scholarly journals The University of Johannesburg merger: Academics experience of the pre-merger phase

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Goldman ◽  
C. Van Tonder
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Plan Change ◽  
To Come ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
The University ◽  
Economic Motives

Purpose of the study: The aim of this study is to gain an understanding of the merger experiences academic staff were exposed to during the pre-merger phase of the University of Johannesburg merger. Of particular interest is how these experiences translate into acceptance of the merger amongst academic staff. The study was borne out of the transformation of the higher education landscape in South Africa, which is typified by a spate of mergers between higher education institutions. Design/methodology/approach: As the purpose of the study was, inter alia, aimed at understanding the merger experiences of academic staff, the study was conducted according to an interpretive research paradigm, where interpretation of data calls for an insider perspective, in order to "see things through their eyes" as it were. In this regard, a qualitative methodology was employed. Findings: Findings indicate that academic staff members at the University of Johannesburg experience two distinct mental states during the pre-merger phase. Following the announcement of the merger, reaction and experience tend to be emotionally driven but as merging efforts become more concrete over time, this emotive state is replaced by a more rationally driven disposition. Implications: The distinction between an emotive and rational demeanour during the pre-merger phase of a merger affords managers and leaders the opportunity to plan change interventions in such a way that irrational, emotive responses and behaviour do not hamper progress in terms of merger implementation. In a more general sense, this study highlights the process of transition individual staff members pass through as they have to come to terms with the changes brought about by a merger. Originality / Value: The majority of merger literature, as well as change literature, focuses on the organisational context of change during a merger. Limited literature exists on the personal effects of a change event such as a merger. This study can thus contribute to the understanding of the personal effects of change during a merger. Furthermore, scant literature exists concerning mergers that are not driven by "conventional" economic motives. As the University of Johannesburg is this type of merger, this study presents the opportunity of gaining a better understanding of this type of merger.

scholarly journals University of Wollongong in Dubai: creating a private university in the public interest

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Whelan ◽  
Daniel Kratochvil
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Private University ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Complex Organization ◽  
The University

TitleUniversity of Wollongong in Dubai: creating a private university in the public interest.Subject areaHigher education leadership and planning.Study level/applicabilityPostgraduate/higher education.Case overviewProfessor Rob Whelan was appointed President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) from the University of Wollongong in Australia (UOW). Professor Whelan brought to the job in Dubai the perspective that public‐good benefits flow from a comprehensive institution engaged with the larger community and these are led by academic staff members who produce research that serves the national interest. To apply this model to UOWD meant a thorough analysis of the organization in terms of both its culture and its broader environment. This case explores the various processes through which a new leader takes stock of an existing institution, identifies the potential for development in a particular direction, draws upon a range of stakeholders to refine the vision and develop it into a strategic plan, gains support for the plan, and then implements change through close collaboration with the institution's constituents.Expected learning outcomesThis case can be used to explore a number of issues in leadership and management including: identifying the various internal and external stakeholders in a complex organization; analysing strategies for mobilization for change, including the assessment of inclusive versus exclusive approaches; reviewing the opportunity costs of change; and assessing types of leadership.Supplementary materialsTeaching notes.

INVESTING IN YOUNG ACADEMIC STAFF AT AN HEI: A PARTICIPANT’S EXPERIENCES OF THE UNISA RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-98
Author(s):  
Thulile Pearl Shandu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Career Development ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Development Programme ◽  
Research Development ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
The University

This article is based on the views and experiences of one participant who was part of the Young Academics Programme (YAP) for staff members at the University of South Africa (Unisa) in 2011. In the article, the author presents the scope of the programme, including its contents; her experiences of the programme; as well as the contributions of the programme to personal and career development. While previous research on YAP is acknowledged, the thrust of the article is on one participant’s experiences and how the programme contributed specifically to the particular participant’s development, especially in research. The article, therefore, highlights and validates some of the previous findings on YAP, while presenting new insights based on the 2011 YAP group. At the end of the article, recommendations are presented with reference to the programme, Unisa as an institution as well as other higher education institutions (HEIs).

scholarly journals 5. Quality Aspects of Product Design in Artistic Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-217
Author(s):  
Bard Bajçinovci ◽  
Uliks Bajçinovci ◽  
Elena Rexha ◽  
Bujar Bajçinovci
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Product Design ◽  
Teaching Methods ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Higher Education Institution ◽  
Empirical Observation ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Quality Aspects ◽  
The University

