Benchmarking equity and diversity in higher education institutions: A South African assessment

Abstract

To understand how much or how little progress is made in democratising higher
education, an examination of transformation in the sector needs to be undertaken.
Such an examination will reveal best practice, the sharing of which can move the
process of transformation forward by inspiring those further beyond in the process.
This article serves to fulfil that purpose. It comprises an assessment of equity and
diversity in selected higher education institutions in the country that may be
regarded as `best practice'. The study focussed on the university as an equity
employer and thus staff equity is examined. The article reports the South African
component of a five-country study undertaken in late 2004.

South African Journal of Higher Education Vol. 20(4) 2006: pp.419-432