About My Blog

My blog aims to explore how the role of new media came into play during the transition phase in the higher education system of South Africa- the merger. I will be referring to the University of KwaZulu-Natal as an example, an institution I studied at and currently work for as well. I will discuss why blogging is the trend that should be explored by UKZN PR practitioners.

The Merger: Brief Background

UKZN - this is an institution I have worked for, for the past 4 years.
The merger of the two major education institutions in KwaZulu-Natal, located over two cities Durban and Pietermaritzburg was a move that was not welcomed with open arms by the two parties involved. Hence it posed a great challenge for the public relations department to devise and implement a communications strategy that was effective, relevant and efficient.


South African cabinet backs merger plan for universities
by Michael Cherry

South Africa is to proceed with a controversial plan to merge institutes of higher education that taught blacks and whites separately under apartheid (see Nature 417, 377–378; 2002).The cabinet accepted the merger plan late last month after Kader Asmal, the education minister, made concessions that will allow two of the nation's best-known historically black universities — the University of the Western Cape and the University of Fort Hare — to retain their separate identities.

Reference: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v417/n6889/full/417576a.html