AbstractThe University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina” is the biggest higher education institution in Kosovo, which ever since its foundation has held the main burden of education and the development of the Kosovar society. If in the past the University of Prishtina was not only a hearth of knowledge, but also an icon of Kosova’s high education, now its mission is to offer stable and qualitative education to the new generation, functioning as an asset for the development and the strengthening of the Kosovar society. Currently, the UP is the biggest higher education institution in the Kosovo, with 42.006 students, above 1.000 academic staff members and around 350 administrative staff members, accommodated in 14 Academic Units. The research conducted in this paper reflects quality aspects in artistic education for sustainable product design, especially in art, architecture, creativity and innovation in academia curricula. The research methods consist of empirical observation in academia, direct observation of teaching methods, and promoting contemporary interactive teaching methods. To perceive a clearer research data, exploring was made within: The department of Architecture, Department of Anthropology-Archeology, The faculty of Arts in the University of Prishtina, also with UBT - Higher Education Institution in Kosovo, in the context of the possibilities for the improvement of the curricula’s, within actual and accredited academic frameworks. Research concludes that new teaching strategies must involve a new closeness, a brand new and more refining holistic system, as a response to less functional academic curriculums.

scholarly journals The University Administrative Staff Perception of Inclusion in Higher Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 90-104
Author(s):  
Dita Nīmante ◽  
Sanita Baranova ◽  
Ligita Stramkale
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
University Education ◽  
Student Diversity ◽  
Administrative Staff ◽  
Staff Perception ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Interview Method ◽  
Diverse Student ◽  
The University

This study investigates university administrative staff perception of inclusion in higher education at the university level. The study uses the University of Latvia as a case to answer the following research questions: What constitutes inclusion in university education, how accessibility is provided? What are the support systems provided for diverse students? What support and training are provided to administrative and academic staff to ensure that the educational needs of diverse student bodies are met? The methodology employed is exploratory and descriptive, and uses the interview method and semi-structured questionnaire. The sample is made of seven administrative staff members representing all levels of administration in the University. Findings suggest that administrative staff members perceive inclusion as a new principle for HE, where diversity is perceived in its broader sense. Findings indicate that support is provided to all students, but that the support is not designed specifically for students with diverse needs. Findings suggested that none of the administrative staff or academics had received training on how to address student diversity.

scholarly journals Evaluating the performance of teaching staff members, a step towards teaching performance development of higher education in Sebha University

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
Zamzam Amhimmid Mare
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Analytic Description ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Teaching Performance ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Performance Development ◽  
The University

This study aims to show the importance of evaluating the teaching performance level of the University teaching members. It also aims to provide the suggested mechanisms for evaluating the teaching performance of the teaching staff members of Sebha University. This study was based mainly on documents and analytic description to collect information about the importance and ways of evaluating teachers with reference to some of the international experiences on teaching performance development. This study concluded that the absence of an experienced entity that would develop the teaching performance of faculty members is one of the main reasons for the weak teaching performance at Sebha University. Based on the results of the study, it is recommended that there should be a planned system based on measured standards and criteria for evaluating staff members to improve the quality of teaching in the higher education domain. 

scholarly journals The necessary requirements needed for employing e. learning in the (teaching staff) in the faculty member of education, from the point of view of the teaching staff in sudan university

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hatem Abdel Maged El-Sadek , Rehab Bashir Hassan Al-Awad
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Faculty Member ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
University Faculty ◽  
Educational Design ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The University ◽  
Descriptive Method

The study aimed to identify the necessary requirements needed for employing e. learning in the (teaching staff) in the faculty memberof education, from the point of view of the teaching staff. In this study the researcher employed the analytical descriptive method and the size of the sample in which the study was applied was (127) individualsof the teaching staff with a degree of Assistant Professorand above The researcher has employed questionnaire technique as a study tool. The most important findings of the study are: The study has come to the fact that the majority of the researchers managed to answer the study areas which are summarized in (the requirements needed for employing e. learning by the teaching staff، which was specified by this study، these requirements are vitally important from the point of view of the teaching staff. The most important requirements for the use of e-learning in the university faculty member. It consists in possessing the competencies of preparing courses electronically, which means designing the content or electronic curriculum in accordance with the principles of educational design. The most important recommendations of the study are: Providing all the requirements needed to put e. learning into practice (for the teaching staff members) which was determine by the study to employ e. learning in the institutions of the higher education in Sudan.  

scholarly journals University Teachers’ Perception of Quality in Higher Education in Ethiopia: A Case Study of Dire Dawa University

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Melaku Masresha Woldeamanuel ◽  
Belay Sitotaw Goshu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Process Indicators ◽  
Perception Of Quality ◽  
Quality In Higher Education ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
The University ◽  
Output Indicators

