Utilising the Equity Index to monitor, guide and drive

transformation for South African universities

KS Govinder, NP Zondo and MW Makgoba

Introductory comments

• Constitution – non-racial, non-sexist society; equity in education

• 1997 Education White Paper 3 indicates a single co-ordinated national HE system with 6 equity related goals

• Employment Equity legislation – universities report in terms of equity/demographics

Long walk to transformation

• Student demographics– Enrolment: 12 years– Graduation: 14 years

• Staff demographics– Overall: 43 years– Instructional/research staff: 40 years

Introductory comments• Our Equity Index uses the idea of distance

between two points – the institution’s demographics and the national demographics (the benchmark)

• Historically transformation in the system has been monitored nationally – the EI disaggregates this to an institutional basis and allows comparison

• The same DHET/HEMIS data is used in the analysis as for historical analyses – it is now simply more transparent.

Distance

Distance Formula

Distance between two points(x1,x2,…,xn) and (y1,y2,…,yn) is given by

Equity Index

Distance between organisational demographics and national demographics

EI is the distance left to travel to arrive at the constitutional imperative of a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society

Distance

National demographic percentages

Demographic Category OverallAge group 17-40 (Attained Grade

12/Std 10/Form 5

Age group 18-65

Age group 24-65

African 79.2 79.1 77.5 76.1

Coloured 8.9 8.1 9.2 9.4

Indian 2.5 3.5 2.8 3

White 8.9 8.7 9.8 10.9

Female 51.2 52 51.2 51.7

Male 48.3 47.4 48.1 47.7Distance from Overall %ages 0 1.8 2 3.9

Maximum EI 145.7 145.5 144.7 144.3

5% Tolerance EI/Quintile 0 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.2

Quintile 1 5.3-29.1 5.3-29.1 5.3-28.9 5.2-28.9

Quintile 2 29.2-58.3 29.2-58.2 29-57.9 29-57.5

Quintile 3 58.4-87.4 58.3-87.3 58-86.8 57.8-86.6

Quintile 4 87.5-116.6 87.4-116.4 86.9-115.8 86.7-115.4

Quintile 5 116.6-145.7 116.5-145.5 115.9-144.7 115.5-144.3

Some Equity Indices

Unit Equity Index

National Assembly 17.8

National Council of Provinces 31.7

Executive/Cabinet 16.5

Vice-chancellors/HESA 55

National Student EIs (2011)

InstitutionEnrolment Racial EI

Enrolment Gender EI

Overall Enrolment EI

Graduation Racial EI

Graduation Gender EI

Overall Graduation EI

Racial Equity Efficiency Index

Gender Equity Efficiency Index

Equity Efficiency Index

Central University of Technology, Free State 7.9 6.4 10.2 7.5 1.9 7.7 0.4 4.5 2.5University of Johannesburg 9.1 5.4 10.6 17.8 11.2 21 -8.7 -5.8 -10.4Tshwane University of Technology 13.9 0.6 13.9 10.9 5.1 12 3 -4.5 1.9Durban University of Technology 15.7 3.3 16 18.6 2.3 18.7 -2.9 1 -2.7Vaal University of Technology 17.9 6.7 19.1 17.5 3.3 17.8 0.4 3.4 1.3University of Fort Hare 16.7 10.8 19.9 15.8 14.7 21.6 0.9 -3.9 -1.7University of South Africa 15.9 14.4 21.5 24.7 23.1 33.8 -8.8 -8.7 -12.3University of Limpopo 21.9 3.1 22.1 22.4 5.1 23 -0.5 -2 -0.9Mangosuthu University of Technology 24 1.3 24 24 2.4 24.1 0 -1.1 -0.1University of Venda 24.3 2.7 24.4 24.3 6.9 25.3 0 -4.2 -0.9Walter Sisulu University 23.5 6.8 24.5 23.3 10.5 25.6 0.2 -3.7 -1.1Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 27.3 3.3 27.5 35.1 6.9 35.8 -7.8 -3.6 -8.3University of Zululand 23.3 18.4 29.7 22.6 20.9 30.8 0.7 -2.5 -1.1University of the Free State 28.3 10.5 30.2 53.6 8.8 54.3 -25.3 1.7 -24.1University of KwaZulu-Natal 31.9 11 33.7 35.1 15 38.2 -3.2 -4 -4.5North West University 26.9 20.4 33.8 27.3 25.3 37.2 -0.4 -4.9 -3.4University of Witwatersrand 34.3 4.5 34.6 41.8 7.4 42.4 -7.5 -2.9 -7.8

