An investigation into student perceptions on higher education transformation at the North-West University, Potchefstroom campus

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the perceptions of NWU students on higher education transformation at the NWU, PC. This involved an understanding of the perceptions of students on transformations in the student life, institutional culture and teaching and learning at the NWU. There exists a lack of scholarly research on the perceptions of students on transformation at the NWU. A lack of qualitatively and context driven definitions and conceptualisations of transformation in higher education, particularly at the NWU, PC was also identified. The perceptions were analysed through the interpretation of interpretivist and structuralist perspectives in sociology. This approach necessitated the application of the three spheres of transformation, namely, the personal sphere, the political sphere and the practical sphere. With this model, the personal sphere adopted the five nested levels of consciousness, to assess the nature of perceptions on transformation. In this study, the practical sphere was specifically studied. This consisted of the student life, institutional culture and teaching and learning of the university. The findings were also interpreted through Bourdieu's theoretical tools. The results of this analysis was that: 1) race is still a critical component in the difference of perceptions of student life and institutional culture satisfaction; 2) Socio-economic status and geographical location influence perceptions of transformation, as indicated in the narratives in the qualitative analysis; 3) the dynamics of the perceptions of transformation at the NWU are still embedded in the levels of capital (cultural, social, economic and political) inherited, the possibility of acquitting capital and the power to practice and use said capital. The study chose a mixed-method research approach as appropriate research methodology, to investigate perceptions of transformation. An explanatory sequential mixed method design was used, enabling the chronological occurrence of a cross-sectional design and then a case study design. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were therefore followed. This practice was preferred, due to the importance of understanding from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives, the perceptions of transformation. The survey consisted of 240 structured interviews for the quantitative phase at the PC. This data was then analysed using SPSS to investigate the students' perceptions of transformation in the quantitative phase of the study. For the case study design, 16 interviews (7 SRC members and 9 SCC members), as well as 3 focus groups at the PC, MC and VC were conducted. The data obtained was sorted into defined categories and through analysis, the perceptions of SRC/SCC members on transformation issues were established.