As a result of the spectacular advances made by the university system since the Middle Ages, the contemporary university demands a specialised form of administration and management to function effectively. The administrative development of the Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria can only be properly assessed if considered within the broader framework of higher education.
In this thesis the administrative development of the Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences is examined against the background of the evolution of the university system, but also of the faculty itself. Towards the end of 1919 the Faculty of Commerce came into being. In 1925 it became known as the Faculty of Commerce and Public Administration and in 1964 as the Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences. The Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences which was initially only a part-time faculty, has since grown to be one of the biggest faculties on the Internal campus.
In order to be able to accommodate all the students at the University as well as in the Faculty, effective organisation of structures and of the activities of the students and lecturers is necessary. A large number of advisory and co-ordinating institutions exist on the macro-organisational level in South Africa. On the micro-organisational level there are such important bodies as the Council, Senate and faculties.
The faculty council which is regarded as one of the most important committies of the senate, is in turn divided into a number of academic departments. The development of the Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences, but also specifically of its departments, is the focal point of investigation in this thesis. The above-mentioned administrative development includes, amongst other things, the organisational aspects of the work of the Faculty, the staff function in the Faculty, the policy and formulating of policy for the Faculty, and the financing of the Faculty activities.
In the appraisement the conclusion is reached that although the Faculty Economic and Political Sciences has indeed undergone administrative development, certain deficiencies are evident and must be considered in order to stimulate further development.
