The politics of student housing: Student activism and representation in the determination of the user-price of a public–private partnership residence on a public university campus in South Africa

Abstract

South African universities have been facing a critical shortage in the provision of student housing for several years now, and the establishment of public-private partnerships (PPPs) is seen as part of the solution to address the shortage (Rensburg, 2011). This article investigates the effectiveness of the Students' Representative Council (SRC) of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in representing student interests during its negotiations with university management to reduce the user-price per student for the new Kovacs Residence, a PPP student housing complex on the UWC campus. It thus highlights some of the complexities involved in public-private collaborations on student housing provision, including the tension between profitability, affordability and equity in the face of organised student power.The article shows that, considering the various initiatives taken by the SRC to engage university management, and the resulting reduction of the user-price per annum, students' interests were effectively represented by the SRC, even if this view does not correspond with the perceptions of students. Our analysis uncovers many deficiencies in student representation processes both within student structures and university management. It is supported by data from in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion. Interviews were conducted with SRC members and university management, and a focus group discussion was facilitated with students in residences.

Choreographies of Protest Performance as Recruitment to Activism

“…Similar to their counterparts in Senegal, Kenya and South Korea during the second half of the 20th century, South African students became the "vanguard of democratic defiance" in their actions against the administration of the apartheid state through the university (Bianchini, 2016;Macharia, 2015;Makunike, 2015;Mazrui, 1995). In the postapartheid era, there has been an increase in higher education participation rates, but access to the 'ivory towers' has been offset by perceptions of an institutional inability to manage massification (Cele, 2014;Luescher et al, 2015;Reddy, 2004). It could be said then that in both the apartheid and the postapartheid period, student activism in South Africa has always been about a perception students have about the management of the state through the university.…”

Characteristics of A Conducive Residential College Needed for Students with Disabilities in Public University: A Case Study at The University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

“…The integration of higher education at the global level has widened access for all categories of students including students with disabilities (SWD). This can be seen significantly in the increase in the number of SWDs who have enrolled in universities (Kim & Lee, 2016) and it requires intensification of academic facilities and special accommodation in universities (Mugume & Luescher, 2015). Therefore, the KPP or the hostel provided should be SWD friendly and conducive (Ajayi et al, 2015).…”

Diversity Includes Disability: Experiences of Resilience in a University Residence

“…Residence issues are a perennial problem for universities and frequently surface in demands by protesting students (Mugume & Luescher, 2015;Odundo et al, 2015;Yakaboski & Birnbaum, 2013). Students' demands have highlighted issues such as the poor management of residences, a lack of basic facilities, the distance of residences from teaching venues, and rules that compel students to remove their belongings during recess periods (Ajayi et al, 2015;Egwunyenga, 2009;Oke, Aigbavboa & Raphiri, 2017).…”

“…For example, universities are required by law to provide proper housing for students with disabilities (DHET, 2015) and student residences are expected to be conducive to academic activities outside the classroom (Egwunyenga, 2009). However, most universities have struggled to establish residences that accommodate the various needs of students with disabilities (Dunn & Dunkel, 2013;Mugume & Luescher, 2015). In some cases, universities have turned to public-private partnerships for assistance, although these initiatives have not been without setbacks (McBride, 2017;Mugume & Luescher, 2015;Taylor, 2017).…”

“…However, most universities have struggled to establish residences that accommodate the various needs of students with disabilities (Dunn & Dunkel, 2013;Mugume & Luescher, 2015). In some cases, universities have turned to public-private partnerships for assistance, although these initiatives have not been without setbacks (McBride, 2017;Mugume & Luescher, 2015;Taylor, 2017). Studies have shown that finances and a lack of the availability of land have been major challenges in the quest to provide suitable accommodation for diverse student bodies.…”