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THE IMPACT OF MERGERS: THE CASE FOR MERGING AND
CONSOLIDATING RESEARCH AT TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF
TECHNOLOGY
Live your life. Create your destiny.
Dr Prins Nevhutalu Dr K Dyason, Prof K KokTshwane University of Technology
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the outcome of the mergers of Pretoria Technikon, North West Technikon and Northern Gauteng Technikon with specific reference to research development and research output.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Partnerships
MERGER TRIGGERS
Deputy Vise-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Partnerships
• Financial survival
• Creation of Internationally competitive institution
• Mergers driven by governments
THE SOUTH AFRICAN MERGER CONTEXT
POLITICALTRANSFORMATIONFINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY.
Deputy Vise-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Partnerships
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Deputy Vise-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Partnerships
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) was established from the merger of Pretoria Technikon (a historically white Afrikaans institution) Northern Gauteng Technikon and Northwest Technikon (both historically black institutions). HOLLOW DESIGNATIONS
Deputy Vise-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Partnerships
THE CASE FOR RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AT TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
RESEARCH PRE-MERGER
It is important to note that research development in any university is based on the following critical elements:
• The number of active researchers• The number of postgraduate students• Commitment of the institution to research
development• Necessary research infrastructure
Deputy Vise-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Partnerships
Research Output
At the time of the merger in 2003, the subsidised research outputs of the three independent institutions were as follows:
Technikon
Accredited Journals
Conference Proceedings
Total Subsidised Research output
Pretoria 42.65 1.83 44.48 Northern Gauteng
4.0 0.17 4.17
Northwest 7.33 0.64 7.97 TOTAL 53.98 2.64 56.62
Deputy Vise-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Partnerships
Postgraduate students
Before the merger in 2002, the total student enrollment of the three independent institutions was 53 634 distributed between undergraduate and postgraduate (masters and doctoral students) as follows
Technikon Undergraduate Postgraduate TOTAL Pretoria Technikon
35681 1370 37501
Northern Gauteng
10939 117 11056
Northwest 5075 2 5077
Deputy Vise-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Partnerships
Staff Qualification
Postgraduate qualification (masters and doctoral) degree were not a requirement to be employed as a teaching staff at the technikons. However, since 1994, the technikon staff qualification has improved. Towards the merger of the three technikons in 2002, their staff qualification profile was as follows:
Technikon
% Staff with Masters
qualification
% Staff with Doctoral
qualification
Total % of staff with Research qualification
Pretoria 31 13 44 Northern Gauteng
23 2.5 25.5
Northwest 10 2 10
Deputy Vise-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Partnerships
RESEARCH POST- MERGER
In order to track the development of research at TUT during the merger phase, the paper will profile research indicators from the year of the merger until 2008. This is intended to show progress or lack thereof of the improvement of research in the new institution.
Deputy Vise-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Partnerships
Research Output
YEAR
Accredited Journal
Articles in Units
Accredited Conference Proceedings
Units
Accredited Books and Chapters in Units
TOTAL
2004 50.58 7.30 0 57.79 2005 58.28 1.46 0 59.74 2006 61.4 18.12 0 79.52 2007 69.9 17.61 0 87.51 2008 82 22.9 1.51 106.41
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Staff qualification
YEAR
No of Staff with Masters qualifications
No of staff with Doctoral qualifications
TOTAL
2004 250 102 262 2005 302 101 403 2006 314 101 415 2007 294 105 399 2008 301 122 422
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Rated Researchers
YEAR
NUMBER OR RATED
RESEARCHERS 2004 15 2005 18 2006 20 2007 24 2008 28
Postgraduate student enrolment and graduations
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YEAR
M
D
TOTAL
Enrolment
M
D
TOTAL
Graduations
2004 2777 103 2880 105 4 109
2005 2008 117 2125 89 12 101
2006 1696 129 1825 145 19 164
2007 1384 137 1521 143 12 155
2008 1163 143 1396 123 13 136
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WHAT ARE THE UNIQUE INNOVATIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCCESSES
• Research Strategy• Post-Doctoral Fellowship • Research Funding • Research Publication as a requirement for fulfillment of doctoral qualification • University investment in Research• Ongoing Engagements with Researchers
• Challenges
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?CHALLENGES
PROMOTION EXPECTATIONSRECRUITMENT: WANTED. PHDS
RESEARCH SPACE AND EQUIPMENTPOACHING (STAFF MOVEMENT)
STUDENT ACCOMMODATIONRESEARCH MANAGEMENT CAPACITY
RESEARCH FUNDING (NRF)
Research at TUT is on the upward trajectory. However, the potential is yet to be realised. Continued focus on staff development, funding for research, post-doctoral funding and other subtle interventions appears to be working. The next level of intervention is to recruit more full time students at both masters and doctoral levels. This can be attained through the offering of Bachelor of Technology on a full time basis. The author wishes to thank the Directorate for Research and Innovation and Partnership for their hard work and commitment in supporting the impressive research achievements of TUT
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Conclusion