Cape Peninsula University of Technology 40.3 3.8 40.5 46 9.5 47 -5.7 -5.7 -6.5University of Pretoria 45.1 10.6 46.3 49.4 13.3 51.2 -4.3 -2.7 -4.9Rhodes University 53.8 11.3 55 57.1 16.3 59.4 -3.3 -5 -4.4University of Western Cape 60.5 13.2 61.9 61.3 13.2 62.7 -0.8 0 -0.8University of Cape Town 63.4 0.6 63.4 73.9 3 74 -10.5 -2.4 -10.6University of Stellenbosch 93.1 0.6 93.1 93.2 6.2 93.4 -0.1 -5.6 -0.3

National Student EIs (2011)

Staff EIs (2011)

Institution Name Overall

Executive/admin/mgmt. professional

Instructional/research professional

Non-professional administration Service

Specialised/support professional Technical Crafts/trades

Cape Peninsula University of Technology 64 67.3 70.2 66.3 91.7 62.1 74.5 135.4

Central University of Technology 42.3 51.4 64.6 58.3 14.6 38.9 58.8 73.5

Durban University of Technology 56.4 84.3 66.8 50.1 41.1 61.1 73.4 109.4

Mangosuthu University of Technology 18 30.7 35.6 26.8 26.8 17 26.4 74.3

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 69.4 78.8 91.3 73.3 27.9 72.3 59.4 84.7

North West University 71.1 95.8 83.6 88.8 19.1 91.4 71.7 85.1

Rhodes University 43 90.4 97.2 67.4 17.9 74.8 72 64.6

Tshwane University of Technology 29.3 38.3 51.3 21 27.5 45.3 39.1 77.1

University of Cape Town 76.4 88.2 89.7 83.9 77.6 79.9 86 117.3

University of Fort Hare 11.5 38.2 29.6 23.2 70.5 14 25.9 77.5

University of Johannesburg 46 76.6 75.3 55.5 43.7 62.2 52.8 67.3

University of KwaZulu-Natal 48.5 54.6 69.6 53.9 47.7 60.4 29.9 121.9

University of Limpopo 12.2 21.3 20.4 22.4 28.3 21.8 37.9 63.8

University of Pretoria 67.6 93.4 92.8 67.4 30.8 60.7 74.9 78.7

University of South Africa 36.9 51.3 56.6 29.6 33.8 46.8 62.9 59.3

University of Stellenbosch 91.5 95.9 101.9 96.3 103.7 98 91 115

University of the Free State 70.2 95.4 90.5 80.6 13.9 106.4 91.8 97.1

University of Venda 23 21 32.3 29.1 27.9 27.6 44.6 36.9

University of Western Cape 80 79.7 71 91.9 98.3 75.2 100.8 140.2

University of Witwatersrand 44.8 48.8 79.7 47.4 40 48.9 45.6 32.7

University of Zululand 15.7 45.2 26.5 17.6 29.8 30.5 39.8 77.5

Vaal University of Technology 21.3 50.4 42.9 47.4 24.4 37.2 23.5 70

Walter Sisulu University 13.5 25.1 16.5 30 26.4 29.7 55.8 35.9

Staff EIs (2011)

Institution NameOverall Staff Racial EI

Overall Staff Gender EI Overall

Instructional/research professional Racial EI

Instructional/research professional Gender EI

Instructional/research professional

Cape Peninsula University of Technology 63.9 2.5 64 68.7 14.4 70.2Central University of Technology 42.2 2.1 42.3 61.9 18.4 64.6Durban University of Technology 56.3 4.1 56.4 66.4 7.5 66.8Mangosuthu University of Technology 13.5 11.8 18 17.6 31 35.6Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 69.3 4.8 69.4 90.9 8.1 91.3North West University 70.8 6.7 71.1 83.2 8.5 83.6Rhodes University 43 0.8 43 95.4 18.7 97.2Tshwane University of Technology 28.9 4.9 29.3 48.6 16.4 51.3University of Cape Town 75.7 9.8 76.4 88.7 13.9 89.7University of Fort Hare 10.2 5.3 11.5 19.5 22.2 29.6University of Johannesburg 45.9 2.4 46 75 6.7 75.3University of KwaZulu-Natal 47.8 8 48.5 69.6 1.6 69.6University of Limpopo 11 5.3 12.2 12.5 16.1 20.4University of Pretoria 67.4 5.6 67.6 92.7 4.1 92.8University of South Africa 36.7 4.6 36.9 56.5 3.3 56.6University of Stellenbosch 91.5 2.5 91.5 100.6 16.1 101.9University of the Free State 69.8 7.7 70.2 90.3 6 90.5University of Venda 21.2 9 23 17.7 27 32.3University of Western Cape 80 0.9 80 70.7 6 71University of Witwatersrand 44.5 4.9 44.8 79.5 5.8 79.7University of Zululand 10.4 11.7 15.7 16.7 20.7 26.5Vaal University of Technology 21.1 3.2 21.3 40.6 13.9 42.9Walter Sisulu University 13.4 1.3 13.5 9.7 13.3 16.5

