An inquiry into counselling interventions and student support systems at a university in transition
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Date
2006
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Abstract
The study investigates counselling interventions used by staff at the Centre for Guidance and Counselling (CGC) from 1977 to 2006. Both location and situation of the University of Zululand (Unizul) in the rural north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, where poverty and political intolerance once reigned, presents unique challenges to students and staff, particularly the Student Representative Council (SRC) and Management. A number of significant discoveries were made as revealed by research techniques used i.e. narratives, selected qualitative and quantitative research methods and case studies.
After the 1976 national riots and communication breakdown between students and management, the University established a department to serve as a communication conduit between the two structures (Bengu, 2005). It is with that background that the Student Services Department (SSD) was conceived at Unizul. In spite of interruptions and difficulties from one period to another, there is evidence of hard work from previous headships. Unforeseen circumstances in each case prevented formal hand over. It is only recently, in 2003 that Unizul began to make provisions for change management strategy.
For the purposes of this study a survey on student experiences on campus life was conducted. From randomly selected members of the university community it is concluded that, all is not well with student life at Unizul.
Further, attitudes of students and staff in Student Services Department (SSD) were explored as they impact on service delivery (Ludeman, 1998; 1997; Worthen, 1987). The genera! view is that problems of de-motivation and academic indifference, political intolerance and domination, mob spirit and group-think are excessive between and amongst students. Student politics rules student affairs. Executive appointments in sports, societies and clubs are dominated by political placements of individuals that serve interests of political groupings.
Over the years, the operations of the SRC, Student Parliament and Senate, All Sports and Student Housing Committees have taken political stands. By accommodating and sometimes nursing political squabbles of students, management and staff are perceived to be aligned to one of two main political rivals in the country. SSD is faced with an ongoing responsibility of diffusing tensions to establish a healthy working relationship amongst students, and also between student governing structures and management.
The University is faced with challenges of normalizing conditions to enable effective teaching and learning to take place. A systematic, multi-pronged approach to deal with problems of political intolerance and domination, poverty and academic indifference is recommended. As problems will not vanish on their own, a need for an effective, well-thought management strategy and psychological intervention are strongly recommended.
Description
Submitted in accordance with the requiremerts for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (D. Phil) in the subject Psychology in the FACULTV OF ARTS at the UNIVERSllY OF ZULULAND, 2006.
Keywords
Organizational change--South Africa--KwaZulu-Natal--Case studies., Student assistance programs--South Africa--KwaZulu-Natal., Education--Political aspects--South Africa--KwaZulu-Natal., Student support systems--Universities, Counselling interventions--Universities