Johannesburg – A university with campuses in separate locations is more difficult to administer than when it is on one site.
In addition, faculties diffused over more than one campus exacerbate the situation. Academic excellence is also in danger of being compromised.
This is the case with Walter Sisulu University (WSU), which has its main campus in Mthatha and three more in Buffalo City, Komani, and Butterworth, each with more than one site of delivery.
This is an untenable situation and the result of the history of WSU and other institutions of higher learning, which amalgamated various institutions of higher education in 2005.
Other institutions that merged underwent rationalisation and consolidation, however, WSU did not complete this process for almost a decade, hence it has taken a decision to complete the process.
Consolidation is part of this African university’s strategic vision for 2020-2030. It draws on the university’s history and its place in a predominantly rural and socio-economically marginalised rural region – the Eastern Cape.
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It is a predominantly undergraduate institution. Approximately 4% of its 29 000 students are postgraduates. Mthatha houses 44% of the student body, Buffalo City 24%, Butterworth 20%, and Komani only 11%.
The campuses differ significantly in the range of qualification types they offer – Mthatha is the most complex with 11 programmes and Buffalo City is the simplest structure with only three. There are 12 faculties with 56 academic departments. Consolidation of campuses and the rationalisation of faculties and academic departments is imperative if we are to succeed in becoming an institution in pursuit of excellence.
The ultimate aim is to move the WSU from being a default option to one of positive choice. We have committed to creating and implementing an empowering curriculum that ensures that WSU graduates are able to access the high echelons of society and the university’s core activities contribute to the achievement of sustainable and just global development.
Our primary focus is on the upskilling of our professionals, increased collaboration with local communities to ensure impact and provide a gateway for our students and offering a suite of relevant short learning programmes. Throughout the implementation until completion of the project, WSU will be mindful of its historical role as an institution of access for the disenfranchised and pursue its commitment to creating and implementing an empowering curriculum.
Our endeavours underscore and amplify our identity as an African university poised to claim its space nationally and internally as a university in pursuit of excellence.
• Songca is a vice-chancellor of the Walter Sisulu University
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