Abstract
There has been intense scrutiny about the design and delivery of curriculum in South Africa higher education institutions. Various policies and laws have been established to ensure that South African higher education contributes to the nation’s transformation agenda. This study contributes to this debate by examining how South African higher education policies contribute to the transformation of curriculum to meet contemporary socioeconomic needs. The study employs a morphogenetic approach to explore how existing frameworks have shaped the curriculum design and implementation processes in South African universities. The paper begins by discussing the internationalization of higher education curricula and highlights the need for graduates to develop global competencies. It further examines the role of the South African internationalization policy in preparing students for the global economy. The research also addresses how policy gaps, such as the inadequate focus on decolonization and the lack of alignment with the 4IR, impact the effectiveness of curriculum transformation efforts. The findings reveal that despite numerous policy frameworks and strategic documents, there remains a disconnect between the goals of higher education policies and the practical realities of curriculum design and delivery. This disconnect contributes to the numerous challenges in the higher education sector, manifested through student protests and dissatisfaction with the relevance of academic programs. The paper concludes that a more nuanced approach to curriculum reform is necessary, one that bridges policy intentions with practical outcomes through continuous dialogue among universities, the government, and industry stakeholders.
Presenters
Haruna MaamaSenior Lecturer, Financial Accounting, Durban University of Technology, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Past and Present in the Humanistic Education
KEYWORDS
Higher Education, Educational Policy, Decolonization, Internationalization, Globalisation
