5 - Vying for Legitimacy: Academic vs. Corporate Culture
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2007): Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Abstract
Following the general trend already existing in the Western world, state universities in South Africa, in seeking other sources of income and in meeting policy demands for transformation, have embraced the corporate model as the most efficient system of organising education today, thus opening the door to activities and processes such as commercialisation, applied and contract research, and the development of stronger links with external stakeholders. This paper questions the legitimacy of the commodification of intellectual enquiry. Do financial or ideological considerations justify the adoption of a corporate system in education? Can cost efficiency, which is global in nature and which is accelerating social change, legitimise corporate practices in the university in South Africa without affecting a) its character as a public institution, and b) the role of each individual member? The author argues that claims for legitimacy of the present form of rationalisation of the university serve to institutionalise corporate power in educational institutions, making it ap- pear valid and acceptable. Complex though the term may be, however, the generic meaning of ‘legitimacy’ refers to ‘rights’: the right to claim, the right to question whether correct procedures have been followed, and, ultimately, the right to assess whether a policy or a system serves the good of all concerned. In this sense, in determining the notion of the ‘right thing to do’, any discourse on legitimacy, by taking into account a wide diversity of viewpoints, will deal primarily with values and the recognition of human aspirations.
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- Allan, K., 2005, Explorations in Classical Sociological Theory: Seeing the Social World, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
- Arendt, H., 1977, Between Past and Future: Eight Exercises in Political Thought, New York: Penguin Books.
- Baudrillard, J., 1998, Consumer Society: Myths and Structures, London: Sage Publications. Baudrillard, J., 1983, Simulations, New York: Semiotext(e).
- Calhoun, C., 2002, ‘Structural Transformation of the University: Contradictory Ideals and Institutional Compromises in American Higher Education’, (http://www.ssrc.org/program/ calhoun/publications/HigherEd.pdf). September 2006.
- Chachage, C. L. S., 2001, ‘Higher Education Transformation and Academic Exterminism’, CODESRIA Bulletin, Nos. 1 and 2, pp. 3–10.
- Education White Paper 3: A Programme for the Transformation of Higher Educa- tion, 24 July, General Notice 1196 of 1997. (http://www.che.org.za/documents/d000005/index/php). November 2004.
- Emdon, C., 2004, ‘Civil Service to Recruit in India, Iran’, Sunday Times, May 16, p.13. Jansen, J., 2005, ‘When Does a University Cease to Exist?’ Fortieth Hoernle Me- morial Lecture, Mail & Guardian, January 28–February 13.
- Jansen, J., 2006, ‘Accounting for Autonomy’, in R. Pithouse, ed., Asinamali: Uni- versity Struggles in Post-Apartheid South Africa, Asmara, Africa World Press, Inc. pp. 11–21.
- Johnson, B. and Cross, M., 2004, ‘Academic Leadership under Siege: Possibilities and Limits of Executive Deanship’, South African Journal of Higher Educa- tion, Vol.18, No.2, pp. 34–58.
- Kant, I., 1992[1798], The Conflict of the Faculties, trans. M.J. Gregor, Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
- Khumalo, F., 2004, ‘Mending the Severed Artery’, Interview with Es’kia Mphahlele, Thisday, May 14, p.7.
- Koen, C., 2003, ‘Moving toward Uncertainty: Higher Education Restructuring in South Africa’, Center for International Higher Education, Boston College, Number 32, pp. 12–13. (http://www.bc. edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/newsletter/News32/text007.htm). July 2006.
- Lankshear, C., 1999, ‘Information, Knowledge and Learning: Rethinking Episte- mology for Education in a Digital Age’, Keynote address, Vth National Con- gress of Educational Research, Aguacalientes, Mexico, 31 October. (http://www.geocities.com/c.lankshear/information.html). August 2004.
- Lyotard, J.-F., 1984, The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge, Man- chester: Manchester University Press.
- Makgoba, M., 1999, African Renaissance: The New Struggle, Sandton: Mafube. Makgoba, M., 2004, ‘From Dead Weight to the African University’, Thisday, June 7, p.11.
- Makgoba, M. and Seepe, S., 2004, ‘Knowledge and Identity: an African Vision of Higher Education Transformation’, Towards an African Identity of Higher Edu- cation, Pretoria: Skotaville Media and Vista University.
- Mbeki, T., 2006, ‘State of the Nation Address’, February 3. (http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/ history/mbeki/2006/tm0203.html).
- Mills, G., 2006, ‘Unpractical Graduates Wanted’, Business Day, November 24, p.13.
