Hanrie Greebe
Right to Reply
Recent allegations in the Mail & Guardian of mismanagement at Vista University (“A horrific history of mismanagement” and “Top perks for senior staff”, February 9 to 15) are disappointing in that journalists allowed themselves to be manipulated to the benefit of a few personal agendas. The inclusion of factual information supplied by the university would have placed the matter in perspective.
Most of the allegations date from as far back as 1998 and were addressed by the commission of inquiry, which submitted a report to the council who referred it back for refinement. The final report was accepted last year.
The council appointed a committee to implement and monitor the recommendations of the commission of inquiry. David Macfarlane’s sources complain that their call for curriculum transformation has been ignored yet senate established a curriculum transformation committee in March last year. It needs to be pointed out that in the past few years Vista has developed a new vision of the role of the university in post-apartheid South Africa. Through its multi- campus structure seven contact campuses and a distance learning campus Vista is using its unique position in the townships as an opportunity to engage in teaching, research and community service intended to directly contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of a very large sector of our population.
As an African university that is learner- centred and community-based, Vista cannot be disconnected from the issues and problems that are to be found in our communities. Vista, like all universities, performs multiple roles and serves many purposes. While acknowledging that it is important that Vista continue to perform the traditional functions of a university that is, the pursuit, promotion and dissemination of knowledge Vista seeks to participate in meeting the developmental challenges set by the government’s agenda. This is done through the adoption of institutional focus areas aimed at addressing national priorities. For example, a new Honours degree in social behavioural studies in HIV/Aids has contributed to an increase in student enrolment. A new four-year degree in computer information technology has been introduced, which combines university training with industry certification by major international computer companies. Resources have been attracted from international donors to fund costs, and partnerships have been established with international institutions as well as local government and NGOs. All of this serves to rebut the charge that no curriculum transformation is taking place. To reduce the salary bill Vista has initiated a process to address the problems of an administrative structure that is top heavy. The number of executive and senior management will be reduced by approximately one third.
The total savings through reduction of senior managers will be in percentage terms far greater than anything being discussed for any other group of employees.
As to the further inaccuracies in the articles, on February 8 Vista received a request for information with respect to the credit card and cellphone allowance of senior management. Clearly the article that appeared on February 9 was written prior to the request for information from Vista. Remuneration of our senior managers and staff is market- related, based on the job-grading exercise. Credit card and cellphone allowances are excluded from remuneration packages and are solely intended for university business. Strict accounting of every expenditure is required and maintained.
Contrary to Macfarlane’s statement, Vista has made a strong commitment to strengthening its postgraduate studies programme and appointed, in 1999, a dean of research and postgraduate studies. Since that time new bursary programmes have been adopted. Furthermore, it is not the case that academic support services have been suspended. In fact, strategies are being developed to strengthen such programmes. For example, proposals have been submitted to the Department of Education and to an international funding agency for this purpose. The allegation that campus principals are never on campus and by implication not doing their job is absurd. The Sebokeng principal, who is specifically mentioned, serves on many important university committees. For example, he has been entrusted with the responsibility of reviewing the university’s policy docu-ment on academic promotions. He is a member of the curriculum transformation committee, in which he plays an important role. Moreover, he sets an example of academic leadership both through his scholarship and through the role he plays in the intellectual life of the country. A related point: the Sebokeng registrar’s appointment as secretary general of the Pan Africanist Congress does not violate the conditions of service of the university. Vista employees, like other employees, have a right to participate in the democratic life of the country. Vice-chancellor Professor CTKeto started his term of office on January 1. In this short period he has already established task teams to cost- effectively streamline the operation of the university. In a recent memo-randum to the deans of faculties, Keto asked that the student failure rate be investigated. Other key issues are being addressed, such as job grading and staff performance; restructuring; strengthening of academic support services and the transformation of the curriculum.
We think it fair to allow Professor Keto some time in which to prove that Vista University has a role to play in the future of South Africa.
Hanrie Greebe is media liaison and information officer at the department of corporate communication and marketing, Vista University