UCT to mentor black academics

THE University of Cape Town (UCT) — often criticised as having very few black professors — says it has established a mentoring support programme to develop black academics.

THE University of Cape Town (UCT) — often criticised as having very few black professors — says it has established a mentoring support programme to develop black academics.

But Prof Xolela Mangcu, a member of the Transform UCT movement, described the initiative as a “PR exercise”, saying it was not targeted enough. “These programmes are not really targeted at black academics, but include white people as well…,” Prof Mangcu said.

“A lot of professors are retiring and naturally, the university wants to build the next generation academics … what is needed is targeted interventions more like what Wits is doing … money needs to be set aside to develop black academics.”

Thirty-four mid-career academics have been nominated by their respective faculties to participate in the mentorship programme, the Next-Generation Professoriate initiative.

Prof Robert Morrell, who is leading the mentoring programme, said it was an extension of an existing mid-career support programme started in 2009 and was specifically focused on addressing existing demographic inequalities at UCT.

Considered one of the country’s top universities, UCT made headlines earlier this year following the Rhodes Must Fall campaign.

As part of the campaign, which succeeded in having a statue of Cecil John Rhodes removed from the main campus, campaigners called for staff transformation to be accelerated.

But the dearth of black academics is a national problem. Statistics from the Department of Higher Education and Training show that countrywide, 76% of professors are white, 14% are black, 5% are Indian and 4.5% are coloured.

UCT said it was working to change these demographics although so far not everyone is impressed.

A key feature of the Next-Generation Professoriate programme is the identification of a career path with clearly defined milestones.

All 34 participants of the programme will be supported to achieve these milestones within a “collegial culture” that includes regular, facilitated meetings with fellow cohort members, writing workshops, National Research Foundation rating assistance as well as lecturing and postgraduate supervision training.