scholarly journals Theology and higher education: The place of a Faculty of Theology at a South African university

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaco Beyers
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Interreligious Dialogue ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
African Society ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
South African Society ◽  
University Of Pretoria ◽  
The University

In 2017, the Faculty of Theology celebrates its centenary at the University of Pretoria. Celebrating a centennial is as much as looking back as looking forward. In a changing world with changing paradigms how does one remain relevant? Different challenges and expectations presented to tertiary institutions of education in a new dispensation puts all concerned with higher education in South Africa under pressure. The question addressed in this article is how will a Faculty of Theology (in this case at the University of Pretoria) remain relevant to such an extent that it is continued to be viewed as desirable to have such a faculty present at a university, participating in the academic process and simultaneously continues to contribute to the well-being of the South African society. The author suggests the following guidelines for consideration. In order to remain relevant for the next couple of hundred years the Faculty of Theology should engage contextually with society, practise interdisciplinary Theology, engage in interreligious dialogue while still remaining connected to faith communities. A paradigm of post-foundationalism enables Theology to exercise Theology in a relevant and meaningful manner.

scholarly journals Admission of grade 12 learners with provisional or no matriculation endorsement to the Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria

2002 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 83-89
Author(s):  
J. G. Maree ◽  
J. Grimbeek
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
African Society ◽  
Extreme Caution ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
South African Society ◽  
University Of Pretoria ◽  
Admission Test ◽  
Faculty Of Education ◽  
The University

A number of variables are taken into account when decisions are taken regarding acceptance or non-acceptance of students to univer-sities and other tertiary institutions. Recent changes in South African society have compelled tertiary institutions to think innovatively about their nature and aims. This article looks at this challenge by investigating the achievement of so-called senate discretionary students (id est, students with either provisional or no matriculation endorsement, who were given permission by the senate to enrol) in the Education Faculty at the University of Pretoria. It is clear that these students’ m scores are fairly accurate predictors of achievement at university. However, care should be taken not to exclude certain students on account of insufficient m scores. Further-more, it seems as the practice of excluding students on account of insufficient admission test scores should be viewed with extreme caution and empathy.

Reflections and Resources

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tinyiko Sam Maluleke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Developing World ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
African Society ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Critical Response ◽  
University Of Pretoria ◽  
The University

Originally written as a response to the first of two papers presented by William Storrar at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, this article presents a critical response to public theology from a post-colonial perspective. It contends that public theology is trapped in an attempt to universalize concepts, similar to earlier forms of theology, and does not take developing world theologies seriously. It is post-coloniality, rather than postmodernity, that this article claims is of importance to South African society. The idea that public theology can address the anger in South African society, without a theory of resistance as found in liberation theologies, is challenged.

scholarly journals Transforming while transferring: An exploratory study of how transferability of skills is key in the transformation of higher education

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandiso Bazana ◽  
Logan McLaren ◽  
Trust Kabungaidze
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Institutional Culture ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
African Society ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Fundamental Part ◽  
Labour Legislation ◽  
The University ◽  
New Generation

The importance of skills within the transformation of higher education is a crucial factor that has been insufficiently considered. Transformation in terms of higher education forms a fundamental part of the post-apartheid South African society. This transformation movement seems to exclude the possible role and contributions of the older generation of academics. Using a social constructionist viewpoint, this qualitative study sought to bring to the debate of transformation of higher education the important question of skills transferability between older generation academics and the new generation. From interviewing five retired white academics, the study found that institutional culture and implementation of labour legislation through the Human Resources department by the university in question affect the transferability of skills and that proper programmes of voluntary mentorship should be put in place as to allow the growth of both the older generation and new generation academics. The use of new generation academics’ perspectives could yield more results and findings that can further this area of study, as well as allow a more diverse and richer understanding of the perception of skills transferability within the transformation of higher education institutions. This further understanding for research is needed to emphasise the importance of knowledge production through the integration of both young academics’ as well as older academics’ perspectives. This is to be achieved by engaging with other universities and academics, so that a broader analysis of skills transferability within higher education can be understood.

scholarly journals Sense (Scents) of South Africa

1999 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-5
Author(s):  
Katherine F. Shepard
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
South African ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Speech Pathology ◽  
African Society ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
The University ◽  
Physiotherapy Education

