Dealing with the dilemma facing higher education in South Africa against the backdrop of economic globalisation - a technikon perspective

Abstract

South Africa's institutions of higher education have been accorded the responsibility of serving as catalyst in the process of knowledge production that is central to a country's success in the evolution towards globalisation. The need for increased numbers of skilled professionals in technology and business is one that ideally can be addressed within the technikon structure which allows for experiential learning to supplement the process of knowledge acquisition. Many institutions in South Africa, however, are currently forced to grapple with the problems of many years of inequality within education, equity laws and spiraling costs. If they are to respond effectively to these challenges, innovative student-focussed teaching that will produce graduates who can enrich and develop society is imperative.



South African Journal of Higher Education Vol.16(1) 2002: 183-188