The University of Pretoria (UP) has quietly undergone a remarkable transition during the past decade or so. It is generally known that the UP is the largest residential university in SA and is widely acknowledged as one of the country's leading research universities.
This year, with increased demand for places and the incorporation of the Mamelodi campus of Vista University, on-campus student numbers will reach almost 40 000.
What is not widely known, says vice-chancellor and principal Prof Calie Pistorius, is that the UP is the university with the largest number of Afrikaans-speaking students, as well as the most black and English-speaking students.
Tukkies, as the UP has been known for many years, was founded in 1908 as the Pretoria branch of the Transvaal University College. It had a staff of four professors and three lecturers, who held classes for 32 students.
For many years the medium of instruction and the culture was predominantly Afrikaans.
Says Pistorius (who is himself a distinguished electrical engineer and an alumnus of the UP, Ohio State University, MIT and Harvard): "In some quarters we are still perceived as a conservative white and Afrikaans institution. The reality is different.
"We are now officially a dual-medium institution. About half our students prefer English. More than a third are black, with 15 000 black students on campus now."
Pistorius acknowledges that the transformation process has not always been smooth. "Transformation is a strategic driver, but it is difficult to manage and it is resource-intensive. Some of the residences, for example, were driven by traditions that were incompatible with our values." He refers to the recent row over racist and sexist practices at the Maroela residence.
Says Pistorius: "We can't just tell students what to do - we must help them to buy into the underlying value framework and reasons for change. Remember that a university is also a microcosm of society. Whatever beliefs and norms are present in broader society will also manifest themselves on the campus. Our campus is a diverse community where students from all walks of life come together and, in the residences, live together.
"There are some elements of the traditional constituency who are mired in the past and are resentful about change and fatalistic about what it holds for them. At the same time, most students are positive, upstanding young people who make an important contribution to transformation and progress."
Essentially, says Pistorius, the university had to stand back some years ago to re-examine itself. "We saw that we had to sharpen our focus on quality, relating to academic excellence, student life, the entire campus experience and service. Then we had to make sure we were locally relevant and internationally competitive - we wanted to be the university of choice. Even though we could not be everything to everybody, we wanted people to think of us first."
Some of these goals have been achieved. A recent HSRC survey indicated that the UP is the university of choice for South Africans - but such a reputation needs maintenance.
Quality has been addressed in upgrading support services and in the range of facilities available to students. Relevance is seen in the courses taught, as well as in a range of academic partnerships and community outreach programmes, in areas as diverse as children's choirs, primary health clinics, economic policy management, tax administration, and sports development, as well as the transformation programme.
One of the programmes aimed at confirming the change of mind-set has been the "innovation generation" strategy. In the words of the strategy, UP graduates "must be characterised by an excellent academic education and be well-rounded individuals who are balanced and responsible citizens".
They need to understand and appreciate the context in which they study and work, and develop "a hierarchy of personal values and understand and appreciate the importance of a value framework".
Such a strategic framework influences recruitment policy, says Pistorius. "There is a strong focus on recruiting students with high achievements and potential. As part of our equity drive, we have revamped our entire recruitment approach and instituted a special focus on the recruitment of black students."
The university strives to support the growth of that talent, once identified. It awards many bursaries and scholarships, and offers comprehensive bridging programmes.
Pistorius identifies two key issues at this point in the UP's development strategy. "First, balancing the growth strategy with demands on the budget - we must always seek to increase our internal efficiencies, rationalise where appropriate and increase opportunities for co-operation with other institutions. We will continue to provide prudent management.
"Though we do have reserves, there is no mountain of cash for us to draw on. State subsidies have been cut severely and increases in tuition fees need to be moderate, all at a time at which the university is growing.
"Second, we need to maintain momentum on transformation, without any compromise on standards. We do not believe these two vital aims are incompatible, but rather synergistic.
"We must increase the overall proportion of black students, while continuing to welcome our traditional constituency. We strive to be the intellectual home for the rich diversity of SA's academic talent."
Says Pistorius: "We want this university to be a symbol of national aspiration and hope, and reconciliation and pride that acknowledges its prominent role in Africa and is committed to discharging its social responsibilities."
