The changing higher education environment: some implications

for university libraries

Antony MelckAntony Melck

October 2005October 2005

International Trends

Globalisation

InternationalisationInternationalisation GlobalisationGlobalisation The flow of technology, economic activity, The flow of technology, economic activity,

knowledge, people, values, ideas … across knowledge, people, values, ideas … across bordersborders

The contemporary world orderThe contemporary world order

Globalisation 2

Integration of the worldIntegration of the world Global …Global …

Cultural valuesCultural values ProductsProducts Financial marketsFinancial markets Labour marketsLabour markets LanguageLanguage

The Knowledge Society

ICT revolution and its impact on the ICT revolution and its impact on the production, dissemination and use of production, dissemination and use of knowledgeknowledge

InternetInternet Almost infinite amounts of knowledge Almost infinite amounts of knowledge

available available Knowledge knows no frontiersKnowledge knows no frontiers GATS – borderless educationGATS – borderless education

New Ways of Teaching

Resource-rich environmentResource-rich environment Use of technologiesUse of technologies

Open and distance learningOpen and distance learning Web-based learningWeb-based learning Virtual universitiesVirtual universities

Lecture time no longer devoted to Lecture time no longer devoted to transferring informationtransferring information

Knowledge Production: Research

Mode 1 – discipline based knowledge Mode 1 – discipline based knowledge production in universitiesproduction in universities

Mode 2 – Interdisciplinary knowledge Mode 2 – Interdisciplinary knowledge production in teams, often outside of HEproduction in teams, often outside of HE

Increasing importance of applied research - Increasing importance of applied research - impact on fundamental disciplinesimpact on fundamental disciplines

Knowledge management

A continuum ofA continuum of Electronic Academic Information Services, Electronic Academic Information Services,

traditional library, telematic education traditional library, telematic education (WebCT), traditional classroom(WebCT), traditional classroom

Knowledge management (through knowledge Knowledge management (through knowledge objects/granules)objects/granules)

Broad band / wide pipe IT facilitiesBroad band / wide pipe IT facilities Cooperation between institutions, e.g. academic Cooperation between institutions, e.g. academic

librarieslibraries

Cooperation and Standardisation

NetworkingNetworking Institutions – cooperation agreements; Institutions – cooperation agreements;

e.g. Universitas 21in Australiae.g. Universitas 21in Australia COSALC, GAELICCOSALC, GAELIC

Bologna process in EuropeBologna process in Europe International norms and evaluationInternational norms and evaluation League tablesLeague tables

Output orientated learning

Move from supplier driven to demand Move from supplier driven to demand driven programmesdriven programmes

Increasing importance of:Increasing importance of: Application of learningApplication of learning Employability of graduatesEmployability of graduates

Performance related - productivityPerformance related - productivity Outcomes based approachOutcomes based approach

Competition in the provision of Higher Education

Borderless education – foreign marketsBorderless education – foreign markets Commercialisation and ManagerialsmCommercialisation and Managerialsm Revision of funding regimes by governmentsRevision of funding regimes by governments

who demand more control for less subsidieswho demand more control for less subsidies and ‘accountability’ to societyand ‘accountability’ to society

International league tables – Shanghai; Times International league tables – Shanghai; Times Higher Education SupplementHigher Education Supplement

Ethical considerations

Importance of ethics in evaluating science, Importance of ethics in evaluating science, particularly in the biological sciences, e.g.particularly in the biological sciences, e.g. CloningCloning Stem cell research from embryos created Stem cell research from embryos created

by in vitrio fertilisationby in vitrio fertilisation Plagiarism (in e-environment)Plagiarism (in e-environment) Fraudulent degreesFraudulent degrees

Funding and accountability

Democratisation of HE and pressures on public Democratisation of HE and pressures on public fundingfunding Student (top up) feesStudent (top up) fees ‘‘Third stream’ incomeThird stream’ income Spin-off companies to exploit Intellectual PropertySpin-off companies to exploit Intellectual Property

Emphasis on accountabilityEmphasis on accountability External quality controlExternal quality control Assessment of outputs – Research Assessment Assessment of outputs – Research Assessment

Exercise Exercise

South African Higher Education

Transformation

Increased access to HE, and higher participation Increased access to HE, and higher participation rates of the relevant cohortsrates of the relevant cohorts

