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World class: The new African university system that the author advocates for must offer academic programmes of quality, benchmarked against the
best tertiary insitutions in the world.

African university system must be of Africa

It must dare to invent the future

The deputy director of the department of higher education has said  that data produced by her department cannot be used by academics.

In defence of academic freedom and scientific method

The deputy director of the department of higher education has said that data produced by her department cannot be used by academics

The red beret and EFF leader Julius Malema reflect the image of the party. Photo: File

EFF accuses UK of ‘orchestrated’ visa delay to block Malema’s visit

The Economic Freedom Fighters leader was to have addressed a conference at Cambridge University on 10 May

Graphic by John McCann/M&G

Hate Speech Bill is on a collision course with academic freedom

The right to equality and non-discrimination should not be confused with the right to freedom from criticism and inconvenient opinions

‘Fighting Goliaths’: Colin Chasi is challenging his dismissal from the University of Johannesburg in court.

Case over University of Johannesburg and academic freedom goes to court

The University of Johannesburg is involved in a labour court case that concerns the right of academics to protect their students and disciplines

Firstly, the right to free speech in general and academic freedom more specifically does not entail immunity from a charge of racism or sexism or bigotry or prejudice.

Eusebius McKaiser: Let’s slay some academic freedom myths

Bigoted academics and shoddy or racist work are not above criticism — nor should they be

Racist theory: Are white doctoral graduates the only ones with quality degrees?

The PhD quality debate has racist tones

More students are enrolling in doctoral studies, but gatekeepers are questioning their worthiness

Sithembile Mbete wants to re-socialise young men, and as a lecturer, she has some power to do so. (Graphic: John McCann)

Sithembile Mbete

Academic, University of Pretoria

Research suggests that gamification

How games can hook pupils with short attention spans

With modern day attention spans less than eight seconds, educators are turning to games as new way of engaging with learners.

Morocco damages itself by stifling criticism

The country often turns to the courts when it doesn’t like what critics say, and this has a chilling effect on varsity research and the public media.

If everyone wins, no one is a winner

Business consultants, politicians and the media damage universities with their insular arrogance.

Delegates at Davos are preoccupied with business and making profits – but such concerns cannot be given priority over the core functions of a university.

What is the price of education?

The humanities and arts are sacrificed in the business of ensuring solvent universities.

Graphic: John McCann

Sorry tale of a post-merger university mess

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s latter-day fortunes tell an indicting and page-turning story.

Enlightened leadership needed to secure academic freedom

A new book analyses threats our universities face and proposes ways of resisting them.

Cause célébre: Barring Ashwin Desai from the campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal was an ‘affront to academic freedom’.

‘Abuse of power’ shackles academia

The Desai case showed how ‘corporate authoritarianism undermined collegiality’.

Graphic: John McCann

UKZN’s crucible of poor decisions

Ten years after the university’s merger, two researchers argue that internal and external politics have caused massive damage.

Universities and state control: Cloudy days for academic freedom

The Constitution’s framing lets the state take strong hold of universities.

Graphic: John McCann

Nzimande: we will not uphold the status quo

It is mainly liberal and elite groups that oppose state intervention in universities.

Kneejerk liberal opposition tries to limit the powers of the state

Could it be that some university leaders are trying to place universities above society and government?

Real barrier is academic inertia

The CHE’s damning report provides ample evidence of the need for urgently reforming the undergraduate curriculum — but are its proposals workable?