At the heart of the discussion in this special issue on race and affirmative action is the issue of whether race should be used as a category in admissions policies of South African universities. In my contribution I shall argue that there are no races. By race I mean the idea that skin colour (or other phenotypical features) associated with…

The compelling essays in this issue of the journal take on the often contentious and complex issue of racial affirmative action. I do not wish to repeat the arguments authors offer either in defence or against student admissions to a university on the grounds of race, (dis)advantage, class, gender, and so on. Rather, I wish to respond to a…

South Africa's post-apartheid college admission strategies show that initially, applicants may be accepted or rejected solely based on academic merit. If predictors are found to be biased at this stage, they may be statistically adjusted. Subsequently, representation of specific groups may be considered using quotas, but also with consideration…

The testing of a dual admission system in a South African university, aimed at removal of racial, social, or religious discrimination in college admission policy, found that the system is capable of identifying talented but disadvantaged students. (MSE)

Academic freedom in the universities of South Africa is examined, focusing on competing conceptions of the university's role, limits on the university's autonomy, selection of students and related concerns of enabling black student enrollment while maintaining academic standards, and intellectual freedom in the context of political pressures. (DB)

Describes the current South African university curriculum and degree structure, and proposes a new, more flexible model of academic progression that aims to improve articulation within the university system and between vocational/technical and higher education. The model is also intended to satisfy an emerging labor market need for more graduates…