The Role of Higher Education in Social Transformation and Rural Development

Responding to pressures brought about by globalization, the restructuring of higher education internationally and in South Africa over the past ten years has meant that universities have to play a critical role in social transformation. Adding to this also was a slow pace of economic development in communities which universities exists has led the government to challenge Higher Education(HE) to partake in the process of socio-economic development, especially in rural areas. The contesting views on what role higher education play in this process stems from the historical role that HE played in South Africa and in the world generally. This article asserts that besides teaching and research, institutions of higher learning have an important role to play in the process of changing lives of the people in the rural areas. Universities have frequently been regarded as key institutions in the process of social change and development. The most explicit role they have been allocated is the production of highly skilled labour and research output to meet the perceived needs of economy (Brennan, 2004). The roles played by universities in the modernization projects vary. According to Clark, (1998) & King (2004) it is important to distinguish between examples where the role of the university is largely autonomous and examples where the role is set firmly within state plans and control mechanism. The findings of the study are based on the qualitative research conducted at two rural universities in South Africa that have established Centers for Rural Development, which are responsible for projects that are contributing to rural development. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p120