Page 13 - Professorial Lecture - Professor P van Rooyen

This is done by way of what Dean termed technologies of agency and of
performance (Dean 1999). The technologies of agency aim at mobilizing and
deploying the capacity for action and agency, by way of contracting and via
various techniques of self-esteem or instruments of voice and
representation, which shape and engage people as active and free citizens,
as informed and responsible consumers, as members of self-managing
communities and organizations (Dean 1999). Performance aims at merging
moral and political requirements with performance, thereby transforming
people into ‘calculating individuals’ subject to particular calculative regimes
(Dean 1999, Degn and Sørensen 2013)

The Competitive University needs to compete in the national and
international economy. Although formerly socialist-in-exile, today we have
a mixed economy. A mixed economy feeds on employment opportunities.
Employment opportunities are created by entrepreneurs. UNAM has to
provide these.

The other day I saw a UNAM student wearing a T-shirt saying: “University of
making Something out of Nothing”. To me this is not an acceptable slogan
for my university. We don’t want “samethings” or “somethings’ we want
excellent candidates for elite positions in society.

We cannot, therefore, deny that UNAM has a prominent role to play in
creating entrepreneurship for a free market enterprise. Here it is important
that our graduates get jobs, and get high-level jobs, where they can start
influencing decision-making.

The Namibian Labour Force Survey of 2013 indicate an unemployment rate
of 9,2% for university graduates and a 22% unemployment rate for people
with diplomas or certificates. Post-graduate unemployment stands at 5,5%.

At the same time, the NCHE tracer study finds insufficient contact between
UNAM and the needs of potential employers. Not enough research is done
in line with the needs of the country (NHCSE 2011:9). Here it was found that

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