Managing Conflict at Institution/s of Higher Learning: A Post-Positivist Perspective

Abstract

Institutions of Higher Learning in South Africa annually face challenges that often lead to student protests and demonstrations, mostly at the beginning of every academic year, which adversely impact the smooth running of academic programs. Stakeholders’ expectations were at the apex of causes that destabilise the academic environment, academic almanac and the overall academic professional reputation. The volatility of this kind retards productivity and negatively affects many tertiary institutions across the Country. This empirically grounded paper focuses on conflicting variables amongst universities, but with reference to an Eastern Cape University in South Africa spread across its Campuses. Adopting the post-positivist approach, this study obtained data from over 180 respondents and the data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics, including analyses of variance and Pearson Product Moment correlations. In addition, content analysis techniques were used to analyse the data collected from the unstructured questionnaire. In this empirical study the findings highlighted two major variables that gave rise to conflicts, escalation of strikes and demonstrations at Higher Institutions of learning and recommend a conflict management style apposite for handling the conundrum. The factors dealt with in this study are not peculiar to the institution studied, but are analogous to other institutions. The findings also underscored Integrating conflict management as the most commendable style for managing conflicts at institutions of higher learning.

Aligning Theories with Conflict Management in Higher Institutions of Learning: Averting Looming Crises to Ensure Success and Stability

“…Figure 1. Inverted-U Function (Lukman, 2021) The model in Figure 1 provides a snapshot of how success and stability increase with an increase in substantive conflicts driven by legitimate conflict. However, success and stability decrease with increase in conflicts triggered by non-legitimate expectations as indicated in Figure 1 above.…”

Conflict Resolution Mechanisms and Their Influence on Quality Education in Private Secondary Schools in Arusha District Council

“…In the context of Africa, Lukman (2021) reported the existence of conflict in some learning institutions in South Africa following increased fees considering the inflation rates due to increased operating costs, increased student enrolment and decreasing real term Government funding. As a result of this and similar circumstances, Halevy & Cohen (2020) also reported the renaissance of conflict in some institutions in South Africa which caused the death of a student and the government provided the police security at some learning institutions in the country.…”