This article empirically assesses perception of quality in higher education in Ethiopia.  The data was collected from one higher educational institution where the staffs are graduates of 31 different universities in Ethiopia. The information used in this study was obtained through administration of questionnaires. The main participants are the academic staff of the University. The total number of staff that participated in the research was 365. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select 365 teachers (302 male and 63 female) and seventeen classrooms were observed and twelve group discussions carried out with participants of Ethiopian educational roadmap. Data were analyzed by both descriptive statistics of percentages and inferential statistics of, t-test, correlation and one way ANOVA. Results indicated that teacher’ valued input indicators of quality of education more than process and output indicators. Output indicators received the lowest rating. Teachers’ practice also indicated that they apply process indicators in a reasonable manner. The results of relationship between practices of teaching learning processes revealed that, as teachers’ perception toward quality teaching learning process increases their practice of elements of constructivism also increases.

Professional community and student engagement in higher education: rethinking the contributions of professional staff

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaw Owusu-Agyeman ◽  
Enna Moroeroe
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Professional Community ◽  
Professional Staff ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Culture ◽  
The University

PurposeScholarly studies on student engagement are mostly focused on the perceptions of students and academic staff of higher education institutions (HEIs) with a few studies concentrating on the perspectives of professional staff. To address this knowledge gap, this paper aims to examine how professional staff who are members of a professional community perceive their contributions to enhancing student engagement in a university.Design/methodology/approachData for the current study were gathered using semi-structured face-to-face interviews among 41 professional staff who were purposively sampled from a public university in South Africa. The data gathered were analysed using thematic analysis that involved a process of identifying, analysing, organising, describing and reporting the themes that emerged from the data set.FindingsAn analysis of the narrative data revealed that when professional staff provide students with prompt feedback, support the development of their social and cultural capital and provide professional services in the area of teaching and learning, they foster student engagement in the university. However, the results showed that poor communication flow and delays in addressing students’ concerns could lead to student disengagement. The study further argues that through continuous interaction and shared norms and values among members of a professional community, a service culture can be developed to address possible professional knowledge and skills gaps that constrain quality service delivery.Originality/valueThe current paper contributes to the scholarly discourse on student engagement and professional community by showing that a service culture of engagement is developed among professional staff when they share ideas, collaborate and build competencies to enhance student engagement. Furthermore, the collaboration between professional staff and academics is important to addressing the academic issues that confront students in the university.

scholarly journals Appointing and Removing Academic Staff in Public Institutions: The Level of Autonomy at Kyambogo University, Uganda

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Ayebare Justin ◽  
Kisige Abdu ◽  
Gitta Eric ◽  
Betihama Jackson ◽  
Kimoga Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Institutional Autonomy ◽  
State Control ◽  
University Autonomy ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Resource Manual ◽  
The University ◽  
Skilled Staff

Many governments, the university sector and the European Commission have recognized that increasing university autonomy represents a crucial step towards modernizing higher education in the 21st century. This study which was conducted at Kyambogo University highlights that in practice, public authorities still play a central role in the regulation of higher education systems more especially in the appointment and dismissal of academic staff. Despite the fact that the ministry has moved away from direct state control towards more “indirect” steering mechanisms, universities often continue to lack autonomy in many crucial areas, particularly in terms of filling staff positions. The purpose of this study therefore was to establish the level of institutional autonomy in academic staff appointment and removal at Kyambogo University. The researchers analysed each dimen¬sion of university autonomy in terms of appointment and dismissal of academic staff. We found out that appointment and removal of the academic staff in Kyambogo University was not in line with what is provided for in the Human Resource Manual and national guiding Acts, Laws and Standing orders. We recommend that since universities have a unique duty to perform that requires specific skilled staff, they should be given autonomy in the appointment and removal of these staff.

scholarly journals Antecedents of Growth in Higher Education Institutions of North Cyprus: Resource-Based Approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Mehmet Ali Ekemen ◽  
Gozde Inal Cavlan
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
North Cyprus ◽  
Marketing Resources ◽  
The University ◽  
Different Cultures

<p>This study aims to reveal the antecedents of growth in Higher Education Institutions of North Cyprus, using Resource Based Approach. Research in this field is limited to developed economies and there is a need for more research in the developing country settings. North Cyprus is a unique location for this study since it is a developing country which is geographically located in between Europe, Africa and Middle East harmonizing several different cultures in its unique settings. An explanatory research design was adopted using a questionnaire survey to collect data and test the hypotheses. Data was collected from 343 respondents, consisting of 172 administrative and 171 academic staff, in five universities which have 10 years of history in higher education sector. The results of the study showed that Marketing resources, Human resources, Research and Development resources, Organizational resources and accessibility of these resources have been shown to positively influence the university growth.</p>

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