This paper presents a brief description of some of the author’s perceptions of the land, of physiotherapy education and practice and of the struggle of the nation of South Africa acquired during a 4 week visit in late spring 1997. One week was spent in Cape Town participating in several venues at the International Congress of the South African Society of Physiotherapy. Three weeks were spent at the University of the Witswatersrand in Johannesburg presenting a course in qualitative research to health care colleagues representing the disciplines of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and occupational health. During the time in Johannesburg several health care facilities were visited including Baragwanath Hospital, Natal Hospital and the Wits Rural Facility and Tinswalo Hospital at Acornhoek.

scholarly journals The Relevance of Theology and Legal policy in South African society in connection with violence against women

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doniwen Pietersen
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
South African ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Well Being ◽  
African Society ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
Care Approach ◽  
The Church

The theological question raised in this article violence against women theologically, drawing and incorporating the South African government’s response to it in terms of legislation and policing strategies and the need for greater participation of communities to combat gender-related crimes. The caretaker approach of the church as the custodian of the Hebrew Bible was also highlighted. Even though a church-based care approach may be limited, it still has the potential to support the efforts of law-enforcement agencies. When women in communities do not feel safe and fear violence at the hands of men, they are forced to resort to the state to provide protection. Crime, including crime against women, draws on insecurities about the level of safety and well-being in communities. It cannot be prevented or eliminated by the police alone but by the concerted collaboration of the private sector, NGOs, faith-based organisations such as churches and the community itself.

scholarly journals There is a tide in the affairs of men ... The challenge of devising effective and fair(er) selection mechanisms

2003 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
J. G. Maree
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
African Society ◽  
Tertiary Institution ◽  
Complex Situation ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Men I ◽  
Fields Of Study ◽  
The Government ◽  
Firing Line

Initially, research regarding student admission to fields of study at tertiary training institutions focused primarily on a search for mechanisms to decrease the number of at-risk students significantly – an extremely complex matter. Recent changes in South African society compel tertiary institutions to reflect on their own character and aims in an innovative way. At the moment the focus is mainly on possible ways of giving the traditionally disadvantaged part of South African society a fairer chance of gaining access to, and achieving success at tertiary institutions. The pressure on tertiary institutions to ensure that the demography of the student population becomes more representative of the population in general is increasing dramatically. Since the ratio black : white students who are admitted to these courses is still totally unsatisfactorily (to the disadvantage of black students) and not at all in line with the aims of the government, student selection in fields of study such as Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering and Psychology will probably remain in the firing line in the foreseeable future. In this article, the researchers investigate the achievement of senate-discretionary students at the Education Faculty of the University of Pretoria and arrive at the conclusion that neither a minimum M score of 11, nor an admission test score accurately predicts success at a tertiary institution. Outcomes-based Education and changing ways of assessing and ‘scoring’ in Grade 12 create an even more complex situation. In order to facilitate the escalating challenge of fair selection and admission to tertiary institutions, a national two-year strategy is advocated.

scholarly journals Moral regeneration: Seedbeds for civic virtue

2003 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet G.J. Meiring
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Civic Virtue ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
National Council ◽  
African Society ◽  
South African Society ◽  
The Us ◽  
Institu Tions ◽  
The Media

Taking his cue from a recent report by the US National Council on Civil Society, the author discusses a number of “seedbeds of civic virtue” that may play a role in the much needed moral regeneration of South African society. The “seedbeds” are (1) family, (2) the local community, (3) faith communities, (4) voluntary civil organizations, (5) arts and art institutions, (6) education, (7) business, labour and economic institu-tions, (8) the media, (9) government, (10) the nation. The “rainbow nation”, the author contends, has in recent times lost some of its colour, but if the different partners in the quest for moral regeneration take hands, the colours of the rainbow may return.

Why English dominates the central economy

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Wright
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Language Policy ◽  
South African ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
African Society ◽  
World Language ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Economic Basis ◽  
State Of Affairs

This paper sets out to formulate some of the economic reasons for the continuing dominance of English in the boardrooms, government forums, parastatals and laboratories of South Africa, to consider whether this situation is likely to change, and to assess the extent to which such a state of affairs is at odds with South Africa’s new language policy. The historical reasons for the dominance of English in this sphere are well known: the language’s imperial history, its status as a world language, its role as a medium for political opposition during the apartheid conflict, and the accumulation of capital and economic influence by English-speakers from the mid-nineteenth century onward. However, the day-to-day economic basis for the continuing dominance of English at the apex of South African society has hardly been considered.

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