Managerialism or Collegialism? The evolution of these approaches and perceptions thereof in Higher Education in South Africa.

Abstract

South African higher education institutions have not been immune from worldwide developments which include changes in the geo-political order, globalization of society, the technology revolution and the loss of monopoly of higher education institutions in creating and disseminating knowledge. The latter in particular has led to significantly diminished public resources for higher education. The corporatization of higher education in South Africa has been a response to these pressures. Equally restructuring of the sector by the State has contributed to a shift towards a managerial approach to the governance and management of higher education institutions. This paper examines the changed environment within which universities have to function with a view to establishing whether collegialism and managerialism can coexist successfully in a changing higher education landscape.