Tembile Kulati
Strategic Management of Universities in Transitional Societies
The case of South Africa
© Tembile Kulati/private
The central proposition of this study is that there has been a shift in the way that research is managed at the strategic management level of South African universities, from what I have referred to as a 'facilitatory' approach, to a more 'directive' or 'intensified' approach. The study interrogates this shift in the strategic management of research by analysing the dynamics of change at three South Africa universities. It is argued that the shift from a facilitatory to a directive mode of research management has been instigated by factors internal and external to universities.
A key assumption of the study is that the changing nature of strategic research management at universities has been primarily in response to the external demands and pressures for change emanating from the external environment of universities. In the South African context, these demands and expectations for change arose from the post-apartheid legislative framework (which was promulgated in 1997) that set the transformation agenda for the South African higher education system. A key part of this of this agenda was for universities to address the challenges of equity and diversity, responsiveness to societal needs, and efficiency. There were also internal dynamics to contend with as well, not least the nature of universities as organisations (of a special type?).
Through the use of multiple case study design, the study examines how universities in South Africa have responded to the external demands for transformation while, at the same time, devising new ways of organising and governing themselves internally in order to be more effective and relevant in a rapidly changing world. The study seeks to contribute to the literature on (higher education) organisational change in societies in transition.
Tembile Kulati is a researcher at the University of Western Cape, South Africa, and a PhD student at the Department of Science, Technology, and Policy Studies (STePS) at the University of Twente, the Netherlands. Previously, he has obtained a Master's degree in Higher Education Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and an M.Phil in Science and Technology Studies from Stellenbosch University. Mr. Kulati's research focuses on the governance and leadership and organisational change in Higher Education with a focus on transitional higher education systems.
Wednesday, 21 October 2020, 4.00–5.30 p.m. | Online
Center for Higher Education (zhb)
Professorship of Higher Education
Search & People Search
Location & approach
The campus of TU Dortmund University is located close to interstate junction Dortmund West, where the Sauerlandlinie A 45 (Frankfurt-Dortmund) crosses the Ruhrschnellweg B 1 / A 40. The best interstate exit to take from A 45 is "Dortmund-Eichlinghofen" (closer to Campus Süd), and from B 1 / A 40 "Dortmund-Dorstfeld" (closer to Campus Nord). Signs for the university are located at both exits. Also, there is a new exit before you pass over the B 1-bridge leading into Dortmund.
To get from Campus Nord to Campus Süd by car, there is the connection via Vogelpothsweg/Baroper Straße. We recommend you leave your car on one of the parking lots at Campus Nord and use the H-Bahn (suspended monorail system), which conveniently connects the two campuses.
TU Dortmund University has its own train station ("Dortmund Universität"). From there, suburban trains (S-Bahn) leave for Dortmund main station ("Dortmund Hauptbahnhof") and Düsseldorf main station via the "Düsseldorf Airport Train Station" (take S-Bahn number 1, which leaves every 15 or 30 minutes). The university is easily reached from Bochum, Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr and Duisburg.
You can also take the bus or subway train from Dortmund city to the university: From Dortmund main station, you can take any train bound for the Station "Stadtgarten", usually lines U41, U45, U 47 and U49. At "Stadtgarten" you switch trains and get on line U42 towards "Hombruch". Look out for the Station "An der Palmweide". From the bus stop just across the road, busses bound for TU Dortmund University leave every ten minutes (445, 447 and 462). Another option is to take the subway routes U41, U45, U47 and U49 from Dortmund main station to the stop "Dortmund Kampstraße". From there, take U43 or U44 to the stop "Dortmund Wittener Straße". Switch to bus line 447 and get off at "Dortmund Universität S".
The H-Bahn is one of the hallmarks of TU Dortmund University. There are two stations on Campus Nord. One ("Dortmund Universität S") is directly located at the suburban train stop, which connects the university directly with the city of Dortmund and the rest of the Ruhr Area. Also from this station, there are connections to the "Technologiepark" and (via Campus Süd) Eichlinghofen. The other station is located at the dining hall at Campus Nord and offers a direct connection to Campus Süd every five minutes.
The AirportExpress is a fast and convenient means of transport from Dortmund Airport (DTM) to Dortmund Central Station, taking you there in little more than 20 minutes. From Dortmund Central Station, you can continue to the university campus by interurban railway (S-Bahn). A larger range of international flight connections is offered at Düsseldorf Airport (DUS), which is about 60 kilometres away and can be directly reached by S-Bahn from the university station.
Interactive map
The facilities of TU Dortmund University are spread over two campuses, the larger Campus North and the smaller Campus South. Additionally, some areas of the university are located in the adjacent "Technologiepark".
Zum Lageplan