Staff EIs (2011)

Equity-weighted Productivity (2011)

Institution Name2011 Weighted Research Output Rank

Equity Weighted Research Output Rank

Instructional/Research Staff equity weighted research output Rank

Per capita output

University of Pretoria 2603.1 1 38.5 3 28.1 2 2.03University of Cape Town 2364.5 2 30.9 6 26.4 3 2.24University of Stellenbosch 2236.0 3 24.4 9 21.9 6 2.38University of KwaZulu-Natal 2192.8 4 45.2 2 31.5 1 1.49University of Witwatersrand 2077.9 5 46.4 1 26.1 4 1.99North West University 1444.09 6 20.3 10 17.3 7 1.21University of South Africa 1266.95 7 34.3 5 22.4 5 0.84University of Johannesburg 1240.35 8 27.0 7 16.5 8 1.42University of the Free State 1176.67 9 16.8 11 13.0 11 1.39University of Western Cape 795.33 10 9.9 16 11.2 12 1.48Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 791.4 11 11.4 14 8.7 14 1.37Rhodes University 693.26 12 16.1 12 7.1 15 2.17Tshwane University of Technology 457.85 13 15.6 13 8.9 13 0.55University of Fort Hare 433.67 14 37.7 4 14.7 10 1.49University of Limpopo 303.37 15 24.9 8 14.9 9 0.38Cape Peninsula University of Technology 281.79 16 4.4 20 4.0 19 0.37University of Venda 198.35 17 8.6 17 6.1 17 0.61Durban University of Technology 178.88 18 3.2 21 2.7 20 0.3University of Zululand 172.25 19 11.0 15 6.5 16 0.64Vaal University of Technology 107.06 20 5.0 18 2.5 21 0.32Central University of Technology 90.81 21 2.1 22 1.4 22 0.34Walter Sisulu University 67.1 22 5.0 19 4.1 18 0.11Mangosuthu University of Technology 26.24 23 1.5 23 0.7 23 0.13

Equity vs Research Output

EI

Total weighted productivity

Equity vs Per Capita Output

EI

Per Capita research output

Council and Senate Profiles (2013)Institution Council EI Rank Senate EI RankUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal 14.1 (44.6) 1 46.4 (89.3) 5Mangosutho University of Technology 21.3 2 28.4 1University of Fort Hare 23.9 3 50.3 6University of Venda 29.2 4 42.2 3Tswane University of Technology 39.1 5 45.2 4Cape Peninsula University of Technology 42.3 6 82.7 12University of Limpopo 50.6 7 36 2University of South Africa 51 8 61.3 7Central University of Technology, Free State 55.1 9 69.7 8University of Johannesburg 56.2 10 83.7 13Durban University of Technology 63.8 11 82.4 11Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 63.8 11 88.2 14Rhodes University 64.4 13 98 17University of Witwatersrand 65.3 14 96 16University of Western Cape 70.4 15 79.2 10

University of Pretoria 74.8 16 93.8 15University of Cape Town 74.8 16 102.7 18University of the Free State 77.7 18 116.1 20North West University 81.2 19 70.5 9University of Stellenbosch 121.9 20 113.3 19

Council and Senate Profiles (2013)

Transformation drivers

Pace of transformation - studentsInstitution Name

Enrolment EI 2007

Enrolment EI 2011

Years to Transform

Graduate EI 2007

Graduate EI 2011

Years to Transform

Cape Peninsula University of Technology 43.6 42.6 170 48 49.5 -132Central University of Technology 11.5 7.8 8 15.2 9.5 7Durban University of Technology 19.1 16.6 27 22 20.8 69

