SERVING HIGHER PURPOSES, university mergers in post-apartheid South Africa

302pp., paperback, On Higher Education Transformation, Vol 2, Stellenbosch, 2020

Former Vice-Chancellor Professor Ihron Rensburg on the creation of the University of Johannesburg. The University of Johannesburg came into existence on 1 January 2005 as the result of a merger between Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), Technikon Witwatersrand, and Soweto and East Rand campuses of Vista University.

"Ihron Rensburg is one of the great university leaders of the 21st century. This superb must-read book is in part a deep scholarly history of his creation of the University of Johannesburg, in part autobiography, in part an insider's history of the massive problems faced in creating a viable university system in post-apartheid South Africa and how real excellence fit for purpose was achieved. It is also for anyone at all interested in university leadership at grand master level - a primer on how to do it! it is equally essential reading for those interested in universities everywhere." Professor Ed Byrne, Principal, King's College, London

Ihron Rensburg was Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg from 2006 to 2017. Prior to this appointment he was CE Strategic Services at the SABC and Deputy Director of South Africa's Department of Education. Ihron is currently Chairman of the South African National Commission for UNESCO, Senior Advisor to the Principal at Kings College London, and Honorary Professor at Nelson Mandela University.