A review of four case studies in restructuring the South African Higher Education System

This paper examines four institutions which were part of the South African process of restructuring higher education.  A study lasting several years focused on implementation and governance choices and encompassed interviews with hundreds of people over extended periods, observation and scrutiny of documents.The paper concludes that the UKZN, NMMU and UJ mergers were successful on several fronts, as was the incorporation of the East London campus of RU into UFH, although the full potential of UFH has yet to emerge.Each of the institutions received funding they would not otherwise have received to improve infrastructure and all used the opportunity to improve wherever possible.  Unfinished matters include salary harmonisation and the consolidation and review of academic programmes.  In conclusion, the Higher Education Merger Study Group is concerned that the mergers might lead to an unintended overall increase in admissions criteria as well as increase the vulnerability of vocational qualifications.