The role of the University of South Africa in the development of human resources in the rural communities of Mpumalanga Province

Date
2009-12
Authors
Maminza, Paul Mndawe
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Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The rural nature of most parts of Mpumalanga Province poses a number of human resources development challenges to the people in the rural communities of the province. The high rate of black African people aged 20 years or older who had no schooling (32% in 1996 and 30.1% in 2001) in the province is one such a challenge. The overall unemployment rate in Mpumalanga increased from 18.6% in 1996 to 23.1% in 2001 and 26.3% in 2007 (Statistics SA, 1996; 2001 & 2007), while for black Africans in particular it increased from 20.3% in 1996 to 24.6% in 2001. Since Mpumalanga is a rural province that is populated mainly by black Africans, the conclusion may be drawn that most of the people who are affected by unemployment live in the rural communities of the province. Research was carried out to investigate the role of the University of South Africa in the development of human resources in the rural communities of Mpumalanga. The institutes/bureaus of the University of South Africa were identified as the target population for the research. A questionnaire was administered to the managers of 21 sampled institutes/bureaus of the University of South Africa. The colleges at the University of South Africa offer the non-formal, non-subsidised and need-driven training programmes through the institutes/bureaus which are regarded as the delivery arm of those programmes. The research found that the institutes/bureaus of the University of South Africa had no significant contribution to make towards the development of human resources in the targeted communities and that most of the programmes presented were not targeting the critical developmental needs of the people in rural communities. The role and involvement of the University of South Africa and other higher education institutions in rural communities should be directed by the genuine developmental needs of people in these communities. The training providers targeting rural areas should be informed by both theoretical and practical considerations towards the provision of training intervention programmes. The identification of training and developmental needs is crucial to a successful intervention for the development of human resources in rural communities. iii The research concluded, among others, that the University of South Africa is lacking in observing the stakeholder role and the strategic partner role of a university in the development of human resources in rural communities. It is however focusing, to a certain extent, on the service provider role. Furthermore, the University of South Africa is not carrying out the service learning practice through which the university students could participate and contribute to the development of human resources in rural communities. Universities have the knowledge base, expertise, networks and, in most cases, the required resources to make a contribution to the development of human resources in rural communities. The universities should therefore commit themselves to this aspect in order to assist in the development of rural communities. The practice of social responsibility implies that universities should become involved in community development activities in the needy rural communities without a profit intent, but with a community development rationale. Many poor people from rural communities would benefit from the practice of social responsibility by universities.
AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Vanweë die landelike aard van die grootste deel van Mpumalanga ervaar die plattelandse bevolking in hierdie provinsie talle uitdagings met betrekking tot die ontwikkeling van menslike hulpbronne. Een so ʼn uitdaging in die provinsie is die groot persentasie swart mense bo die ouderdom van 20 jaar wat geen skoolopleiding ontvang het nie (32% in 1996 en 30.1% in 2001). Die totale werkloosheidsyfer in Mpumalanga het van 18.6% in 1996 tot 23.1% in 2001 en 26.3% in 2007 gestyg (Statistics SA, 1996; 2001 & 2007), en vir swart mense in hierdie provinsie in die besonder het dit van 20.3% in 1996 tot 24.6% in 2001 toegeneem. Aangesien Mpumalanga ʼn landelike provinsie is wat hoofsaaklik deur swart mense bevolk word, kan die afleiding gemaak word dat die meeste van die mense wat deur werkloosheid geraak word in die landelike gebiede van die provinsie woon. Navorsing is gedoen om ondersoek in te stel na die rol van die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika in die ontwikkeling van menslike hulpbronne in die landelike gemeenskappe van Mpumalanga. Die institute/buro’s van die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika is as die teikenpopulasie van die navorsing geïdentifiseer. Die bestuurders van 21 institute/buro’s van die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika wat as steekproef gedien het, het ʼn vraelys voltooi. Die Kolleges aan die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika bied die nie-formele, nie-gesubsidieerde en behoeftegedrewe opleidingsprogramme aan deur die institute/buro’s wat as die vertakking beskou word wat diens moet lewer ten opsigte van hierdie programme. Die navorsing het bevind dat die institute/buro’s van die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika ten tyde van die ondersoek nie in staat was om enige beduidende bydrae te maak tot die ontwikkeling van menslike hulpbronne in die geteikende gemeenskappe nie en dat die meeste van die programme wat aangebied is nie op die kritieke ontwikkelingsbehoeftes van die mense in landelike gebiede gerig was nie. Daar word aanbeveel dat die rol en betrokkenheid van die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika en ander hoëronderwysinstellings in landelike gemeenskappe deur die werklike ontwikkelingsbehoeftes van die mense in hierdie gemeenskappe gerig word. v Voornemende verskaffers van opleiding in landelike gebiede behoort beide teoretiese en praktiese oorwegings in ag te neem wanneer hulle intervensieprogramme vir opleiding beplan en ontwerp. Die identifisering van opleidings- en ontwikkelingsbehoeftes is van kritieke belang in die daarstelling van ʼn suksesvolle intervensie vir die ontwikkeling van menslike hulpbronne in landelike gebiede. Op grond van die navorsing is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat UNISA nie sy belanghebberrol en sy rol as strategiese vennoot as universiteit in die ontwikkeling van menslike hulpbronne in landelike gemeenskappe nakom nie. Daar word wel in ʼn mate aan die eise van die diensverskafferrol voldoen. Voorts kom die toepassing van diensleer, waardeur studente deel kan word van en bydra tot die ontwikkeling van menslike hulpbronne in landelike gemeenskappe, nie tot sy reg nie. Universiteite beskik oor die kennisbasis, kundigheid, netwerke en, in die meeste gevalle, oor die nodige bronne om ’n bydrae te maak tot die ontwikkeling van menslike hulpbronne in landelike gemeenskappe. Universiteite behoort hulle dus te verbind tot hierdie aspek van hulle sosiale verantwoordelikheid ten einde ’n bydrae te maak tot die ontwikkeling van landelike gemeenskappe. Die toepassing van sosiale verantwoordelikheid impliseer dat universiteite, sonder winsmotief, betrokke behoort te raak by gemeenskapsontwikkelingsaktiwiteite in die arm, landelike gemeenskappe. Baie arm mense in landelike gemeenskappe sal deur die toepassing van sodanige sosiale verantwoordelikheid deur universiteite baat vind.
Description
Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))—University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
Keywords
Human resources, Theses -- Education, Dissertations -- Education
Citation