Public sociology and the transformation of the university

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Periodical article

Title:	Public sociology and the transformation of the university
Authors:	Metcalfe, Anthea Cock, Jacklyn
Year:	2010
Periodical:	Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa (ISSN 0258-7696)
Issue:	72-73
Pages:	66-85
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	sociology universities institutional change
External link:	https://muse.jhu.edu/article/383713
Abstract:	In his roles as founder and director of the Sociology of Work Programme (SWOP) and as three-time head of the Department of Sociology at the University of the Witwatersrand, Edward Webster articulated a wide vision of transformation which also involved equipping students from both advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds with the social commitment and skills to contribute to the transformation of South African society. This paper focuses on one such initiative, an internship programme, to illustrate how Webster combined his political and sociological understandings and practices in his attempts to transform the institution in which he was located. The paper outlines the historical context of higher education in South Africa in general and that of the University of the Witwatersrand in particular, before analysing Webster's research project and the SWOP programme (1997-2009). Bibliogr., notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract]