‘How open are our doors? A comparison of academic staff transformation at the University of Cape Town and the University of the Witwatersrand’.
Date
2007-02-28T11:23:05Z
Authors
Lewins, Kezia
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Abstract
This research report asks ‘how effective has academic staff transformation been at the
University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)?’ This
question was examined from four angles: i) the historical engagement of UCT and Wits,
as employers, with race, class and gender, ii) the impact of government directive and the
legislative context on the transformation of higher education workplaces, iii) the
institutional role and response of UCT and Wits to the race, class and gender of their
academic staff and iv) academics’ experience of UCT and Wits as workplaces. The
findings are based on in-depth interviews with 50 academic and senior executive staff at
UCT and Wits. The results illustrate both continuity and change in the way in which
academic staff experience institutions. Whilst there are progressive elements identified,
there are also disconcerting expressions of prejudice, discrimination and harassment
which undermine the transformation process.
Description
Student Number : 0314897V -
MA research report -
School of Social Science -
Faculty of Humanties
Keywords
academic staff transformation, employment equity, institutional culture, transformation, higher education, University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand