The thesis utilises Michel Foucault's work on disciplinary power to study the changes which played themselves out in the area of educational activities and governance at the Pietermaritzburg centre of the University of Natal during the 1980s and 1990s. It examines the effects of these changes in relation to students, staff, and the institution, the 'academic subjects' of the title, raising questions about the implications of these for the future of the institution. The overall context of the changes was one of national transition from an apartheid to a democratic, nonracial dispensation; decreasing state funding for higher education; and international 'globalisation'. The primary vehicles for the changes were Education Development initiatives around access, teaching and learning, curriculum, and related issues, which brought 'disadvantaged' black students into the fold of an 'historically white' institution and facilitated their academic success; and a Vice Chancellor's Review and rationalisation and restructuring processes which brought about structural and governance changes. The study examines how these processes interacted with each other and with other forces (e.g. technological change); the discourses and resistances they generated; and how Education Development gave way to a new dominant discourse of 'Quality' , Its point of departure is genealogy, an analytic which reveals the mutually-generative, normative, subject-producing nexus between knowledge and modem disciplinary power, as illustrated by Foucault's historical studies of the prison and human discourse on sexuality. It demonstrates that Education Development, operating against resistance and established norms of autonomy, developed and employed sophisticated techniques and tactics of power-knowledge to supervise tighter norms in student and staff academic practices, Education Development's linkage with the Vice Chancellor's Review and other processes and the uneven incorporation of its truths into the everyday practices of the university's established 'regime of truth' produced a more general mechanism of institutional control which 'transformed' the university, partly in line with political demands but also, through an increased degree of government of its staff and students, as a more panoptical institution for efficiency, productivity and 'international competitiveness'. The study posits the need for further inquiry into whether the university's current 'regime of truth' is that for an 'ethical' institution producing 'ethical' subjects, that is, subjects capable in Foucault's terms, of inventing themselves through exercising 'the care for the self' as a practice of freedom. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

This research has been conducted in an attempt to aid the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, in being more market oriented in a market that, until recently, saw little need to market its institutions in the past. Traditionally tertiary educational institutions have relied on their reputation to attract students. Fortunately tertiary institutions have recognised the need for marketing and positioning themselves in the market. Scholars highlighted what they considered to be the most important attributes when choosing a tertiary institution. Using this information, marketers at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg (UNP), can tailor its marketing strategies around these attributes and the scholars that view them as important. The top 5 attributes that the scholars indicated were the most important are as follows: 1. Highly Qualified Lecturers 2. Academic Standards 3. International Recognition 4. Reputation 5. Affordable Fees The scholar's perceptions of institutions based on the most important attributes showed that the University of Cape Town (UCT) is perceived as being the top university - the market leader and can therefore be considered as the benchmark. UNP has been perceived as "average", between institutions such as UCT, Rhodes, Stellenbosch and Wits on one side and Damelin, Varsity College, University of South Africa (UNISA) on the other side. Generally the scholars perceived UNP in a positive light. The University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg is perceived positively with regards to up-to-date facilities (in terms of the laboratory, computers and the library), as well as a good social life, multi-racial mix, sports facilities, approachability of lecturers, security upgrades, and that it is an excellent academic institution. These represent the strengths of the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg and must be stressed and communicated to potential customers as well as present students who will in turn act as marketers themselves when with friends. The negative perceptions towards the UNP were related to: • Safety on campus at night, • The idea that the social life at UNP is what university is all about, • The lack of personal attention, and • Students being treated as nothing more than a student number to staff. These negative and poor perceptions must be dealt with through effective communication that will highlight the strengths of the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. The result of the findings relating to the University's position in the market (based on the important attributes) is reflected in the positioning maps. From these maps it can be seen that the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg does not occupy a distinct position in the market. The mere fact that UNP was rated as average on the most important attributes reflects the poor positioning in the minds of the customers. It is a distinctive nature of positioning that must be sought after. As a result of the poor position the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg holds in the minds of the customer, steps to successful positioning were revisited and recommendations were made to the University. In communicating the position of UNP it must be remembered that the marketing mix needs to be aligned with the intended position of the business. The University's use of the lP's, a vital component of the positioning strategy, was evaluated and recommendations made to the University. / Thesis (M.Comm. ; School of Business) - University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

