- Title
- An understanding of administrators’ roles in enhancing the quality of a South African university: a contribution towards transformation
- Creator
- Kgati, Tsholofelo Innocent
- Subject
- Universities and colleges -- Administration -- South Africa
- Subject
- Education -- South Africa
- Subject
- Transformation -- South Africa
- Date Issued
- 2025-04
- Date
- 2025-04
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/71706
- Identifier
- vital:79124
- Description
- Society is shaped by an array of components, and one of the pivotal components is higher education. The nature of universities and their roles in society compel universities always to strive to respond adequately to their nation-building responsibilities. Notably, administrators play an important role in universities as they make significant contributions to ensure that universities attain their nation-building responsibilities. However, most of the focus in literature is directed toward students and academics in terms of access, throughput, quality, and transformation. There has not been enough attention given to our understanding of the role of administrators, their understanding of quality, and how they contribute to the transformation of universities. This study embarked on understanding administrators’ roles in enhancing the quality of universities within the broader transformation discourse of South Africa’s higher education. The main research question that underpinned the study was ‘How has the role of administrators contributed to the transformation of a South African university?’ This question was further divided into three as follows: 1) How has administrators' understanding of their roles been conceptualised at a South African university? 2) What notions of quality have constructed administrators' understanding of their role at a South African university? 3) What could inform the role of administrators in contributing towards transformation at a South African university? Qualitative research was deemed appropriate for the study, as it provides detailed and in-depth responses from participants, rather than quantitative research. A single case study research methodology was used with a focus on Nelson Mandela University. The study used purposive sampling to select relevant participants, who were administrators at Nelson Mandela University. Data was generated, using semi-structured one-on-one interviews, and policy documents. Thematic analysis was used, and four themes emerged from the data: 1) Policy description of the job and alignment of responsibilities, 2) Administrators’ responses to expected responsibilities, 3) Challenges experienced while executing duties, and 4) Perceived understanding of quality. The study concluded by suggesting several recommendations in areas of policies, quality, and avenues for a better understanding of the role of administrators at universities.
- Description
- Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, School of Education Research and Engagement, 2025
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (150 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Education
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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- Visitors: 5
- Downloads: 2
Collections
NMU School for Education Research and Engagement
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | KGATI T .pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |