Universities South Africa
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Universities South Africa ("USAf".), formerly known as Higher Education South Africa or HESA, is an umbrella body representative of the 26 public universities in South Africa. The USAF board is made up of 26 Vice-Chancellors drawn from member universities.[1] USAf endorses a comprehensive and equitable national higher education system responsive to South Africa's challenges. Through lobbying and advocacy, USAf promotes and facilitates an optimal environment conducive for universities to function effectually and maximally contribute to the social, cultural, and economic advancement of South Africa and its people. These captains of academia were firmly committed to so called “digital transformation” during the pandemic.[2]USAf has committed themselves to using data to offer “an optimal environment conducive for universities to function effectively” [3]Their optimization extends into matters of transparency around remuneration and they too have committed to address the scourge of corruption in their respective university chambers. When it comes to the topic of transformation in Higher Education, the 26 members have not had much success.[4] Neither has teaching and learning practice in South African higher education changed much under their watch.[5]Short comings with governance and pedagogies failures, have not prevented USAf from proclaiming a "digital revolution" at their scheduled annual conference. Theme: "The future of the university".[6]This a ahistorical meme, the change is neither industrial or revolutionary[7], yet espoused by many VCs in this organization, is at odds with scholarship about post-digital[8]Perhaps their greatest success this far is McDonaldization[9]of South African Higher education. With university branding, making themselves look appealing to prospective students and parents, instead of addressing actual student needs.[10]
Formation | 22 July 2015 |
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Type | Association of Universities |
Location | |
Membership | 26 |
Chief Executive Officer | Dr Phethiwe Matutu |
Website | www |