Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2014): Journal of Higher Education in Africa: Special Issue on Academic Freedom in Africa

2 - Universities and Regional Development: Lessons from the OECD Regional Assessment of the Free State, South Africa

https://doi.org/10.57054/jhea.v12i2.1529
Samuel Fongwa
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0648-2536
Lochner Marais
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0299-3435
Doreen Atkinson
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2129-2738

Corresponding Author(s) : Doreen Atkinson

Karoo@intekom.co.za

Journal of Higher Education in Africa, Vol. 12 No. 2 (2014): Journal of Higher Education in Africa: Special Issue on Academic Freedom in Africa

Abstract

For the past few decades, the debate surrounding the ‘third mission’ of universities in South Africa has been dominated by the notion of univer- sity-community engagement. At the same time, the notion of regional development has come under the spotlight internationally. Drawing on existing literature on the relationship between universities, knowledge, the economy and community engagement, this paper scrutinises the OECD review of university-regional engagement in the Free State province in order to identify key lessons. Our contention is that, because the notion of regional engagement has become a central part of university manage- ment, assessment and even rankings, it should be viewed as an integral part of a university’s core activities of teaching and research, rather than as a separate third mission. Furthermore, findings reveal that a university’s engagement with its region also depends on regional assets and structures to support such processes.

Keywords

Higher education universities regional engagement knowledge economy OECD review Free State South Africa
Samuel Fongwa, Lochner Marais, & Doreen Atkinson. (2014). 2 - Universities and Regional Development: Lessons from the OECD Regional Assessment of the Free State, South Africa. Journal of Higher Education in Africa, 12(2), pp. 29–52. https://doi.org/10.57054/jhea.v12i2.1529
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Author Biographies

Samuel Fongwa

Post-doctoral fellow, Centre for Higher Education and Capabilities Research, University of the Free State.

 

Lochner Marais

Professor in Development Studies, Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State. 

 

Doreen Atkinson

Professor in Development Studies, Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State.

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