Gender Inequality and Intersectional Disadvantage among Students in South African Universities

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-172
Author(s):  
Oliver Tafadzwa Gore ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Higher Education Policy ◽  
Capabilities Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
Higher Education Policies ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
South African Higher Education

Although policies to widen participation have been implemented in South African higher education since 1994, inequality of achievements persists in universities. The failure of the higher education policy to clearly define ‘disadvantage’ in various interventions seems to have contributed to the continuing inequalities. This study theorises disadvantage using the capabilities approach pioneered by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum and argues for a more nuanced definition of disadvantage by exploring the opportunities, agency and achievements available to students in universities. The theorisation is based on findings from a qualitative case study of 26 semi-structured interviews conducted with students from one South African university. Using empirical findings, the theorisation in this study shows how the conversion factors intersect, resulting in some students achieving fewer functionings, which put them at a disadvantage. While gender equality seemingly has been achieved through enrolment figures that show parity levels, some female students are still disadvantaged through subtle forms of discrimination and sexual harassment in universities. This study therefore recommends that higher education policies should consider an expansive definition of disadvantage that encompasses the various dimensions of student wellbeing for all students to have flourishing lives.

scholarly journals Student access to and skills in using technology in an open and distance learning context

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanlie Liebenberg ◽  
Yuraisha Chetty ◽  
Paul Prinsloo
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
South African ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Access To Technology ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
South African Higher Education

<p>Amidst the different challenges facing higher education, and particularly distance education (DE) and open distance learning (ODL), access to information and communication technology (ICT) and students’ abilities to use ICTs are highly contested issues in the South African higher education landscape. While there are various opinions about the scope and definition of the digital divide, increasing empirical evidence questions the uncritical use of the notion of the digital divide in South African and international higher education discourses.</p><p>In the context of the University of South Africa (Unisa) as a mega ODL institution, students’ access to technology and their functional competence are some of the critical issues to consider as Unisa prepares our graduates for an increasingly digital and networked world.</p><p>This paper discusses a descriptive study that investigated students’ access to technology and their capabilities in using technology, within the broader discourse of the “digital divide.” Results support literature that challenges a simplistic understanding of the notion of the “digital divide” and reveal that the nature of access is varied.</p>

scholarly journals Free Higher Education in South Africa—Why Not?

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saleem Badat
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
Higher Education Policies ◽  
African Perspective

Some in South Africa has proposed providing free higher education. The implications of free higher education policies are analyzed from a South African perspective.

scholarly journals DEPLOYMENT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY FOR THE TRAINING OF LIBRAS TEACHERS

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (173) ◽  
pp. 64-84
Author(s):  
Kate Mamhy Oliveira Kumada ◽  
Rosângela Gavioli Prieto
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Higher Education Policy ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
General Estimate ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Higher Education Policies ◽  
Brazilian Sign Language ◽  
Education Courses

Abstract The aim of this article is to identify and analyze the deployment of the higher education policies directed at the training of Brazilian Sign Language teachers in the upcoming decade, under decree 5.626 from 2005. Documentary research, based on content analysis, allowed the outlining of a panorama of the courses offered at federal higher education institutions in Bilingual Pedagogy and a Degree in Libras, from 2006 to 2015. The results revealed that the distance learning modality was the main one linked to the expansion of the number of vacancies. However, in a general estimate, there is still a small number of vacancies and higher education courses for these professionals, especially in the segment that includes early childhood education and the first years of elementary school. This shows the lack of graduates from these courses, in the national scenario.

scholarly journals Mergers And Change Management At The Micro Level: A Case Study

2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy R. Kilfoil ◽  
Thomas Groenewald
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Change Management ◽  
South African ◽  
Top Down ◽  
African Higher Education ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
South African Higher Education ◽  
Level Process ◽  
Specific Contribution

The transformation of the South African higher education landscape resulted in, among other things, the merger of three distance education institutions: Unisa, VUDEC and TSA. The macro level of the merger will no doubt be studied in detail. This article explores a micro level process for two departments merged by a top-down decision that did not take cognisance of their dissimilar functions and structures. The result was both a merger and a demerging process. The two departments first had to confront the realities of their different functions and structures before a reconfiguration could occur, including the emergence of a strategic plan focusing on aspects such as specific contribution, drivers, objectives and structure. The change management principles adopted to ensure the success of the process are outlined, analysed and reflected upon.

scholarly journals Factors relating to the attraction of talented early career academics in South African higher education institutions

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorcas L. Lesenyeho ◽  
Nicolene E. Barkhuizen ◽  
Nico E. Schutte
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Intellectual Stimulation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Employer Branding ◽  
African Higher Education ◽  
South African Higher Education

