This book critically interrogates the notion of transformation in higher education, focusing on epistemological and structural issues in postcolonial and contemporary Africa.

The book considers the multifaceted challenges facing higher education in the continent and uses the concept of transformation as a common thread weaving through a range of issues, including epistemology, identity, relevance, research, collaboration and decoloniality. Arguing for a holistic approach towards progressive and innovative education systems, the book calls for a fundamental transformation that expands access, enhances quality and competitiveness, addresses past injustices and improves the capacity to act together for a more sustainable and just future. Overall, the book makes a powerful case for the power of transformation in higher education to shape the social, economic and cultural fabric of society.

This book’s critical evaluation of knowledge production in Africa will be an important read for researchers and policymakers involved in Africa’s higher education sector.

Emnet Tadesse Woldegiorgis is an Associate Professor and Director at the Ali Mazrui Center for Higher Education Studies (AMCHES), University of Johannesburg. He is a distinguished NRF-rated researcher with a portfolio of over 30 peerreviewed academic publications, primarily focusing on higher education research.

Logan Govender, prior to his appointment as a Research Associate at the Ali Mazrui Centre for Higher Education Studies (AMCHES), University of Johannesburg, he was a Senior Lecturer at AMCHES. A National Research Foundation (NRF)-rated researcher, he has several research-based, peer-reviewed publications to his credit, focusing on education policy analysis, teacher union-state relations and higher education transformation.

Dennis Zami Atibuni is a Research Fellow at the Ali Mazrui Centre for Higher Education Studies (AMCHES) at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. His research interests include student (research) engagement; educational assessment; pre-service and in-service teacher education; student and staff mentorship; diversity, equity and inclusion and psychological determinants of effective academic leadership at higher educational institutions.