scholarly journals Managing Conflict at Institution/s of Higher Learning: A Post-Positivist Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Yusuf Lukman

Institutions of Higher Learning in South Africa annually face challenges that often lead to student protests and demonstrations, mostly at the beginning of every academic year, which adversely impact the smooth running of academic programs. Stakeholders’ expectations were at the apex of causes that destabilise the academic environment, academic almanac and the overall academic professional reputation. The volatility of this kind retards productivity and negatively affects many tertiary institutions across the Country. This empirically grounded paper focuses on conflicting variables amongst universities, but with reference to an Eastern Cape University in South Africa spread across its Campuses. Adopting the post-positivist approach, this study obtained data from over 180 respondents and the data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics, including analyses of variance and Pearson Product Moment correlations. In addition, content analysis techniques were used to analyse the data collected from the unstructured questionnaire. In this empirical study the findings highlighted two major variables that gave rise to conflicts, escalation of strikes and demonstrations at Higher Institutions of learning and recommend a conflict management style apposite for handling the conundrum. The factors dealt with in this study are not peculiar to the institution studied, but  are analogous to other institutions. The findings also underscored Integrating conflict management as the most commendable style for managing conflicts at institutions of higher learning.

Author(s):  
Dr Sunday N. Nnamani ◽  
Dr. Casmir N. Nnamele

In contemporary Nigeria, a large number of graduates are turned out from the different tertiary institutions of higher learning every year. The fact is that such graduates while in the school believe that they will be out of school rigour on graduation and will soon start life as soon as they are gainfully employed. But such dreams are in most cases shattered by the non-availability of jobs for such graduates. In the light of this, a good number of people who are graduates from the different higher institutions in Nigeria roam the streets in search of non-existing jobs. This paper deals with speciality areas of music and sculpture, the advantages and benefits inherent in these areas and their roles in generating employment with the major components highlighted. For Nigeria to attain the employment generation level of the post MDGs, there is a need to put in place vocational trainings that would enhance the right input of highly skilled human resources in music and sculpture to feed the labour market for the overall growth and development of the nation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 2248-2260
Author(s):  
Marongwe Newlin ◽  
Chisango Grasiab

This research paper aims at assessing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on rural institutions of higher learning in South Africa. It further explores lessons learnt from the magnitude of the pandemic. Covid-19 does not discriminate – it spares no institution, no organisation, and no country but infects and affects everyone. Some institutions of learning, when hit by Covid-19 were better prepared to fight it because their alert levels were higher than that of African countries. This study adopted a desktop approach which relied on published data. The paper concludes that the impact of Covid-19 on institutions of higher learning was catastrophic. The magnitude of the Covid-19 pandemic on rural institutions of higher learning in South Africa was devastating because some universities had no strategy to counter the challenge. One of the lessons learnt was that the universities’ think-tanks should plan in advance, be proactive, and be ahead of any challenge. Keywords: Covid-19; e-learning; higher learning; impact; lessons; pandemic    ;  


De Jure ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Anzanilufuno Munyai ◽  
Moses Retselisitsoe Phooko

This article provides a critique of the judgment of the Constitutional Court of South Africa in Gelyke Kanse v Chairperson of the Senate of the University of Stellenbosch1 with specific reference to the concept of transformative constitutionalism and the use of indigenous languages in tertiary education. The discussion further highlights the significant role played by one's own language in his or her day-to-day life encounters and argues that the wait has been too long to have one of the indigenous languages fully utilised in one of the tertiary institutions, amongst others. Finally, the paper recommends that the use of indigenous languages at institutions of higher learning needs to be given urgent attention by all stakeholders and can no longer remain at the mercy of those who are tasked with language policies at tertiary institutions.


Author(s):  
King Costa

Postgraduate students in South Africa and other parts of the world, particularly in developing nations struggle to complete the research component of their studies. According to the National Development Plan ( 2013) it has become a requirement for South African institutions to play a pivotal role in knowledge production so as to transform South Africa from a resource-based economy towards a knowledge-based economy.  In pursuit of meeting this requirement and further to increase subsidy from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), South African institutions of higher learning have been on the drive for recruiting postgraduate students en masse. One of the main problems facing South African institutions is that the number of students enrolled does not correspond to those who graduate at the end of the postgraduate programme study period.  This study is a systematic review of literature on challenges in postgraduate supervision and further proposes a possible solution.  Five South African institutions of higher learning’s postgraduate throughput data is carefully studied and substantiated by previous research on postgraduate supervision challenges on these particular institutions. Study findings present challenges related to research capacity development and burden of supervision at these institutions.  Collaborative methods of supervision such as the C.O.S.T.A model are hereby proposed as possible solutions to the current throughput problem in South Africa.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 145-158
Author(s):  
Douglas B. Reynolds

During and after the Financial Crisis of 2008, many institutions of higher learning have had revenue and budgetary reductions, forcing them to make severe university budget cuts and university reductions in force.  Often the university cuts are preceded by a process of evaluation of academic programs where institutions determine what they stand for and value.  One option, when forced to downsize, is to use a business model, such as Sullivan (2004) explains, where high-value, low-cost programs are kept and low-value, high-cost programs are cut.  However, a business model of education does not reflect the true social value of education or the importance of arts, sciences and humanities, where students learn how to struggle with, write about and understand the world.  John Henry Cardinal Newman’s (1852) treatise, The Idea of a University, suggests an alternative strategy of cost cutting that has to do with deep knowledge, i.e. keep the oldest programs in existence on a given university.  Using the deep knowledge concept, a university will cut young (junior programs) first and retain old (senior) programs until the very last, rather than deciding cuts based on a business model.  The deep knowledge concept emphasizes a Socratic ideal where professors and students wrestle over concepts, such as the meaning of “beauty.”


Author(s):  
Adoga James Ada

This study examines the concepts of conflict and constraints and their antecedents in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It makes a clarification of causes, and types and conflict management in higher institutions of learning. The paper observes that management staff, students, teachers, government. Trade Unions may be sources of conflict for one reason or the other. Nevertheless, the outcomes of such conflicts causes prolong of academic activities, destruction of life and properties and in some cases render school environment completely insecure for serious academic activities not beneficial to students, institutions and the society at large. It recommends that the way forward should be proper handling of higher institutions by management and government to be more democratic in handling conflicts by creating avenues for discussing and designing. The paper concludes that conflict is an attendant feature of human interaction in every organization which cannot be eliminated, therefore, maintaining a cordial relationship between staff, students by school authority, is necessary, also involving students and trade unions in decision making process appeared to be the most effective way forward for effective management of tertiary institutions.


2022 ◽  
pp. 278-295
Author(s):  
Abel Ebiega Enokela

This chapter examined the challenges associated with students' mental health in a pandemic period like the COVID-19 era and the expected coordinated response measures that should be in place to mitigate such challenges with focus on the mental health of students in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria, the most populous nation on the continent of Africa. Specifically, the review strengthened the need for school counselors' going back to the drawing board to come up with modalities that could keep students psychologically and emotionally healthy. Students normally enjoy school community life but would have to adjust their patterns of social interactions during an outbreak of an infectious disease. The review explored and applied the assumptions of social support theory which laid emphasis on supportive relationships within social contexts. School counselors were charged in this chapter to engage their students' community with digital mental health support to help them remain mentally healthy in spite of the adverse events usually provoked by the presence of a pandemic.


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