- Mseleku, T., 2004, ‘African Scholarship: Some Challenges Facing Intellectuals in South African Higher Education Institutions’, Ingede. Journal of African Schol-arship, Vol.1, No.2 (http://ingedej.ukzn.ac.za). September 2006.
- Mvoko, V., 2006, ‘Homecoming: The Return of the Baas from Abroad is too much for Me’, Sunday Times, February 19.
- Nekhwevha, F., 2004, ‘A Discourse on the Africanisation of Curriculum in South African Higher Education Modules’, Paper delivered at the University of South Africa, Pretoria, June 7, 2004.
- Nethersole, R., 2001, ‘The Priceless Interval: Theory in the Global Interstice’, Dia- critics, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 30–56.
- Nkoane, M.M., 2005, ‘African University: the Evolving Self’, (www.interaction.nu.ac.za/SAARD HE2005/full%20papers/NKOANE,%20MM.doc). August 2006.
- Newman, J. H., 1996[1899], The Idea of a University, New Haven, CT: Yale Uni- versity Press.
- Noble, D. F., 2002, ‘Technology and the Commodification of Higher Education’, Monthly Review, Vol.53, No. 10. (http://www.monthlyreview.org/0302noble.htm). April 2004.
- Pick, D., 2004, ‘The Reflexive Modernization of Australian Universities’,Globalisation, Societies and Education, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 99–116.
- Pityana, B., 2004, ‘Unisa Beyond the Decade of Democracy’. (http://lsa.unisa.ac.za/news/archive/ 2004/august/vol2/unisa/html). September 2005.
- Readings, B., 1996, The University in Ruins, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
- Redfield, M., 2001, ‘Theory, Globalization, Cultural Studies, and the Remains of the University’, Diacritics, Vol. 31, No.3, pp. 3–14.
- Sawyerr, A., n.d., ‘Challenges Facing African Universities. Selected Issues’. (http://www.african studies.org/ChallengesFacingAfricanUniversities.pdf). May 2006. Seepe, S., 2004, ‘Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Higher Education in South Africa’, Lecture delivered to the joint conference of the South African Associa- tion for Research and Development in Higher Education and The Productive Learning Cultures Project, Durban, South Africa.(http://www2.alliant.edu/gsoe/ccsjournal/IndigenousKnowledgeSystemsandHigherEducation.pdf ). September 2006.
- Seepe, S., 2005, ‘Preserving the Intellectual Freedom in our Institutions: Making the Pedagogical More Political and the Political more Pedagogical’, Gradua- tion address given on May 10 at Tshwane University of Technology. (http://vryeafrikaan.co.za/lees.php?id=481). September 2006.
- Southall, R. and Cobbing, J., 2006, ‘From Racial Liberalism to Corporate Authori- tarianism’, in R. Pithouse, ed., Asinamali: University Struggles in Post-Apart- heid South Africa, Asmara, Africa World Press, Inc. pp. 23–38.
- van der Walt, L., 2004, ‘University Restructuring: Whose Gain, Whose Pain, Whose Transformation?’, Alternatives. (http://www.alternatives.ca/article1236.html).May 2006.
References
Allan, K., 2005, Explorations in Classical Sociological Theory: Seeing the Social World, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Arendt, H., 1977, Between Past and Future: Eight Exercises in Political Thought, New York: Penguin Books.
Baudrillard, J., 1998, Consumer Society: Myths and Structures, London: Sage Publications. Baudrillard, J., 1983, Simulations, New York: Semiotext(e).
Calhoun, C., 2002, ‘Structural Transformation of the University: Contradictory Ideals and Institutional Compromises in American Higher Education’, (http://www.ssrc.org/program/ calhoun/publications/HigherEd.pdf). September 2006.
Chachage, C. L. S., 2001, ‘Higher Education Transformation and Academic Exterminism’, CODESRIA Bulletin, Nos. 1 and 2, pp. 3–10.
Education White Paper 3: A Programme for the Transformation of Higher Educa- tion, 24 July, General Notice 1196 of 1997. (http://www.che.org.za/documents/d000005/index/php). November 2004.
Emdon, C., 2004, ‘Civil Service to Recruit in India, Iran’, Sunday Times, May 16, p.13. Jansen, J., 2005, ‘When Does a University Cease to Exist?’ Fortieth Hoernle Me- morial Lecture, Mail & Guardian, January 28–February 13.
Jansen, J., 2006, ‘Accounting for Autonomy’, in R. Pithouse, ed., Asinamali: Uni- versity Struggles in Post-Apartheid South Africa, Asmara, Africa World Press, Inc. pp. 11–21.
Johnson, B. and Cross, M., 2004, ‘Academic Leadership under Siege: Possibilities and Limits of Executive Deanship’, South African Journal of Higher Educa- tion, Vol.18, No.2, pp. 34–58.