Equity; both for students and for staffEquity; both for students and for staff Education that meets the needs of the economyEducation that meets the needs of the economy Efficiency in the delivery of education, including Efficiency in the delivery of education, including

improved success and graduation ratesimproved success and graduation rates Research that complies with international normsResearch that complies with international norms The development of inclusive institutional The development of inclusive institutional

culturescultures  

Eliminating the Apartheid landscape National Plan on Higher EducationNational Plan on Higher Education Mergers of institutions (including colleges)Mergers of institutions (including colleges) 36 institutions become 2236 institutions become 22

UniversitiesUniversities ComprehensivesComprehensives Univ’s of TechnologyUniv’s of Technology

Mergers consume enormous energyMergers consume enormous energy Elevation of technikons to universitiesElevation of technikons to universities

Governance

Higher Education Act & elimination of Higher Education Act & elimination of separate university actsseparate university acts

Establishment of the Council on HE (CHE)Establishment of the Council on HE (CHE) Intensified state ‘steering’Intensified state ‘steering’

Autonomy reducedAutonomy reduced Increased ‘accountability’ to societyIncreased ‘accountability’ to society King recommendationsKing recommendations

Funding

Main state steering mechanismMain state steering mechanism New mechanism = mixture of redress, New mechanism = mixture of redress,

carrots, and sticks; a system of handicapscarrots, and sticks; a system of handicaps Benefits the weaker institutions Benefits the weaker institutions Danger of creating uniform mediocrityDanger of creating uniform mediocrity Minister has prerogative to change Minister has prerogative to change

parametersparameters

therefore complicates planningtherefore complicates planning

Growth and Funding State’s MTEF projections only provide for State’s MTEF projections only provide for

about 2% growth in total student enrolmentsabout 2% growth in total student enrolments Actual growth higher; therefore, Actual growth higher; therefore, per capitaper capita

funding will decreasefunding will decrease DoE solution: cap enrolment growth, but DoE solution: cap enrolment growth, but No adequate Human Resource Planning, No adequate Human Resource Planning,

e.g.e.g. Impact of HIV-AIDS?Impact of HIV-AIDS?

Programme & Qualification Mix

PQM = second steering mechanismPQM = second steering mechanism Only funding for approved programmesOnly funding for approved programmes Regional programme review processRegional programme review process

uncertainty about process uncertainty about process Complexity underestimatedComplexity underestimated Role of regional bodies uncertainRole of regional bodies uncertain

Distance Education in the new landscape

DE encouraged in 90’s to deal with DE encouraged in 90’s to deal with massificationmassification

Massification did not occur; therefore Massification did not occur; therefore attempts to restrict DE in ‘contact’ attempts to restrict DE in ‘contact’ institutionsinstitutions

Contradicts international trends; definitions Contradicts international trends; definitions impossible; telematic educationimpossible; telematic education

SAQA and the NQF

SAQA = statutory authority for administering the SAQA = statutory authority for administering the NQFNQF

Long debate on the nature of NQF – levels and Long debate on the nature of NQF – levels and tracks (e.g. general, vocational, tracks (e.g. general, vocational, trade/occupational/ professional) – “New trade/occupational/ professional) – “New Academic Policy”Academic Policy”

Tussle between DoE and DoL (Education vs Tussle between DoE and DoL (Education vs Training)Training)

Latest document = HE Qualifications Framework, Latest document = HE Qualifications Framework, released by the DoEreleased by the DoE

HE Quality Committee (HEQC)

HEQC = committee of the CHEHEQC = committee of the CHE Deemed to be the ETQA of SAQADeemed to be the ETQA of SAQA All institutions to be audited on rotational All institutions to be audited on rotational

basisbasis Fitness of purpose Fitness of purpose (meeting national goals)(meeting national goals)

Fitness for purpose Fitness for purpose (efficient application of mission)(efficient application of mission)

Professional councils - in some facultiesProfessional councils - in some faculties

Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC)

Existing Matric being phased outExisting Matric being phased out To be replaced by the FETCTo be replaced by the FETC

No standard/higher gradesNo standard/higher grades Either Maths or Maths Literacy compulsoryEither Maths or Maths Literacy compulsory

Suitable for admitting students? Science faculties?Suitable for admitting students? Science faculties? Universities to institute own process? System of Universities to institute own process? System of

benchmarking?benchmarking?

National HE Information and Applications Service (NHEIAS) Envisaged that all first-time entering students will Envisaged that all first-time entering students will

apply to the NHEIASapply to the NHEIAS Two possibilities:-Two possibilities:-

NHEIAS will administer criteria supplied by NHEIAS will administer criteria supplied by the institutions, ORthe institutions, OR

NHEIAS will allocate students in terms of its NHEIAS will allocate students in terms of its own criteria?own criteria?

