A university as an educationally purposeful community is a societal institution. As a result it is affected by various societal factors. For instance, a culturally diverse society would lead to a culturally representative university. Furthermore, changes and conflicts, experienced in the society would be experienced at a university. The link between the society and a university cannot be avoided because besides being a societal institution, a university's role in addition, to teaching and research, is to be involved in developing the community.
Universities in South Africa are not exceptions. They are as well affected by change and conflict experienced in the society. For instance, the political change with its related cultural conflict, from a non-democratic to a democratic South Africa affected universities as well. For example, educational institutions, which were reserved for particular cultural groups, were open to all races.
Thus the composition of student communities at historically white universities changed drastically. The changing student profile implied fundamental change in medium of communication [particularly at historically Afrikaans universities], culture, traditions, staff complement, structures, and student leadership structures. The entire atmosphere of a university had to be changed in order for it to suit all students from various racial and cultural backgrounds.
However, it is important to acknowledge that students are members of various communities which uphold particular ideologies.
As a result, various perceptions and attitudes regarding what has to be changed and how it could be changed are experienced. Consequently, conflict of interest is experienced. That may lead to racial conflict and the disruption of the academic order.
Therefore, it becomes necessary that a scientific investigation into how change management and conflict resolution could be efficiently and effectively implemented be made. The scientific investigation would include aspects such as communication, how student affairs and student leadership structures should be structured, the establishment of attitudes of various cultural groups towards change and how resistance to change could be managed. In addition, an investigation into what the causes of cultural conflict are and the development of strategies for preventing or managing conflict efficiently and effectively is crucial.