Kant, I., 1992[1798], The Conflict of the Faculties, trans. M.J. Gregor, Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
Khumalo, F., 2004, ‘Mending the Severed Artery’, Interview with Es’kia Mphahlele, Thisday, May 14, p.7.
Koen, C., 2003, ‘Moving toward Uncertainty: Higher Education Restructuring in South Africa’, Center for International Higher Education, Boston College, Number 32, pp. 12–13. (http://www.bc. edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/newsletter/News32/text007.htm). July 2006.
Lankshear, C., 1999, ‘Information, Knowledge and Learning: Rethinking Episte- mology for Education in a Digital Age’, Keynote address, Vth National Con- gress of Educational Research, Aguacalientes, Mexico, 31 October. (http://www.geocities.com/c.lankshear/information.html). August 2004.
Lyotard, J.-F., 1984, The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge, Man- chester: Manchester University Press.
Makgoba, M., 1999, African Renaissance: The New Struggle, Sandton: Mafube. Makgoba, M., 2004, ‘From Dead Weight to the African University’, Thisday, June 7, p.11.
Makgoba, M. and Seepe, S., 2004, ‘Knowledge and Identity: an African Vision of Higher Education Transformation’, Towards an African Identity of Higher Edu- cation, Pretoria: Skotaville Media and Vista University.
Mbeki, T., 2006, ‘State of the Nation Address’, February 3. (http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/ history/mbeki/2006/tm0203.html).
Mills, G., 2006, ‘Unpractical Graduates Wanted’, Business Day, November 24, p.13.
Mseleku, T., 2004, ‘African Scholarship: Some Challenges Facing Intellectuals in South African Higher Education Institutions’, Ingede. Journal of African Schol-arship, Vol.1, No.2 (http://ingedej.ukzn.ac.za). September 2006.
Mvoko, V., 2006, ‘Homecoming: The Return of the Baas from Abroad is too much for Me’, Sunday Times, February 19.
Nekhwevha, F., 2004, ‘A Discourse on the Africanisation of Curriculum in South African Higher Education Modules’, Paper delivered at the University of South Africa, Pretoria, June 7, 2004.
Nethersole, R., 2001, ‘The Priceless Interval: Theory in the Global Interstice’, Dia- critics, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 30–56.
Nkoane, M.M., 2005, ‘African University: the Evolving Self’, (www.interaction.nu.ac.za/SAARD HE2005/full%20papers/NKOANE,%20MM.doc). August 2006.
Newman, J. H., 1996[1899], The Idea of a University, New Haven, CT: Yale Uni- versity Press.
Noble, D. F., 2002, ‘Technology and the Commodification of Higher Education’, Monthly Review, Vol.53, No. 10. (http://www.monthlyreview.org/0302noble.htm). April 2004.
Pick, D., 2004, ‘The Reflexive Modernization of Australian Universities’,Globalisation, Societies and Education, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 99–116.
Pityana, B., 2004, ‘Unisa Beyond the Decade of Democracy’. (http://lsa.unisa.ac.za/news/archive/ 2004/august/vol2/unisa/html). September 2005.
Readings, B., 1996, The University in Ruins, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Redfield, M., 2001, ‘Theory, Globalization, Cultural Studies, and the Remains of the University’, Diacritics, Vol. 31, No.3, pp. 3–14.
Sawyerr, A., n.d., ‘Challenges Facing African Universities. Selected Issues’. (http://www.african studies.org/ChallengesFacingAfricanUniversities.pdf). May 2006. Seepe, S., 2004, ‘Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Higher Education in South Africa’, Lecture delivered to the joint conference of the South African Associa- tion for Research and Development in Higher Education and The Productive Learning Cultures Project, Durban, South Africa.(http://www2.alliant.edu/gsoe/ccsjournal/IndigenousKnowledgeSystemsandHigherEducation.pdf ). September 2006.
Seepe, S., 2005, ‘Preserving the Intellectual Freedom in our Institutions: Making the Pedagogical More Political and the Political more Pedagogical’, Gradua- tion address given on May 10 at Tshwane University of Technology. (http://vryeafrikaan.co.za/lees.php?id=481). September 2006.
Southall, R. and Cobbing, J., 2006, ‘From Racial Liberalism to Corporate Authori- tarianism’, in R. Pithouse, ed., Asinamali: University Struggles in Post-Apart- heid South Africa, Asmara, Africa World Press, Inc. pp. 23–38.
van der Walt, L., 2004, ‘University Restructuring: Whose Gain, Whose Pain, Whose Transformation?’, Alternatives. (http://www.alternatives.ca/article1236.html).May 2006.