Abstract
M.Com. (Business Management)
Universities exist to create a forum in which students, researchers and professors can engage on any issue without fear of official repercussions or judgments. Universities are part of the bigger picture in any country where technical skills are a prerequisite for economic activity. Higher education institutions should be seen as autonomous and independent of the government, and those associated with it should be able to express their views freely. None of this is possible without the funding that allows Universities to create an enabling environment for students and academics. Student funding lies at the core of a University’s existence. Student funding is a key factor in determining whether students attend tertiary institutions or stay at home and look for employment opportunities. It is for these reasons that this researcher seeks to attain a broader understanding of student funding dynamics in the South African context.
There are three income sources for Public Higher Universities: firstly, government funds, which take the form of subsidy grants and earmarked grants; secondly, tuition fees that are charged to the student’s account; thirdly, private income which is derived from investments, donations and commercialising research work. The decline in government subsidies is one rationale for Universities increasing their tuition fees. Consequently, some Universities have priced their fees out of the market, resulting in various instability in the higher education sector and University campuses. This dilemma is a justifiable reason for engagement on matters of current student funding allocations.
Analysing the trends of student funding in South African Universities provides a clear understanding of whether the current student funding model, as applied by the government, is effective or not. This study seeks to gather ideas on the sustainability of the current student funding model and leverage on the outcomes of the research to improve on the current model. The student funding trends are also applied to other, supplementary sources of student funding, such as external sponsorships from corporate companies, government, parastatals and non-profit organisations. Previous studies have been conducted by the South African government on the form of student funding...