If Unisa is placed under administration, its council and management will likely be let go, which will have far-reaching implications.
If Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, takes the suggestions of his newly-commissioned independent report on Unisa under advisement, this could reset the university entirely.
Such a big change could be disruptive and raise questions about academic freedom.
The potential implications of Unisa being placed under administration
There is a real possibility that Unisa will be placed under administration in the near future, now that reports have surfaced that the independent report commissioned by Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, into the affairs at the University of South Africa (Unisa) has uncovered issues ranging from the misuse of funds to poor service delivery within the university.
Being placed under administration may be the best way to get Unisa back on the right course and help the university implement stricter guidelines and policies moving forward.
However, such a process will not be without its disruptions to the daily operations and academic activities of the university.
Public Universities in South Africa have always had to toe the line between public service and academic integrity very carefully.
And if Unisa does end up being placed under administration, this is sure to shine a light on how difficult it is for these institutions to maintain academic freedom.
The potential disruptions that this decision will cause
Professor Themba Mosia, who was charged with compiling the report on Unisa, found that lines of authority between the university’s council and management have been blurred entirely.
He also found that both of these groups will have to be relieved of their duties if anything changes.
Although this sounds good in practice, it could disrupt studies or lead to other kinds of delays in administrative work.
The issues that need to be addressed
The independent report on Unisa has found evidence of financial irregularities and misuses, as well as maladministration, academic malpractices and a general culture of fear and intimidation.
The hope is that if Unisa is placed under administration, this will open the door for Unisa to rebuild and move forward with better leadership and more sound decision-making in the future.
Being placed under administration could set a bad precedent
The main issue with placing a public university under administration in this day and age is that it could affect the institution’s academic freedom and autonomy.
It is true that public universities often have different standards since they do make use of public funds.
However, many academics feel that having the government involved in the administration of a university could have a negative impact on the academic integrity of the institution and its research.