Mangosuthu University of Technology 24.1 21.8 38 24.3 22.3 45

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 26.4 30.4 -30 42.3 38.9 46North West University 38.1 37.5 250 42.3 41.2 150Rhodes University 67.8 58.1 24 85.2 62.8 11Tshwane University of Technology 11.1 12.6 -34 13.5 13.1 131University of Cape Town 71.5 66.1 49 82.8 76.7 50University of Fort Hare 14.8 20 -15 23.7 22.5 75University of Johannesburg 24.3 14.2 6 35 24.9 10University of KwaZulu-Natal 43 36.8 24 55 41.6 12University of Limpopo 21.3 20.6 118 22.1 21.7 217University of Pretoria 53.2 49.6 55 61.8 54.5 30University of South Africa 28.6 25.7 35 45 38 22University of Stellenbosch 95.5 95.7 -1914 97.9 96.2 226University of the Free State 44.1 33.6 13 61.8 57.4 52University of Venda 24.4 22.7 53 23.8 24.1 -321University of Western Cape 65 63.8 213 70.8 64.8 43University of Witwatersrand 45.4 37.9 20 54.4 45.8 21University of Zululand 27.6 30.1 -48 29.9 31.5 -79Vaal University of Technology 16.8 16 80 14.3 16.5 -30Walter Sisulu University 25.5 23.3 42 30.2 25 19

Pace of transformation - staffInstitution Name 2007 Overall 2011 Overall

Years to Transform

2007 Instructional/res

earch professional

2011 Instructional/res

earch professional

Years to Transform

Cape Peninsula University of Technology 76.6 64 20 80.9 70.2 26Central University of Technology 46.4 42.3 41 75 64.6 25Durban University of Technology 59.9 56.4 64 71 66.8 64

Mangosuthu University of Technology 18.6 18 120 43.3 35.6 18

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 73 69.4 77 96.1 91.3 76North West University 62.4 71.1 -33 78.1 83.6 -61Rhodes University 45.4 43 72 99.5 97.2 169Tshwane University of Technology 38.9 29.3 12 66.2 51.3 14University of Cape Town 77.2 76.4 382 94.3 89.7 78University of Fort Hare 14.2 11.5 17 35.4 29.6 20University of Johannesburg 55.8 46 19 83.8 75.3 35University of KwaZulu-Natal 52.7 48.5 46 70.7 69.6 253University of Limpopo 14.3 12.2 23 27 20.4 12University of Pretoria 73 67.6 50 93.8 92.8 371University of South Africa 56.5 36.9 8 78 56.6 11University of Stellenbosch 92.9 91.5 261 103.9 101.9 204University of the Free State 68.4 70.2 -156 110.9 90.5 18University of Venda 25.3 23 40 34.9 32.3 50University of Western Cape 81.6 80 200 74.1 71 92University of Witwatersrand 49.2 44.8 41 83.6 79.7 82University of Zululand 18 15.7 27 29.4 26.5 37Vaal University of Technology 29.5 21.3 10 65.8 42.9 7Walter Sisulu University 11.2 13.5 -23 18.9 16.5 28

Changes from 2007 to 2011

• No significant difference in benchmarks (2001 versus 2011)

• Significant improvement in student enrolment and graduation

• Significant improvement in overall, executive, instructional/research, non-professional admin and specialised support staff profiles

• No significant improvement in service, technical and trades/craft staff profiles.

Changes from 2007 to 2011

• NMMU, TUT, UFH, US and UZ have a worse student enrolment profile.

• CPUT, UV, UZ and VUT have a worse student graduation profile.

• Overall, NWU, UFS, and WSU have a worse staff profile.

• NWU is the only institution with a worse instructional/research staff profile.

Long walk to transformation

• Student demographics– Enrolment: 12 years (race: 8, gender: -11)– Graduation: 14 years (race: 11, gender: -28)

• Staff demographics– Overall: 43 years (race: 43, gender: -24 (stable at

2))– Instructional/research staff: 40 years (race: 42,

gender: 17)

Summary

• EI is a quantitative measure to determine equity profiles

• Can be used to measure transformation and drive transformation

• Fresh look to support goals of the Constitution, Education White Paper 3 and Employment Equity Legislation.

• Supports and aids the work of the Transformation Oversight Committee

Impact/Conclusions• Six year Enrolment planning– Target: Improve Enrolment and Graduation EIs by the

better of 20% or one quintile• New Funding Framework– Funding targeted transformation.

• New Education White Paper– Target: Improve Overall Staff EI by the better of 20%

or one quintile– Target: Improve Academic Staff EI by the better of

20% or one quintile• Can now weight existing indicators via equity

References/Acknowledgements• Govinder, K., Makgoba, MW., An Equity Index for South

Africa, South African Journal of Science 109 (5/6) (May/June 2013) 6-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/sajs.2013/a0020

• KS. Govinder, NP. Zondo, MW. Makgoba, A new look into demographic transformation for universities in South Africa, South African Journal of Science (accepted; to appear 2013)

• Anonymous reviewers of above articles• Professor Ian Bunting; Dr Nico Cloete (CHET)• Professor Mark Bunting (Rhodes)• Mr Chief Mabizela and staff (DHET)• Mr Pali Lehohla and staff (StatsSA)