historically white universities as well as the enrolment of white students in historically black universities becoming a trend (Wade, Hodgkinson, Smith and Arfield, 1994:12; Saunders, 1992: 67; Education reporter, 1996:1; Taylor, 1992:36). Pressure for the expansion of post-secondary education is inherent in the development of modem society and is seen as a global trend, which means that South Africa is part of this expansion (Trow, 1987:289; Hinchcliffe, 1987:1; Aamodt & Arnesen, 1995:65; Fransman, 1995:173; Kirkwood, 1996: 41).This expansion in student numbers is often without a proportionate increase in the funding resources available . The situation, with regard to South Africa, was predicted by, amongst others, Booysen (1990: 1), who maintains that South Africa faces many challenges in ,the field of education because of the expected removal of the disparities in the provision of education amongst the various race groups. The historical and political circumstances in this respect are seen as factors aggravating the complexity of such a challenge. A simple case of numbers seeking higher education would be a serious misconception leading, for example, to the misunderstanding which prompted ministerial action a few years ago through which an injunction of zero growth on ten out of the fifteen residential universities in South Africa was decreed. A different approach to dealing with numbers seeking admission at higher education institutions was seen a few years before the Government of National Unity was in place. It is, noticeable that since 1986 there has been an urge to change higher education admission practices in South Africa

M.Tech. (Education) / The Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR) has lived through the legislative and socio-political changes occasioned by post-Apartheid South Africa. The institution has changed in terms of its demographics from being largely monocultural to being multicultural. A multicultural teachingllearning environment requires educators to be sensitive to cultural diversity and adapt their teaching styles to the needs of the culturally diverse learners. A previous internal report, conducted with a 100 strong focus group, had found many ... educators lacking in professional and attitudinal competencies. The study attempts to assess whether lecturers of the TWR Faculty of Business Management deem themselves to be culturally sensitive, whether they perceive themselves to have cultural knowledge and competence and whether this translates into their praxis. The study further examines whether the lWR Academic Development Unit has the requisite policies in place for both the personal and professional development of the academic staff of the TWR, with particular reference to cultural sensitivity. Both a qualitative and a quantitative approach are used in the research design. An exploratory group interaction and a self-designed questionnaire administered to a sample of academics are the main means of data collection. The data gathered reveals that there does not seem to be an attitudinal problem- and that educators are trying hard to adapt to the multicultural teachingllearning environment without much institutional support. The educators claim to have adapted their language usage, teaching methodology and course material to the culturally diverse learner population, though the data on this aspect is inconclusive. The study deals largely with perceptions, which, by their nature are difficult to verify. Recommendations are made to improve academic success through personal and professional development of the academic staff with particular emphasis on cultural sensitivity training.