Higher Education for the Public Good: Views From the South

Higher education contributes to the public good in many ways. This book argues for a transformational and reflexive approach in which the very nature of the institution, its practices and programs are considered. The chapters illustrate how this is done, discussing philosophical approaches as well as empirical and practical ideas for implementation in the classroom.The contributors consider the four major aspects of transformation: the institution’s purpose and ethos; its conception of graduate attributes; the way programs and teaching are delivered; and the institution’s approach to academics and their professional development.The contributions to the volume span three continents. All the authors have some link to South Africa even though several live and work in America or the UK and Europe. This gives the book an international flavor as well as a uniquely southern focus. The contributors include Nwabisa Bangeni (Stellenbosch University), Alejandra Boni (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia), Vivienne Bozalek (University of the Western Cape), Natasha Gordon-Chipembere (University of New York), Lis Lange (Free State University), Lindsey Nicholls (Brunel University), Poul Rohleder (Anglia Ruskin University), Crain Soudien (University of Cape Town), Sharon Subreenduth (Bowling Green State University, Ohio) and Susan Van Schalkwyk and Yusef Waghid (Stellenbosch University).