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The future of universities – Prof Burger part of DHET Expert Panel on University Fees

17 June 2025 | Story Lacea Loader | Photo Supplied

Prof Philippe Burger, Dean: Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), has been appointed as a member of a team that will represent Universities South Africa (USAf) in a DHET Expert Panel on University Fees. The panel, which comprises representatives from USAf, the DHET, and NSFAS, focuses on the affordability of tuition fees and the future sustainability of the sector, looking at potential solutions for tuition fees beyond the 2025 academic year.

With more than 30 years of experience in higher education, mostly in management positions, Prof Burger understands the sector well. Combined with his expertise in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, and public sector economics and finance, he is uniquely positioned to make a significant contribution to this task team.

Universities matter

Despite the high national unemployment rate (32%), Prof Burger points out that unemployment is largely a problem of the unskilled. “The unemployment rate of people with university degrees is about 12%, much lower than the national average,” he notes. “South Africa has a large shortage of skilled labour, which it needs to grow the economy and improve lives.” He trusts that universities can fill this void, in addition to providing the thought leaders needed to take the country forward.

Although universities in South Africa are experiencing financial pressures, they continue to lift thousands of people to better lives each year. Universities make a profoundly positive contribution to the country and its population, and Prof Burger believes that once the public is fully aware of this, it will support broader discussions in favour of higher education.

The challenge

Universities face several cost pressures that are causing an increase in cost at a higher rate than consumer inflation, Prof Burger explains. “For instance, we buy equipment, software, and journal subscriptions that are all priced in US dollars. Affected by the exchange rate, these types of expenses have increased by much more than the price of consumer goods in South Africa over the past ten years.” According to Prof Burger, increased operational costs, coupled with constrained university income, necessitate a model that will provide universities with enough income to cover their costs while delivering quality education in the long run.

The solution

“There is an argument for universities to become more efficient, and there is certainly room for universities to look at their cost structures, but there is also a limit to what we can do,” Prof Burger says. “It is important to stress that we cannot talk about the sustainability of universities and not contextualise it within a framework that seeks to deliver quality learning, teaching, and research. In the absence of that quality, we will not be able to address the skills shortages and thought leadership that the country needs. And that is the sustainability we need to talk about – the sustainability of quality education and scholarship,” he concludes.

News Archive

Inaugural lecture focuses on intercultural communication

2005-03-15

Prof Johann de Wet, chairperson of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Department of Communication and Information Studies, will deliver his inaugural lecture on Wednesday 16 March 2005 at 19:00 in the CR Swart Auditorium on campus.

The topic of the presentation is Meeting on the “narrow ridge” in intercultural communication.

Prof de Wet obtained the BA degree in 1977 at from the University of Cape Town, in 1982 an honors degree cum laude in Journalism from the University of Stellenbosch, in 1985 an MA degree from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and in 1987 the D Litt Et Phil, also from UNISA.

His earlier professional life included being a diplomat stationed in Washington DC, and a SABC journalist.

Prof de Wet’s first stint in the academe was at UNISA (1983-1993) and the UFS (1993-1995). He was an associate professor at both institutions. Before returning to the UFS in 2001, Prof de Wet was director of communication in the public service, ministerial spokesperson at national and provincial levels, contributing editor of the Cape Argus, and communication consultant for various public and private sector institutions.

In his academic career of 16 years, Prof de Wet has authored/edited 12 scholarly books. His other research outputs include some 20 accredited articles and scientific papers (national and international) respectively. Much of his research has focused on persuasive and political communication, journalism and general communication theory.

He is the founding and current editor of Communitas, a nationally-accredited academic journal on community communication and information impact. He was appointed professor and chairperson of the Department of Communication and Information Studies at the UFS in January 2004.

MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
15 March 2005

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