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Ubuntu as an Act of Collaborative Engagement and Co-belonging: Implications for the Public University

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Towards an Ubuntu University

Abstract

Higher education transformation in South Africa seems to place an overwhelming emphasis on collaboration, engagement and co-belonging. However, despite this, it seems that the lack of cooperation, engagement and belonging is prolonging the crises that currently beset the sector. In this chapter, we argue that unless ubuntu permeates higher education practices of management and pedagogy, it seems unlikely that the sector would genuinely be transformed. Firstly, it is argued that genuine transformation is an act of collaboration without which university education cannot exist. Secondly, engagement is as much an act of management and pedagogy that is different from mere participation. And thirdly, if co-belonging is not pursued within a public university, it loses its significance of genuinely serving the public.

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Correspondence to Yusef Waghid .

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Waghid, Y., Terblanche, J., Shawa, L.B., Hungwe, J.P., Waghid, F., Waghid, Z. (2023). Ubuntu as an Act of Collaborative Engagement and Co-belonging: Implications for the Public University. In: Towards an Ubuntu University. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06454-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06454-8_4

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-06453-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-06454-8

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