University of the Free State: Key Performance Indicators

1. University of the Free State: Key Performance Indicators • Nico Cloete • UOFS • January 2014

2. Theory and Research Issues Strengthening knowledge production is a matter of training but needs to be informed by research, and not be mimicking ‘so called global best practices’ Higher education is supposed to be about new knowledge and innovation, but it is largely about imitation of high status institutions or ‘global fads’ (Goedegebuure and Meek, 1998) Through a process of mimetic normative isomorphism, the ‘new’ professionalising management’s notions of ‘successful’ institutions have been mimicked and exchanged through professional networks to promote and consolidate their position in the institution (Gornitska and Larsen, 2004) . Country and institutional differentiation seems to be largely ignored in ‘universal prescriptions’ (medicine) Riesman’s ‘snake dilemma’ in higher education

3. A differentiated public university system (2010)

4. Completion of 3 year degrees – 2006 cohort * Includes students that would have returned the next year

5. Progress of 2004 intakes of new doctoral students after 7 years

6. African doctoral graduates by institution as % of total doctoral graduates, 2011

7. Percentage of the academic staff with doctorates by institution, 2011

8. Ratios of doctoral graduates to academic staff with doctoral degrees, 2011

9. Research outputs, 2012

10. Proportion of black doctoral graduates as % of total doctoral graduates per university, 2011

11. Increases in doctoral graduates, 2008 to 2011