Orientation: South African higher education institutions (HEIs) are facing significant challenges in attracting talents to academic positions.Research purpose: The main objective of this research was to determine factors that will attract early career academics to South African HEIs.Motivation for the study: Currently there exists limited research on factors that attract early career academics to HEIs as preferred employers.Research approach, design and method: A qualitative approach was adopted for this study; semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain data. The study participants comprised of 23 academic staff members from various merged South African HEIs.Main findings: The findings show that nine themes are related to the attraction of early career academics to HEIs: career development and advancement, opportunities to make a contribution, employer branding and prestige, job security, flexible working hours (work–life balance), intellectual stimulation, innovation, opportunity to apply skills and autonomy.Practical/managerial implications: The results also challenge HEIs to develop a superior employer brand with a strong employee value proposition (EVP) that would attract, develop and reward early career academics for their work efforts.Contribution/value-add: The study provides important practical guidelines that could assist HEIs to attract talented early career academics and become an employer of choice.

scholarly journals Challenges and Curriculum Transformation in the Higher Education Sector in South Africa: A Case Study in WASH to Improve the Training of Pharmacists

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-32
Author(s):  
Roman Tandlich ◽  
Nosiphiwe P. Ngqwala ◽  
Aileen Boshoff ◽  
Phindile Madikizela ◽  
C. Sunitha Srinivas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Education Sector ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
African Higher Education ◽  
Postgraduate Research ◽  
South African Higher Education

AbstractIntroduction: South Africa is a member state of the “BRICS” bloc (BRICS2017.org, 2017) and the G20 group of the 20 nations/economic blocs, which between them account for the majority of the world’s trade and economic activity. It faces many developmental challenges which are mirrored in its higher education sector. In this article, the authors seek to provide an overview of the challenges that South African higher education faces in the achievement of the developmental goals of the country. The focus of this paper is a case study in WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) to improve context-specific responses that trains pharmacists on knowledge and skills.Methods: The study was performed as a combination of calculations and a literature review to obtain the background or current status of the higher education sector and developmental planning in South Africa. For this, data were extracted from the Statistics South Africa reports, relevant professional articles on South African higher education sector and results of postgraduate research. Workshop results which were obtained as a collaboration between a public and a private higher education institution and results of postgraduate research were used as the paradigm for transformation and decolonisation of the curriculum for a professional degree in South Africa.Results and discussion: Challenges exist in the South African tertiary education sector and the graduation rate currently stands at 65.1% of the target set by the National Development Plan. Around 58.1% of all students do not complete their university/post-secondary education, which could provide a partial explanation for the skills shortage in South Africa. Decolonisation and transformation of the tertiary education curriculum are major topics in the discourse on higher education in South Africa. The authors propose that one way to achieve this would be inclusion of research results and group activities in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene as a topic for possible and partial transformation of the Bachelor of Pharmacy curriculum.Conclusions: The current article summarises some of topics and challenges that drive the current discourse, developmental and curriculum debate in higher education in South Africa. Student access and through put at tertiary institutions need to be improved and the curriculum needs to be transformed.

Higher Education Policy and Women’s Citizenship

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deondra Rose
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Higher Education Policy ◽  
Equal Opportunity ◽  
Political Engagement ◽  
The United States ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
Feminist Organizations ◽  
Higher Education Policies

Chapter 1 considers the role that federal higher education policies have played in the progress that American women have made since the mid-twentieth century. The conventional wisdom suggests that the 1970s—with the emergence of the women’s rights movement and fervent activism by feminist organizations—marked the crucial turning point for gender equality in the United States. Evidence suggests, however, that landmark US higher education policies enacted during the mid-twentieth century have played an important role in the promotion of women to first-class citizenship. Passed prior to and apart from the feminist movement, these programs made it possible for women to gain knowledge and skills that are valued in the labor market and also promote political engagement. Through redistributive and regulatory higher education policies, US lawmakers promoted equal opportunity for women.

Citizenship By Degree

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deondra Rose
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Higher Education Policy ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
National Defense Education Act ◽  
Higher Education Policies ◽  
Higher Educational Attainment ◽  
Education Act

Since the mid-twentieth century, the United States has seen a striking shift in the gender dynamics of higher educational attainment as women have come to earn college degrees at higher rates than men. Women have also made significant strides in terms of socioeconomic status and political engagement. What explains the progress that American women have made since the 1960s? While many point to the feminist movement as the critical turning point, this book makes the case that women’s movement toward first-class citizenship has been shaped not only by important societal changes but also by the actions of lawmakers who used a combination of redistributive and regulatory higher education policies to enhance women’s incorporation into their roles as American citizens. Examining the development and impact of the National Defense Education Act of 1958, the Higher Education Act of 1965, and Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments, this book argues that higher education policies represent a crucial—though largely overlooked—factor shaping the progress that women have made. By significantly expanding women’s access to college, they helped to pave the way for women to surpass men as the recipients of bachelor’s degrees, while also empowering them to become more economically independent, socially integrated, politically engaged members of the American citizenry. In addition to helping to bring into greater focus our understanding of how Southern Democrats shaped US social policy development during the mid-twentieth century, this analysis recognizes federal higher education policy as an indispensible component of the American welfare state.

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