Debates about access and success are currently vigorous in higher education. There is much greater equity in terms of access but success in higher education continues to be racially patterned and far too few students graduate. This article argues for a more selective approach to access that is driven more deliberately by the need for increased…

The aim of this article is to explore the relationship between the desired outcomes of the National Plan for Higher Education and the funding formula. It further wants to explore the current situation regarding specific challenges in higher education, namely increased participation, broadened social base of students and equity, as well as a…

I have been teaching a group of students who are mature and experienced professionals in the field of Education, but do not have a prior degree. The class is diverse in terms of language and writing abilities, cultural and educational backgrounds, home and work situations and expectations of and reasons for their studies. Together with the various…

This article looks at knowledge production in higher education (HE) from the point of view of how a given HE institution defines itself within the broader context of "the idea of a university". In this regard, the article makes a critical analysis and interpretation of the literature on the central question of "the idea of a university", and the…

The need for and relevance of student counselling has been well argued for in past research, and has been duly recognised at governmental level in South Africa. However, this recognition necessarily calls for accountability from student counselling centres. In this regard, it becomes increasingly important to evaluate student counselling services…

On average the B.Sc. (Eng.) degree programmes in South Africa universities graduate about 50-60 per cent of the students admitted. Generally, the highest dropout occurs in the first year of registration. This article reviews admission and graduation statistics at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and assesses the impact of recent academic…

The question "When am I educated?" had a fairly simple answer in the modern era. The "minimum" requirement was a degree from one of the "recognised" universities of the world, and the degree initiated the individual into the different "official" canons of knowledge. The majority of those canons were Western in origin and represented Education…

This article presents the findings of a survey conducted in August 2004 of students' attitudes, perceptions and knowledge about sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS and sexual practices at an Institution of Higher Education. The study was set against the backdrop of the 2004 South African national survey, conducted by the Reproductive Health…

Since there has not been much research focus on job satisfaction in Higher Education in South Africa, this article describes the job satisfaction of these academics in times of transformation. A survey design involved 94 respondents from similar departments at a residential and a distance education institution. A questionnaire focused on teaching,…

An introductory course in on tertiary level inadvertently sets the scene for the demands of the corresponding profession. Unfortunately, it seems as though these courses do not prepare learners adequately to acquire the demanding professional competences required for professional success. This problem has been a subject of contention especially in…

This manuscript examines the number of Hispanic individuals who serve as presidents or chancellor and the type of institutions they serve. In 2001, only 13 states had institutions in which the president or chancellor was Latina/o. By 2006, that number had increased to 22. Both in 2001 and 2006, 61% of all Latina/o CEOs served in associate's degree…

Because of the unique health risks faced by the Hispanic population and the notoriously poor health habits of college students, this study examines the health challenges faced by Latino college students enrolled at an urban commuter institution. A thematic analysis reveals the top themes for males and females as healthy eating, weight management,…

This article describes a qualitative study, and it focuses on the analysis of the dynamics surrounding tutorial action in higher education. The authors have tried to determine the specific needs of the students by identifying and examining the functions associated with tutorial action. Several action guidelines aimed at improving tutorial function…

This article provides, first, a brief review of literature concerning the education of Hispanic American (Latino/a) students at the secondary and postsecondary levels and, second, the results of questionnaire research conducted with Latino/a and Anglo-American (White) students at a large university in the Southwest regarding classroom…

This review presents recent studies on Mexican American fathers in the United Sates to provide researchers with an understanding of contemporary fatherhood of Mexican American individuals. It describes the myths that create methodological and conceptual problems in conducting research studies to characterize Mexican American fathers. It also…