Academics and Academic Developers' interpretation of the integration of Internationalisation and Africanisation to inform curriculum transformation

Abstract

This study explores the integration of Africanisation and Internationalisation in South African higher education curricula, investigating how academics and academic developers conceptualise and institutionalise these phenomena to drive curriculum transformation. While the mandate to Internationalise aligns higher education with global academic standards, the push for Africanisation seeks to affirm local knowledge systems, cultures, and identities. These imperatives were often perceived as conflicting, yet scholars argue they can be mutually inclusive if carefully integrated.

The research applies Legitimation Code Theory (LCT) to understand how African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS) can gain equal standing with Western knowledge and Legitimacy Theory to examine how universities institutionalize these phenomena to align with societal and academic expectations.

The study investigates three university categories: Traditional Universities, Comprehensive Universities, and Universities of Technology, to understand how they approach Africanisation and Internationalisation. Findings reveal that Traditional Universities emphasize theoretical discourse but struggle with structural integration; Comprehensive Universities adopt a balanced approach, incorporating African identity within globally relevant curricula; and Universities of Technology prioritize practical applications, integrating AIKS into applied research and industry-aligned education. The study underscores the need for a structured policy framework that institutionalises African knowledge systems while maintaining global competitiveness. It contributes to ongoing curriculum transformation and decolonisation debates, offering insights into how universities can reconcile African identity with global engagement to foster an inclusive and contextually relevant higher education system.

Date of Award	24 Jun 2026
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Rajani Naidoo (Supervisor)