Following the global 'capitalisation' of public institutions, academic institutions have embarked continuously on a drive towards 'marketisation' and commodification of their services. Tertiary institutions are utilising aggressive marketing strategies and media campaigns to attract students. This study examines the advertising campaign embarked on by the University of Natal in 1998/ 1999. This is a first stage of a two-tier marketing strategy, and it involves brand-building the University. This research assesses the University of Natal's advertising campaign both on radio and in print, it analyses the campaign from creative conceptualisation to media exposure, while giving a brief background to advertising and commodification trends among tertiary institutions in South Africa. Eric Michaels' (1990) proposal of a circular message transmission model called 'hermeneutic circle' (12-28) of a teleported text serves as the theoretical backdrop for the assessment of lhe conceptualisation process to the media exposure of the campaign. A semiotic analysis of the University of Natal's advertising campaign is also given and located within a particular context in the 'henneneutic circle'. Various focus group discussions were conducted : one comprising mainly white students from Pinetown Girls High School in Standard Nine; the second, mainly Indian students in their matric year at Queensburgh High School. The others comprised of black students from Ferndale Secondary School, Phoenix, but who reside in KwaMashu, and also black students from Amangwane High School in Bergeville, near Ladysmith. One on one interviews were also conducted with high school students. Most of these students were in Standard Nine with some completing their matric year. These discussions were conducted separately to avoid any kind of intimidation and domination of the discussions by students from the private schools who are more fluent in the command of the English language. The other group comprised of an alumnus, a parent, four students - two local and two international, and two staff members of the University. Their comments provide information in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the campaign as well as the evaluation of the campaign concepts and contents in correlation with the cultural contexts of the target groups. The group discussions also provide insight into the reception and perception of the campaign. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.

This study investigates the capacity of buildings to be adapted when required by changing circumstances or situations. Furthermore it has special reference to buildings constructed for academic teaching and research purposes. At the outset the author reviews the reasons for buildings outlasting their original functions and identifying the various possible causes for the change . The ability to sustain modifications and the varying extent of the modification is established with examples being cited of both commercial and academic typologies. The thesis then explores some examples of early adaptions of buildings such as basilicas and the influence on the architecture of the early and later Christian churches. In later years cathedrals and monasteries became the precursor of the early universities that were born out of the evolution of secular teaching and education and the need for repositories for books. The architecture and form of these buildings was dictated largely by the development of the towns into cities and the concurrent need to expand these centres of learning . The history of the University of Natal is discussed from the years preceding its formal inception and subsequent interventions relating to the development of the Pietermaritzburg campus . A model upon which a measure may be made of four buildings of differing era's and occupancy are discussed identifying their original plan form and the changes that have ensued over three decades. These modifications are critically evaluated and tabulated graphically thereby indicating the comparative changes as a ratio of the area of the change against the area of the entire building. The notable Old Main Building was found to be a rigid building , built in load bearing brickwork and large high ceilinged spaces that sub-divide with ease while ensuring the retention of its integrity. Conversely the Main Science Building , a reinforced concrete framed structure with brick in-fill, is of an amorphous plan shape that lends itself to modification at the expense of its external character. The Rabie Sanders Building , a formal neo-classical building of framed reinforced concrete construction with face brickwork in-fill and a rigid facade does not, by virtue of its plan form and elevation , have the capacity for external alteration but has the potential for extensive internal. Finally the New Arts Building , a linear five storey precast reinforced concrete structure with free standing continuous modular window provides infinite variability of the interior whilst the exterior remains unaffected and there is no possibility of extending. The changes, varying in complexity and extent, clearly indicate that the buildings are indeed malleable and with creative planning, the changes can have an enhancing impact on the internal spaces. This information should considered as a working guide to provide the institution with pointers for the future design of campus buildings. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of Natal, 2003.

