The year1999 was the defining moment in the history of the University of Fort Hare. The Saunders Commission had recommended the closure of the university stating as some of the major reasons, instability and governance problems, plummeting student numbers, spiralling student debt and poor academic standards that compromised the university’s viability. Fort Hare had veered precariously to the brink of closure and realising the gravity of the challenges that this historic institution faced a strong and decisive call was made by stakeholders to overhaul the management structure of the university and appoint a dynamic leadership that would restore the university’s past glory. Derrick Ian Swartz PhD was identified to lead the process that would turn the university’s fortunes around.
Professor Swartz is a former anti-apartheid activist who received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Western Cape in 1981, he later taught at secondary school for several years. He was hounded by the apartheid regime for his political activities and forced to skip the country in the earlier 1980’s. While in exile he earned a master’s degree and a PhD in sociology from Essex University in the United Kingdom. On his return to South Africa, he became professor and Director of the Institute of Government at the University of Fort Hare.
Education and sound administration practices are subjects that are close to Prof. Swartz’s heart, he has published extensively on the topics and is the adviser to the Eastern Cape Premier on administration and education issues. Prof Swartz believes education must be responsive to the developmental needs of communities. Among the many commissions that he has been a member of is, the Presidential Review Commission, a strategic team appointed by former President Nelson Mandela to investigate into the functioning of the South African Public service.
Upon being called on to reinvent the University of Fort Hare, Prof. Swartz wasted no time in putting in place a new university Council. He consulted and sought the participation of all stakeholders in the renewal process of the university. New structures of governance were put in place and sweeping programmes of reforms that have changed the fortunes of the university dramatically were introduced. A new vision, new academic programmes and modernisation have brought about a stunning turnaround since he took over the reins at Fort Hare. Guided by the internationally lauded corporate re-engineering plan, the Strategic Plan 2000, the university has consolidated its flagship faculties that reflect its niche areas, competencies and strengths. It has been able to reposition its market focus, operational presence and programmes, and enhanced service delivery and efficiency by trimming down on a bloated workforce. The sweeping reforms and the university turnaround have won the support of all stakeholders and improved the public perception of the university, brought about an increase in student numbers and bolstered worker morale and donor confidence.
Three years down the road, the University of Fort Hare is set on an irrevocable path of self-recovery and the exceptional progress that has been made in the renewal of the university, in line with the Strategic Plan 2000, during the past six months is there for all to see. There is euphoria and sheer delight at the rapidity and scale of progress made in growing the university into a stable and viable institution. The optimism and jubilation reverberating across Fort Hare is informed by encouraging growth indicators shown by the university recently. These indicators are, the sharp increase in student numbers, a major influx of donor and project income and unprecedented institutional stability and strong stakeholder support for the goals outlined in SP2000.
This year alone, the government, funders and the private sector have pledged over R140 million to the university in the form of projects, tender, donations and grants. This has boosted the university coffers by over R41, 2million in the past six months. It represents more than the total subsidy allocated to the university for the current financial year and compares well to the R27million raised in 2001 over the same period.
Confidence in the university has seen student numbers swell by 45% in two years, representing the fastest tertiary sector growth rate in South Africa this year. Student numbers have grown from 4 500 in 2000 to over 7000 this year. The stability and recent successes have led to a resurgence of market confidence in the new Fort Hare – both from local and foreign markets. Over the past year, the University of Fort Hare has been able to secure exciting partnerships to build a critical mass in key niche areas. The university has formed partnerships in agribusiness (Norway), biotechnology (Connecticut), human rights and governance (United Nations University), accounting and public finance (South African Institute of Chartered Accounting and the Rand Afrikaans Universiteit), climate studies (South Africa Weather Services), information and technology (Department of Communications), rural development (Kagiso Trust) and the African agenda, African Renaissance, NEPAD and AU (Makerere).
These partnerships translate into, the university securing a major deal with the South African Weather Services, with the support of the Provincial Government for a new Weather Rader Station worth R10 million. In turn, the Department of Communications are currently working with the university’s Institute of Technology on a major grant to make Fort Hare a major ICT hub in the region. The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants is supporting the launch of the Nkuhlu Centre of Accountancy. The university has also won the largest deal in the country for training of public finance managers – the R100million Eastern Cape financial management contract. And recently, Carnegie Corporation announced a new grant of R10 million jointly to the university and Rand Afrikaans Universiteit to develop a new Masters in Public Finance.
If the present course is maintained the university will rapidly grow itself into a stable and viable entity. This confidence rests both on the historical prestige of the university and the business case the university has made.
Evidently correct steps have been taken to set the university on the pathway to recovery. Under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. Swartz, and his team, together with encouraging support from critical stakeholders, the institution has so far kept its eyes on the bigger picture, the restoration of Fort Hare.
Following closely on the aforementioned achievements, the Cabinet approved Transformation and Reconstruction of the Higher Education System proclaimed the retention of Fort Hare as an autonomous institution. The new policy position further stipulates that the university will incorporate the East London campus of Rhodes University and the Medical School of the University of Transkei. This development is a further attestation of the phenomenal achievements of the University of Fort Hare towards its corporate goal of becoming a world-class university. It is further still, an immense display of government confidence in the financial sustainability and academic viability of the university. Picking on the euphoria that followed the announcement, Vice Chancellor Prof. Swartz said, “Cabinet fully endorsed its support for the University of Fort Hare. This support is expressed in three major policy decisions. Firstly, we retain our strategic independence – a huge victory for our campaign to save Fort Hare. Secondly, UFH should take over the Rhodes East London campus to gain a foothold in a major metropolitan market to build our brand name and grow our numbers. And thirdly, UFH should incorporate the Medical School presently based at the University of Transkei.”
The astute leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. Swartz and phenomenal support of all stakeholders has brought on the exceptional business case for the University of Fort Hare. The university’s future is secure.
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