Since the dawn of democracy, South Africa still does not have an agreed on definition or targets with regards to transformation in higher education despite a preoccupation with this matter for the past twenty-two years.

This is according to Professor Brian Figaji, former Vice-Chancellor of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), during his keynote address on day two of the inaugural DUT Courageous Leadership Conference at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Durban ICC.  

Prof Figaji said transformation was a subject that has engaged the higher education sector prior to 1994 but with more urgency since the dawn of democratic rule in South Africa. “Twenty-two years after the democratic rule, we still do not have an agreed definition or target with milestones for transformation in higher education. The (higher education) department makes policy statements, the minister changes the Higher Education Act, institutions develop strategic plans and we all hope and pray that all these documents and their intentions are aligned so that some outcomes can be achieved,” he said.

Prof Figaji said while there has been noticeable progress to transformation in some areas such as the race and gender composition of the student body, the appointment of council members and the filling of senior administrator positions, there was no agreement on what the overall transformation target is and when it should be achieved. “A collective common decision needs to be made and then we need to identify the action and targets for the department (of higher education and training) and for institutions. This will enable institutions to align their strategic plans, evaluate their strengths and work in those areas where they are not making progress,” he said. 

Prof Figaji urged for a commonly accepted definition of transformation in higher education with specific targets to be achieved over a reasonable period of time as well as commitment from all higher education role-players in order to achieve these targets. He also spoke about the National Development Plan and its goal for 2030 which included increased access to higher education, redressing past inequalities, building high level research capacity, diversity and building new institutional identities. “Each of these policy goals have a series of priorities but special attention had to be paid to marginalised groups; namely, African people and women,” he said.

Prof Figaji also spoke of the targets of the NDP for 2030 in respect of education, namely increasing graduation rates to 25%, increasing the number of PhD graduates as well as increasing PhD degrees amongst staff. “If we are going to engage in transformation in a more holistic manner, then we must learn to work together to determine the targets, develop strategies, implement the plans and measure the results. This is a necessary condition if we want to achieve success with our departmental targets, our faculty objectives or our institutional goals of transformation,” he said.

– Waheeda Peters

Pictured: Prof Prof Brian Figaji while giving more insight into the issue of transformation n South Africa’s higher education sector during the DUT Courageous Leadership Conference at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Durban ICC.