Administrative bottleneck?Administrative bottleneck? Still to be implemented?Still to be implemented?

Research and Innovation

HE institutionsHE institutions Research CouncilsResearch Councils National Research Foundation (NRF)National Research Foundation (NRF) THRIPTHRIP National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI)National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) Government Departments e.g. of Science and Government Departments e.g. of Science and

TechnologyTechnology Greater ‘responsiveness’, but ‘development Greater ‘responsiveness’, but ‘development

grants’ to under-performing HE institutionsgrants’ to under-performing HE institutions

Efficiency of the HE Sector

Throughput in HE institutions poorThroughput in HE institutions poor Graduation rates below the norm,Graduation rates below the norm, High dropout ratesHigh dropout rates ““non-marketable education”non-marketable education”

Poor inputs from secondary school systemPoor inputs from secondary school system Need for “foundation programmes”Need for “foundation programmes”

Future academics/research

Current academics dominated by white men Current academics dominated by white men older than fiftyolder than fifty

Retention of young (black) academics Retention of young (black) academics difficultdifficult

Remuneration inadequateRemuneration inadequate Potential loss of research capacityPotential loss of research capacity Aging research equipment – national Aging research equipment – national

expenditure on research infrastructure expenditure on research infrastructure inadequateinadequate

Future landscape

Merger of SAUVCA and CTP into new Merger of SAUVCA and CTP into new HigherEducation:SA (HESA)HigherEducation:SA (HESA)

Nevertheless, competitive relationshipsNevertheless, competitive relationships Development of southern African Development of southern African

associationassociation SARUASARUA

National Student Financial Aid

NSFASNSFAS Students currently poor, but will be the Students currently poor, but will be the

future richfuture rich Timing mismatch between capital Timing mismatch between capital

investment and income flowsinvestment and income flows NSFAS loans bridge the gapNSFAS loans bridge the gap

Designed to provide incentives to passDesigned to provide incentives to pass More funding neededMore funding needed

Presidential Committee

President has chaired a committee of ministers to President has chaired a committee of ministers to investigate problems in HEinvestigate problems in HE

Importance of HE in achieving society’s goals, Importance of HE in achieving society’s goals, e.g. socio-political, economice.g. socio-political, economic

11stst Paper: SA HE system is inefficient, not dealing Paper: SA HE system is inefficient, not dealing with the important issues, e.g.with the important issues, e.g. UN Millennium Development Goals, NEPADUN Millennium Development Goals, NEPAD

therefore additional funding not warrantedtherefore additional funding not warranted

Some implications for university libraries

Importance of academic libraries

University libraries central to knowledge University libraries central to knowledge managementmanagement

Shift from storing to managing informationShift from storing to managing information Academic information servicesAcademic information services E-learningE-learning E-researchE-research

Link between (academic) computing and Link between (academic) computing and HE core functions – overlaps and synergiesHE core functions – overlaps and synergies

Resource constraints

Pressure on funding while demands are Pressure on funding while demands are changing and increasingchanging and increasing Mushrooming informationMushrooming information New e-systemsNew e-systems Access for increasing student numbersAccess for increasing student numbers

Therefore collaboration and sharing Therefore collaboration and sharing necessary, despite competition: e.g. SASLInecessary, despite competition: e.g. SASLI

Digitisation E-journalsE-journals Open access movement Open access movement Google Print Project with Oxford, Harvard, Google Print Project with Oxford, Harvard,

Stanford, Michigan, New York Public Lib.Stanford, Michigan, New York Public Lib. E-research E-research

Handling large data setsHandling large data sets Digital curation of scientific dataDigital curation of scientific data

Digitising and disseminating own research (e.g. Digitising and disseminating own research (e.g. PhD theses.PhD theses.

Virtual libraries (AVLIN in Africa)Virtual libraries (AVLIN in Africa)

Ethical problems in a digital age

Copy right protectionCopy right protection PlagiarismPlagiarism Protection of the integrity of data Protection of the integrity of data

collectionscollections Control of the quality of data available Control of the quality of data available

Libraries and HE competition

As collaboration is increasing, so is HE As collaboration is increasing, so is HE competitioncompetition

International league tables dominated by International league tables dominated by US; other countries differentiating their HE US; other countries differentiating their HE systems, e.g. Germanysystems, e.g. Germany

Knowledge use and creation is central to Knowledge use and creation is central to this process, thereforethis process, therefore

university libraries have a pivotal roleuniversity libraries have a pivotal role

Finis