The Impact of Global Trends on Institutions of Higher Learning with Special Reference to Its Influence on the Functioning of Universities in Africa

Globalisation is a highly contested term and has become a site for tension. Whilst globalisation, in the context of Higher Education, must be lauded for giving students and scholars access to work on a global platform, it has also reinforced inequalities that are already prevalent and has even created new ones. The negative impact of globalisation is evident most explicitly in developing countries such as South Africa. Against this backdrop of rising global trends, the overarching aim of this paper is to unravel how global trends influence the functioning of universities in Africa, with special reference to South Africa. This will be achieved by a thorough critical engagement with contemporary literature. The global trends selected for discussion are as follows: Internationalisation, Africanisation, Marketisation and New Managerialism.