CONF: "What is a university for?" in South Africa

St Augustine College of South Africa, the country's Roman Catholic university, from which I graduated in 2007 with the degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Theology (with distinction), this year celebrates its tenth anniversary.

www.staugustine.ac.za

Of course, the College is much smaller than the university I received my first masters degree from (which, as I did not complete an undergraduate degree, was also my first academic qualification) and that I regard as my alma mater – the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg. Wits is a British foundation of the early twentieth century that aims to be among the world's top-100 universities by 2020 and already ranks higher than most "western" universities.

www.wits.ac.za

Still, since I started my research masters at St Augustine in 2004 (completing it concurrently with my doctoral studies in England), the university, a private higher education institution under South African law, has grown significantly too.

Unlike most universities (and despite the "college" handle), St Augustine started out by offering postgraduate degrees and certificates only, besides a range of short courses, in ethics, politics, philosophy, and theology. Only in recent years has it been accredited by the National Department of Education to also offer undergraduate degrees in commerce, humanities, and theology. With the number of academic staff expanding, research capacities have also grown exponentially.

From 14-16 July 2009 the College will now be hosting a conference to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its establishment. Under the theme "Intellectual and moral leadership: what is a university for?", they have assembled an impressive array of speakers highly regarded in their respective fields. The conference thus promises to be both interesting and informative.

The lack or non-accessibility of higher education in Africa has long been identified as a serious impediment to the social and economic development of the continent. Despite this, there are few initiatives to improve the situation. National and international funding bodies alike are focussed on primary or secondary rather than tertiary education. While the situation may be better in South Africa than in other countries, much remains to be done even there. Only about two percent of young people attend university (compared to the fifty percent aimed at in the UK and around seventy percent already in Finland).

Topics to be covered by panels and talks at this conference include "Knowledge/Research: Opportunities for SA universities in the context of globalization and society in transition"; "Higher education and social challenges"; "Social engagement, consciousness and responsibility: the limits and possibilities for the university"; "South African universities and research in the 21st century"; "The idea of a university in a networked world"; "Knowledge production: private sector and higher education – roles and responsibilities"; "Private higher education and human capital for international competitiveness"; "The human capital factory: the economic rationalization of higher education"; "What is a university for? Catholic and secular models"; "Theology and the academy: mutual enrichment?"; "Academic freedom and different visions of university"; "Living well in and through the crises: the critical role of values".

Among the speakers are the Archbishops of the archdioceses of Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, Buti Tlhagale (the Grand-Chancellor of St Augustine College) and Jabulani Nxumalo; Professor Oliver Williams of the University of Notre Dame, USA; Dr Cheryl de la Ray, CEO of South Africa's Council on Higher Education (CHE); Mr Bobby Godsell, Chairman of the Board of national energy provider Eskom; numerous vice-chancellors, deputy vice-chancellors, rectors, and professors of other South African, Australian, and Nigerian universities, as well as representatives of the National Research Foundation and private enterprise.

St Augustine received a generous donation towards the cost of the conference and is therefore able to make no admission charge. The cafeteria will be providing lunches and suppers on an à la carte basis.

Those interested in attending this three-day conference may contact Denise Gordon Brown: admin@staugustine.ac.za