The Need for a New Language? How Historically Disadvantaged Institutions^*

* The label ‘Historically Disadvantaged Institution’ or ‘Historically Black University’ (HBU) carries with it a host of connotations and a number of conceptual challenges. Cooper and Subotzky (2001, 3) indicate that ‘because of marked variations in history and current profiles, Historically Black Universities and Technikons have been sub-divided into historically African Historically Black Universities and Technikons and historically non-African (Coloured and Indian) Historically Black Universities and Technikons’. The distinction made between HBU/HWU and the HDI/HDA mask other differences. Although there are commonalities, not all HDIs are alike. One key area of difference is around funding – some were governed and funded through apartheid ‘homeland’ structures and others were not. Another key area of difference relates to geographical location – some were located in or close to large urban centres which means that they have advantages over rural universities, and more recently the effect of mergers and new categories of institutions that were created makes labelling much more complicated. Additionally, the creation of new universities adds a new complexity as these institutions have no apartheid history. Will these conceptual issues needs to be unpacked, this article does not aim to tackle these distinctions, rather it will refer to UWC as an HDI.

Grapple with the Effects of Labelling in Higher Education: The Case of the University of the Western Cape

ABSTRACT

Tertiary institutions in South Africa have been dichotomised through the colonial structure and apartheid which sought to subjugate some institutions and elevate others. Not only have historically disadvantaged institutions (HDIs) faced a set of deep material difficulties, they have also had to grapple with the negative implications of naming. Using the work of Stryker and Burke as well as Bourdieu, this article interrogates the complexities of the HDI label for the University of the Western Cape. This is a complex issue because the same label can simultaneously provide access to state resources and inhibit opportunities from potential sponsors and employers. Unlike individuals who can hold multiple identities, institutions are expected to embrace a particular identity. Our conclusion is that we need to open the conversation about institutional labelling and develop a new language to describe former HDIs which should ideally acknowledge their difficult history without perpetuating stigma.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the initial reviewers of the article for their valuable insights into the first draft. It should be noted that the perspective of this article is shaped by the personal experiences of the authors. Prof. Africa has worked at UWC since 2010 and Dr Mutizwa-Mangiza has worked at University of Fort Hare and is now based at UWC. Acknowledging that there are multiple experiences of UWC, the modest intention of this article is to open a conversation about the impact and experience of institutional labelling.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

* The label ‘Historically Disadvantaged Institution’ or ‘Historically Black University’ (HBU) carries with it a host of connotations and a number of conceptual challenges. Cooper and Subotzky (2001, 3) indicate that ‘because of marked variations in history and current profiles, Historically Black Universities and Technikons have been sub-divided into historically African Historically Black Universities and Technikons and historically non-African (Coloured and Indian) Historically Black Universities and Technikons’. The distinction made between HBU/HWU and the HDI/HDA mask other differences. Although there are commonalities, not all HDIs are alike. One key area of difference is around funding – some were governed and funded through apartheid ‘homeland’ structures and others were not. Another key area of difference relates to geographical location – some were located in or close to large urban centres which means that they have advantages over rural universities, and more recently the effect of mergers and new categories of institutions that were created makes labelling much more complicated. Additionally, the creation of new universities adds a new complexity as these institutions have no apartheid history. Will these conceptual issues needs to be unpacked, this article does not aim to tackle these distinctions, rather it will refer to UWC as an HDI.

Additional information

Funding

This work was made possible through the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation [grant number 41500689].