Title of book:
Understanding Higher Education - Critically
Authors:
Chrissie Boughey & Sioux McKenna
Reviewed by:
Kathy Lukett
Institutional Planning Department, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Review published:
South African Journal of Science, Volume 117, No 11/12, 2021
From the book review:
This book is an excellent critical introduction to contemporary issues facing higher education. It is based on the knowledge and experience of two authors who have worked in and researched South African higher education for over two decades, at both institutional and national levels in roles that have covered student, staff, research and institutional development as well as contributed to national policy development. The book offers substantial commentary and critical analysis on the following topics: policy and dominant policy discourses in higher education; the discursive positioning of students and the implications thereof for teaching and learning; the importance of knowledge for higher education curricula; and the impact of institutional history, culture and type on changes and challenges to the academic job and academic project, policy implementation and possibilities for transformation. The authors correctly argue that, although written from the South African higher education context, the book holds relevance for all readers interested in understanding more about higher education, especially for those from Southern contexts. The book is a must-read for higher education researchers and practitioners in a range of roles – senior managers, policymakers, academics and postgraduate students, especially those on higher education studies programmes.