The role of universities in training for development

Abstract

The first part of this article starts by discussing the central issue of what a university ought to be in the Southern African context. Included in the analysis is the conventional model for a university as well as the urge for relevance of the university and the issue of relevance in an intensely changing region.

In the second part of the article the focus moves to the changing debate on the concept of development Development has increasingly been defined as striving towards creating opportunities for people to move towards increased humanity.

In order to bring about development as defined in this way, the participation of the people, the recognition of social Justice, education in the broadest sense of the word, community development that can lead to social reconstruction, as well as the provision of a sphere for meaningful existence will have to be included in university training for development This article addresses aspects of such a humantsatlon of university training for development.

Notes

Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology & Industrial Sociology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown.