The #FeesMustFall protests in South Africa: Exploring first-year students’ experiences at a peri-urban university campus

Greeff, Minrie; Mostert, Karina; Kahl, Carlien; Jonker, Carine-Mari

doi:10.20853/35-4-4219

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Research has shown that effective communication and inclusivity in decision-making are crucial for maintaining a positive campus environment and preventing social unrest in South African universities. Studies by Greeff et al (2021) and Landa et al (2021) argue that the lack of effective communication between university management and students was one of the key factors contributing to student protests in South Africa. The authors suggest that transparent communication and inclusive decision-making processes are essential for building trust between university management and students and preventing conflicts.…”

Section: Discussion Of Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Causes and Institutional Responsesof Social Unrest in South African Universities

Omodan

2023

Sage Open

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This paper explores the root causes of student unrest in South African universities and evaluates the institutional responses to these protests, otherwise regarded as social unrest. The study is lensed through social movement theory and institutional theory. The study adopted transformative paradigm under qualitative approach and participatory research design to analyze the experiences of universities in South Africa that have experienced significant social unrest in recent years. Focus group discussion was conducted with university management staff, student activists, and security officers of the selected universities. The findings showed that lack of access, socio-economic inequalities, ineffective communication, and open engagement are the primary causes of social unrest. In contrast, providing equitable access, economic liberation, effective communication, and open engagement is the possible institutional response that alleviates social unrest on university campuses. Hence, promoting equitable access and economic liberation coupled with effective communication and open engagement among stakeholders was recommended.

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Section: Discussion Of Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Causes and Institutional Responsesof Social Unrest in South African Universities

Omodan

2023

Sage Open

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“…Initially, under the banner of #FeesMustFall, HE students, especially undergraduate students, organized themselves into this hashtagged student movement to demand reduced or no fees for university education. Immediately thereafter, they embarked on nation-wide campaigns calling for the decolonization of the HE curriculum (Booysen, 2016;Greeff et al, 2021). Since then, academics have produced scholarly papers on the #FeesMustFall movement and on the decolonization of the HE curriculum in South Africa (see, for example, Chaka et al, 2017;Chikoko, 2016;Costandius et al, 2018;Le Grange, 2016;Mbembe, 2016;Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2017;Ngoepe, 2020;Omanga, 2020).…”

Section: Journal Of Contemporary Issues Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Situating Some Aspects of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) in South African Higher Education Within Southern Theories

Chaka

Shange

Ndlangamandla

et al. 2022

JCIE

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This paper discusses aspects of the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) in South African higher education (HE) and locates it within what it calls Southern theories. Three examples of such theories that the paper advances are Southern decolonial theory, decoloniality, and transversality, which it frames from the Global South standpoint. Concerning the first theory, the paper argues that SoTL, both as a notion and as a practice, needs to be problematized, critiqued, and contextualized according to the Global South HE settings in which it is applied. One of its key points in this regard is that SoTL has to question and critique the dominant epistemic practices and scholarly practices underpinning the curricula of Global South higher education institutions (HEIs), and through which students are framed in these HEIs. With reference to both decoloniality and transversality, the paper foregrounds components of SoTL that are aligned to these two approaches in a way that dismantles their hierarchical relations. Most importantly, it contends that transversality is capable of decentering Western truth claims in favor of polycentric epistemologies, frameworks, and methodologies that resonate with and that have applicability to the Global South.

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“…Student unrest is a continuous issue on most South African campuses, and it has been fuelled by different factors. These factors include a hike in tuition fees, lack of financial support for students, inadequate and unconducive hostel accommodation, socio-economic background of the students and university management styles (Aluede et al 2005;Calitz & Fourie 2016;Cini 2019;Greeff et al 2021;Kulati 2003;Lawton-Misra 2019). Tuition fees have been escalating over the past few years, and this has made it difficult for students from poor socio-economic backgrounds to afford university education.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing the underside of student unrest in South African universities using collegial leadership as approach

Omodan

2023

Transformation in Higher Education

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Universities in South Africa are confronted with student unrest, which has hindered the effective university education process. They have faced various shortages of academic activities and teaching and learning because of protests and subsequent management responses that culminated in the closures of universities at most times. Student unrest has made it difficult to actualise the set predetermined goals and objectives of the university. These challenges have severally been linked to problems with tuition fees, financial support for students, adequate and conducive hostel accommodation, student socio-economic background and university management styles. Among the management styles, according to the literature and observation, is the decision-making process where the issues concerning students are decided upon. This study explores the potential of the collegial leadership approach to enhance the university decision-making process towards alleviating student unrest in universities. This study is located within a transformative paradigm to transform social unrest in the university system. Conceptual analysis was employed to make sense of the adopted approach as a veritable tool for managing the power differential between the students and the university management. The study found that collaboration and teamwork, consensus building and organisational relationships are the dimensions of managing student unrest in universities. The recommendation is that collaborative management style, teamwork, consensus building and organisational relationships are encouraged in the university management process.Contribution: This article seeks to contribute to the higher education management system by providing a collegial leadership model. As an integral part of the university system, this model addresses student unrest and improves transformative prospects for the institution. By exploring new ways of managing internal conflict resolution, change is fostered, and improved conditions are cultivated. In this way, it directly responds to the journal’s focus on the transformation of higher education, making it an essential read for scholars and practitioners specialising in this field.

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The #FeesMustFall protests in South Africa: Exploring first-year students’ experiences at a peri-urban university campus

Cited by 9 publications

References 28 publications

Causes and Institutional Responsesof Social Unrest in South African Universities

Causes and Institutional Responsesof Social Unrest in South African Universities

Situating Some Aspects of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) in South African Higher Education Within Southern Theories

Addressing the underside of student unrest in South African universities using collegial leadership as approach

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