Universities encouraged to go back to basics by strengthening relations with business and government

Durban — Universities were encouraged to go back to basics by strengthening relations with business and the government.

Seasoned University of Johannesburg academic and former Durban University of Technology (DUT) vice-chancellor (VC), Professor Ahmed Bawa, said this while addressing close to 200 delegates at the annual Focus conference.

“Three decades of democracy: reflecting on higher education achievements, challenges, impact and the future” was hosted by the university’s Teaching and Learning Development Centre (TLDC).

In a statement released by the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), the well-known physicist had some advice for higher education leadership and said universities were supposed to do what they were meant to do: focus on the students; generate knowledge; disseminate knowledge; and apply knowledge – essentially going back to the basics, where everyone would be doing their core functions for which they should be judged and held accountable.

According to Bawa, what is most important is that all partners must understand their responsibilities. Bawa defined the application of knowledge as giving solutions to problems that are dogging society.

“For instance, universities are supposed to work with local governments to provide solutions to problems like E coli. Universities should not be delivery agents of the government at all spheres. Universities were meant to be centres of knowledge.”

“We need to have long-term committees that will ensure there is capacity for all to provide what they need to do. We should not wait upon each other to make a move,” Bawa said.

For instance, MUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Nokuthula Sibiya, could create an opportunity to meet the Durban city leadership, and discuss what could be common areas of interest between the two parties. According to Bawa, such a committee should be composed of knowledgeable people from higher education, the government, business, and the community. In the centre there should be the student, whose interests should be focused on.

Bawa suggested that all partners must do their jobs and that it is mainly business that is supposed to create jobs for the graduates, while universities must teach the students necessary knowledge that will make them graduates.

He further said that the government can create a limited number of jobs, but it must create the necessary conditions for others to do their jobs. All these partners must meet the expectations of the students and the community, he said.

He mapped out how a relationship between business and the university should be. Both parties must ask the right questions. The university should ask, what should we do? What are your needs? And how do you expect us to respond? It will be easier if business has the right people in the right positions. At present, what makes it difficult is that business, in some cases, does not have the right people in the right positions. Those in positions of authority ask the wrong questions because of their limited knowledge, Bawa said.

Bawa also gave an update of the situation in South African universities. He said that the number of students in the country has increased. In terms of the 2022 statistics, there are now 1.3 million students registered with South African universities. Most of these are black African students. This is part of the racial changes that have happened in South African universities in the last 30 years.

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