The Strategic Prospects of Support Staff in the Transformation of an Institution of Higher Learning in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

This study was formulated to explore the prospects of participation of support staff in transforming higher education institutions to strengthen their contribution to societal transformation through addressing problems in post-apartheid South Africa relating to inequalities, unemployment, and poverty. The literature review showed that research on support staff has been limited relative to that of academics owing to perceptions that support staff were back-office personnel in higher education institutions. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted to explore the study objectives. Thirteen support staff members from a selected higher education institution in the Eastern Cape province participated in the study. The findings suggested that there is a strong complementary relationship between support staff and academic staff and desired transformation outcomes are best achieved through mutual and symbiotic functioning of academic and support staff. In other words, a holistic consideration of institutions of higher learning is critical. In the final analysis, the study suggested the inclusion of support staff in strategy matters. It is recommended that the management of higher education institutions should be holistic in such way that includes everyone. The paper addresses an area that has limited studies and provides important views for universities to strategically position themselves to address societal challenges facing South Africa.