speaking on the sidelines of the 9th annual SATN convention held in Cape town from 12-14 October, the straight-speakme vice-chancellor of Tshwane college of technology informed university World news that mission drift is still the "greatest factor of contention" within the sector.
earlier in the day, throughout a plenary dialogue on sustainability, he had expressed the issue as follows: "We're not sure who we're; as a sector we're hard on ourselves, but we're below par when it comes to third-move salary and that i ascribe it to [mission] drift. We need to be accepted for some thing… Protests?… Or what?"
towards the backdrop of #FeesMustFall protests which necessitated the periodic absence from the meeting of some vice-chancellors – together with Prins Nevhutalu of Cape Peninsula school of technology, co-hosts of the conference – Van Staden's reference to protests turned into obtained with rueful enjoyment.
however the figures were sobering. Citing statistics from a fresh PwC report, Van Staden said that the institution of the Witwatersrand – a traditional, research-intensive school – attracted forty% of its salary via third move salary, while universities of expertise attracted only around 15%.
omitted roles
"this is besides the fact that children that universities of technology are supposed to be nearer to commerce and industry and have extra alternatives. The function is ignored," he told school World news during an interview.
another left out position changed into knowledgeable development. "we're in an amazing place to support govt, commerce and trade with cont inuous training, however this is yet another disregarded characteristic," he spoke of.
preserving a PhD in curriculum science, Van Staden possibly is familiar with more advantageous than most the importance of educating and gaining knowledge of consequences. "We deserve to be clearer about what universities of technology are attaining and we need to determine the sort of graduate attributes of our college students, which are not the same as traditional universities," he stated.
"We teach technicians and technologists, now not engineers, and not artisans. We need to go lower back to the drafting board and perhaps admit that what the previous technikons [polytechnics] did turned into no longer so bad. The [Higher Education] Act says that technikons at the moment are universities, but these definitions are lacking depth and are old-fashioned," he noted.
Sector differentiation
centered in 2006, SATN falls inside Universities South Africa or USAf, the um brella physique for all 26 public universities.
although, in accordance with Van Staden the sub-grouping became crucial to "differentiate ourselves as a sector" and out of a cognizance that universities of technology – a lot of that have been products of mergers – have been on a special developmental level, exceptionally with appreciate to their research capacity, compared with their more dependent traditional counterparts.
"We had been misplaced in USAf when it comes to our identification, contribution and human useful resource building," spoke of Van Staden. "And we didn't are looking to be seen as cry-toddlers."
"We don't are looking to become independent from from USAf, but we should renowned we have a distinct center of attention to average universities," he observed.
"one of the vital universities in this country are over 100 years ancient; they are clear when it comes to their function. Universities of technology offer work-in tegrated discovering. There isn't any standard formative working towards and all schooling is geared against careers. On ordinary we are 10 years old, so we should do a lot of building work as a sector to establish ourselves."
quite a number challenges
Van Staden observed universities of expertise vital to re-construct their popularity. "in my opinion, they're seen by way of the public as inferior, second-category," he stated.
here's youngsters that an institution like Tshwane school of expertise, with 60,000 college students on eleven campuses and an engineering college that with 10,000 college students has extra college students than some whole universities. there's additionally a business college providing grasp of enterprise Administration degrees.
"we're set to graduate 12,000 students this 12 months, and we've extra analysis outputs and SARChI [South African Research Chairs Initiative] chairs than some normal universities. but our branding is vu lnerable," he talked about.
while Tshwane university of expertise is in a comparatively powerful place, youngsters, there are other universities of technology that are a great deal weaker. "We need to focus on how we will elevate the lowest in our collective," Van Staden stressed out. "a series is as robust as its weakest hyperlink and we don't seem to be all potent."
There are different challenges dealing with the field, one in all which is a lack of management – not in the experience of pleasant, but amount. "there is a literal lack of leaders; proper applicants are not roaming the streets, it must be spoke of. At a lot of our institutions, the position of vice-chancellor is vacant or is shortly to develop into vacant. As a sector we need extra balance."
Over the subsequent two years, he hopes that a brand new stream of vice-chancellors will be in region and development is being made in this regard.
Mr Fixit
called Mr Fixit in the bett er schooling sector, Van Staden become appointed as administrator of Walter Sisulu tuition in 2011 through the minister of greater training and working towards. There, he spearheaded a a success turnaround method for the sick institution, earning respect from a wide range of stakeholders.
As SATN chair, he's decided to follow the same passion for 'fixing' the fundamentals and to champion a 'returned to fundamentals' strategy. He at all times uses the notice 'funds' in reference to any future plans.
Van Staden talked about he intends to revise the SATN strategic plan and reformulate it with fewer dreams and concentrated on simple ideas. Importantly, there will be a budget linked to each aim and a big emphasis on high quality advertising and rebranding.
He additionally intends to re-look at the terms of reference of the interior method agencies as a way to make certain they facilitate key strategic dreams. "and that they ought to have a finances attache d," he provides.
He has in intellect a thought to exchange the identify of SATN. "The latest identify doesn't talk without delay to universities of technology. and i think we should still deliver into the fold identical associations in Southern Africa," he spoke of. presently the best non-South African member of the community is the Namibia tuition of Science and technology.
Van Staden, who has a two-yr time period as chair, with the possibility of a further two, admits the place gives him no real vigor to force change. "we're a collegial body. I haven't any particular powers, however I have my influence and journey," he stated.
"My strength is fixing things. I've done work during the past to repair universities when it comes to constructing and enforcing turnaround ideas. I have adventure and passion and that i'm up to the challenges, provided I have the help of my team."