In this study I set out to critically evaluate the B.Ed 'Analysing Education' module, one of the first OBE programmes to be implemented at a South African academic institution in the Department of Education, at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. I took as my starting point the belief that 'Analysing Education' was a response to the new OBE paradigm, hence it should have been an exemplar of OBE. It should therefore reflect OBE philosophy in its structure; design, implementation and assessment methods and strategies. These are the areas which were evaluated in this research programme. The purpose of the study was two-fold: on one hand, it was to explore the extent to which the module was guided by OBE principles; on the other hand it was intended to evaluate the effectiveness and constraints of the module in implementing OBE principles. In evaluating the module, I consulted the sources which I perceived relevant for the study. 'Analysing Education' learning material, lecturers who designed the module, tutors who implemented the module, and learners of the module were the relevant sources for this study. A naturalistic 'qualitative' and 'descriptive' approach was used to collect and analyse data from all the stakeholders who were involved in this module. The findings indicated that some strengths and weaknesses existed in the module's attempt to implement OBE principles. The strengths were discovered in the use of tutorial methods where learners engaged in group discussions and debates and where they acquired skills of interaction. The success of the module in introducing OBE concepts explicitly to the learners, was another strength. A weakness was discovered in the strategies used to assess the progress of the learners in the module. The findings indicated that this weakness emanated from the module's development strategy - the involvement of external forces such as SAIDE and the Ministry of Education confused the purpose of the module. The confusion of the purpose brought about the failure of the module to address certain OBE principles such as criterion-referenced assessment, and continuous progress assessment. Assessment was found to be a non-formative linear process. The module eventually had to meet three diverse needs: those of SAIDE , of the National Ministry of Education, and of the B.Ed students in the department. At the end of the module students had made good progress towards understanding OBE as a system, but had made considerably less progress in developing skills of analysis, interpretation and argument, which were purported to be the fundamental outcomes of the module. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

The broad objective of strategic management is to enable an organisation to assess its strategic position, so it is able to provide its customers with a product or service they will value. This study attempts to use this broad objective to examine the Sports Administration Department at the University of Natal, Durban to identify issues that will assist it to reach a wider number of students. The Sports Administration has, over the last ten years, seen a reduction in sports participation. This occurred at a time when the number of students at the University had grown substantially. This resulted in a need to examine the complex dynamics taking place in the Sports Administration's operating environment, for it to be in a position to address the needs of the students it is established to serve. This study indicates that strategic management principles, which apply to a business organisation, can be applied to the setting of the Sports Administration to identify the needs and wants of its customers, to address the concerns of management and to make recommendations that will assist the Department to provide an improved service to students. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, 1999.

This study examines customer care at University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg (UNP). It investigates the quality of service received by students, from support departments, during registration. Data was collected via a simple random sample within the three libraries (Main, Law and Life Sciences) on campus. This ensured that students from the different faculties had an equal probability of being part of the survey, providing a true representation of the campus population. The research instrument was a questionnaire, 300 of which were administered to establish the attitude and helpfulness of staff from the departments of Finance, Financial Aid, Library, Risk Management Services, Student Admissions, Student Counselling and Student Housing. A total of 287 students responded. The software package that was used to run all the analyses was SPSS version 9. Results are graphically displayed in the form of bar graphs, tables and a pie chart. Interpretation of the results reveals that the overall rating for all departments ranged from average to excellent. Recommendations are made in light of the results of the survey and the literature reviewed. / Thesis (MBA.)- University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

In this dissertation a study will be made of university performance in the Science Faculty of the University of Natal, Durban. In particular, we will develop models that can be used to predict the success rate of a student based on his or her matriculation results. These models will prove useful for selecting students to universities. They may also be used to assist sponsors, bursars and donors in allocating funds to deserving students. In addition, these models may be used to identify students who might experience difficulties in their studies at university. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1994.

Changes in global political economy are moving towards 'capitalisation' of public institutions through market instruments. These changes create new environments and challenges. In order to meet these challenges, higher education institutions are restructuring to position themselves in their new environment. In this process, the media play an active role. Using corporate communication as a focal point, this research examines how higher education institutions aim to accomplish their mission, on one hand and mitigate challenges of the new political economy, characterised, by globalisation and marketisation, on the other. Using the University of Natal's corporate communication media campaign as a case study, the research looks into how education is commodified through processes of institutional restructuring and how this is reflected or mirrored through corporate communication strategies. This study is done within cultural studies and critical media research tradition. In contrast to 'administrative' studies that focus on how to use mass communications within the given political economic order to influence audiences, sell products or promote institutions, it addresses social and cultural effects of corporate communication in higher education. It offers insight into how corporate communication could be utilised for societal good instead of perpetuating social inequalities. Chapter One provides an overview of corporate communication and how it interacts with higher education by looking into challenges that threaten institutions to accomplish their mission. Chapter Two offers a theoretical framework of the new political economy through which higher education is now operating and how the media plays a role in this framework. Chapter Three provides an analysis of the media campaign of the University of Natal as evaluated against the institution's mission statement, and Chapter Four offers data analysis and lessons learned from the University of Natal media campaign. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.