The strategic value of "chaos" in the South African context for the training of communication students

Abstract

The Higher Education Sector has been going through major processes of change overthe last couple of years. These challenges do not occur in isolation from the sociopolitical changes that permeate larger society. Pressures on the University and thusthe School of Communication Studies to transform, not only in terms of programmecontents, but also in terms of institutional identity are mounting. Yet, the School ofCommunication Studies is inextricably part of the larger institution. The traditionalcore dimensions of what a University has been identified with are at stake. One way ofanalysing and conceptualising the situation is to look at the Chaos Theory and theinherent implications for the institution and as a result the teaching programmes.This article attempts to place and analyse the core qualities of the Chaos Theory withinthe context of the University as an institution that finds itself in turn in the contextof a very unpredictable and transforming societal sphere. The aim is to become morerelevant for the challenges of the situation and in turn enhance the quality and credibilityof the programmes being offered.